INDUSTRY SUPPORT FOR CHIEF CONSTRUCTION OFFICER

The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group has congratulated the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) for backing the appointment of a Chief Construction Officer. This appointment was recommended in the report of the House of Commons Business and Enterprise Committee published on 16 July 2008.

Lord O’Neill, SEC Group’s President, said:

“In our evidence to the Select Committee we urged the Committee to recommend that the Government appoint a ‘Champion’ to drive best practice procurement across the public sector. We are delighted that this is now being progressed through the proposed appointment of a Chief Construction Officer”.

Lord O’Neill added:

“The following matters are critical in the appointment of this ‘Champion’:

· He/she must have substantial industry or business experience and sufficient status to carry weight in the corridors of power. He/she should be alive to the needs and concerns of SMEs.

· The appointment should be made by the Treasury since the appointee will have to work closely with the Office of Government Commerce;

· There is a danger of overload and, therefore the initial remit for the postholder should be focussed on implementation of the Construction Commitments across public sector construction;

The postholder should be given ‘teeth’ in order to ensure that best practice is implemented. SEC Group will address these issues in the forthcoming consultation”.

Published: 03 October 2008

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