Ministers have announced plans to recruit a chief adviser to government for construction.
The postholder will chair the board responsible for securing value for money from the government's procurement of construction, promoting innovation and sustainability in the industry, and be responsible for ensuring government takes account of the impact of regulation on the construction industry.
The chief construction adviser will be independent and report to the government department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and HM treasury ministers.
The successful candidate will:-
Chair a new construction category board, which will build on the existing Public Sector Construction Clients Forum (PSCCF), to oversee the implementation and further development of best value government construction procurement.
Chair a sustainable construction strategy delivery board to help ensure policy regarding the industry is effectively co-ordinated.
Assess the key barriers to growth in the UK's low carbon construction sector to ensure the UK industry can serve developing needs and markets.
Work with the industry, through the Strategic Forum for Construction, to deliver industry improvement, including the Construction Commitments.
Promote innovation in the sector, working closely with the Technology Strategy Board and other funding bodies.
Co-ordinate Whitehall response to reports featuring construction.
The decision to hire a chief advisor was made in response to a recent consultation about the possible appointment of a chief construction officer.
'We have taken our time to get the role right to ensure that it fits well with a range of new and existing initiatives' said Ian Lucas, the business minister with responsibility for construction.
'But I have heard the calls from the construction industry loud and clear since my appointment in June.
'We are now pressing hard ahead with recruiting. I want to see a high quality individual in place by November', he added.
'The construction industry has been crying out for a strong and effective champion to fight its corner – we are delighted that such a position will now come into being', said John McDonough, chairman of the CBI’s Construction council.
'The council would like to see the reviewing of current capital programmes made an explicit part of the work of the chief construction adviser, as the ability to troubleshoot must be a key part of the role of Public Sector Construction Clients’ Forum chairman. This will help ensure government projects run smoothly and deliver good value. The post-holder will also need to have a strong understanding of construction to win the confidence of the industry', he added.