Addressing an audience of more than 80 Parliamentarians and 150 construction industry leaders, civil servants and journalists at the House of Commons yesterday, Bill Bolsover, the Chairman of the Construction Products Association, identified the construction industry as a key driver of economic growth and suggested ways in which government should kick start the recovery.
Bill Bolsover said:
‘Government must stick to its spending plans, but rebalance the economy between current and capital spending. Government’s own figures show current expenditure rising from £632bn this year to £694bn in 2014/15, whilst capital spending is being cut from £61bn to £42bn over the same period. Rebalancing this could make way for the £5 billion package of essential infrastructure investment which is being widely talked about.’
The Association’s Chairman also emphasised it was industry that would deliver the economic recovery and that the role of construction would be crucial in achieving this. But he said:
‘Politicians must remember that many major construction product manufacturers and suppliers are no longer UK companies so had a choice of where to put their investment. The signals government sends on its reform of the planning system; on the way it decides to support energy intensive industries; and on its carbon reduction measures are of concern to a world-wide audience of potential investors in the UK essential to our economic recovery.’
The Construction Products Association represents UK’s manufacturers and suppliers of construction products, components and fittings. The sector has an annual turnover of £50 billion and accounts for 40% of total construction output.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.