Chief Executive’s comments – Justin Ratcliffe
Determination going forward
As it is the final month of the year, it is nice to start with a positive note and the G11 Awards held at the London Hilton Hotel in late November certainly provided it. Over 500 members of the fenestration supply chain applauded some excellent winners (with CAB members picking up one award and several shortlist nominations) but more than anything was the air of sheer determination to succeed in the face of the likelihood of a further 24-36 months of challenging times. The organisers and winners are all to be congratulated.
If the Governor of the Bank of England has difficultly in predicting tomorrow, I think you will excuse me making rash predictions. It is clear from discussions though with a number of members recently that business is still out there, surprisingly the schools sector is considered ‘steady’ – perhaps we have forgotten just how many projects managed to get over the line before the end of BSF as we knew it. There are other good news stories around about companies moving to larger premises and expanding their export markets to record levels of turnover. Away from CAB, and in the wider marketplace, there have sadly been casualties and the brutal reality is that there are more to come. In this context, support from the Chancellor cannot come soon enough.
Writing the day before the Autumn Statement it is clear that there will be a boost to infrastructure projects. The leaks lend support to the fact that Government acknowledges that construction is key to economic growth and is at last beginning to accept that recent research has shown that every £1 invested in the sector generates £2.84 of economic activity. In addition the employment that this generates will help bring many of those who have lost their jobs in the recession back into work.
Investment is one thing, but making sure that companies win profitable work is another especially in the current climate. To win work in the first place it will be crucial to understand the changing face of specification. These two themes will be central to many of CAB’s meetings in 2012 as they affect the whole supply chain. Of course we will also be looking in detail at other key issues the sector faces next year including Green Deal, the Olympics (post construction work) and standards and regulatory issues such as the Building Regulations and security standards.
As this rounds off 2011, I would together with my team of Patrick England, Martin Ford and Julie Harley like to wish all of you the very best for 2012.
Let us all go forward with determination to succeed.
01453 82 88 51
justin.ratcliffe@c-a-b.org.uk
