Understanding Your Industry: Infrastructure

In our series of ‘Understanding Your Industry’ blogs, we explore the global and national trends and events that have impacted the UK Infrastructure industry and both the employers and employees who work within it.

Read on to see how Brexit, schedule delays and the world’s focus on climate change are affecting the sector:

• Transforming Construction for a Low Carbon Future report calls for the construction industry to make changes now to meet 2050 target
  With construction directly influencing 47% of the UK’s carbon emissions and 61% of its waste, the ‘Transforming Construction for a Low Carbon Future’ report has warned that the next government must act now if the UK is to meet its 2050 zero-carbon target. Nick Sangwin, Chairman of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), has said it is critical that the construction sector steps forward and changes the way it does business. Warning against the risks of not acting now, the report identifies huge opportunities in the sector, as well as looking at funding streams, the transformation of skills and innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions and waste.
• The project head of Crossrail has confirmed it will not open in 2020
  Crossrail was originally scheduled to be open between October 2020 and March 2021, however chief executive Mark Wild has now confirmed the line will open ‘as soon as practically possible’ in 2021, with system trials commencing in 2020. Due to risks and uncertainties, forecasts also show that the project will cost between £400m and £650m more than was first anticipated; talks are currently being held between Crossrail, the Department for Transport and Transport for London regarding how the project will be funded.
• Boris Johnson announces plans for fast-track NHS visas to avert a post-Brexit staffing crisis
  The government has announced plans for fast-track NHS visas, which halve the cost of a visa application for health professionals and guarantee a decision will be made within two weeks. Under this points-based system, applicants coming to work for the NHS would receive preferential treatment, and there would no cap placed on numbers. A document written by NHS Employers, the organisation responsible for recruitment across the NHS, has set out strong opposition to the notion, arguing it makes no provision for people working in social care.
• 45% of hospital trusts declared a ‘clinical service incident’ in 2018-2019 as a result of infrastructure issues
  Medical leaders have warned that infrastructure issues have put operating theatres out of action, creating delays, and thus health deterioration, for the 4.3 million patients on the NHS waiting list. Documents obtained under freedom of information (FOI) requests and analysis have revealed problems included raw sewage running through wards, ceilings collapsing in maternity units and nurses trapped in lifts for hours on end. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson has said £3.9 billion will be invested to upgrade facilities, with the NHS Long Term Plan set to further modernise the health service.