Opportunities still exist, so join your trade association now

 

by Justin Ratcliffe, CAB Chief Executive

‘There’s still £100bn worth of work out there!’ was the succinct summary of Dr Noble Francis at a recent Chartered Institute of Marketing seminar, ‘Future of the Construction Economy’, which I invited him to speak at. The Economics Director at the Construction Products Association (CPA) provided a balanced view in the aftermath of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) with a number of areas, including education, of key interest to CAB members and the aluminium in building supply chain.

The despondent reaction to the government cuts in capital expenditure from £69bn in 2009/10 to £47bn in 2014/15 could be tempered slightly by the fact that this was actually £2bn more than in the emergency budget. In fact, government current expenditure was due to rise £56bn to £693bn in 2014/15. There were also some interesting sector stats.

An increase in infrastructure expenditure meant that in the rail sector there would be 200 station refurbishments. In the retail sector, despite the 30% reduction in output 2007-10 the falls were offset by supermarket activity (an area where a number of aluminium fabricators have been highly active this year). The CSR had also outlined £2bn for the Decent Homes programme.

On the schools front there has been evidence amongst CAB members of some interesting emergency refurbishment work from schools whose overhaul projects have been abandoned in the cuts. In answer to my question to him on the potential of this work, Noble believed that it would not be until 2012 that we might be able to see the full impact or otherwise of additional maintenance.

The seminar highlighted the challenges we face and increasingly we are finding that sector companies are turning to CAB to provide complex technical support such as the interpretation of standards and regulations. The desire for closer links was highlighted at our inaugural breakfast meeting at the Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, this month which was attended by close to 100 members and guests. There is often surprise at just how many free as well as highly cost effective opportunities CAB offers such as websites, supplements and exhibitions that can raise both the profile of a company and its products. Joining CAB can also be the first step to taking advantage of some of the exciting opportunities that do still exist in our sector.

For more details on CAB and its 2011 Events programme including the new series of CAB Breakfast Meetings throughout the UK please contact the CAB office on 01453 828851 or email julie.harley@c-a-b.org.uk