COVENTRY: Jewson, in collaboration with the Construction Products Association (CPA), has welcomed Shadow Minister Julia Goldsworthy, Liberal Democrat MP for Falmouth and Camborne, to its Redruth branch during a visit aimed at providing ministers with a greater understanding of the UK construction industry.
The visit engaged the Shadow Minister on a range of issues including the construction products industry and the concerns and policy issues that face government as the UK heads towards the next general election. The visit also provided a platform for Jewson's sales and operations director, Neil Lawrence, to seek support for the Get Britain Building campaign, one of the biggest coalitions in the industry's history, which aims to save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the construction sector.
On the visit, Mr Lawrence said: "Jewson would like to see government address a number of measures to help stimulate the construction industry. The primary focus should be on stimulating demand throughout the construction sector and providing the industry with a much needed boost in order to strengthen the economy and provide job security at regional and national levels. It was interesting to meet with Julia Goldsworthy and discuss what is required from government if the construction industry is to continue to play a pivotal role in the UK's economy, and I hope that much of what was discussed will be addressed sooner rather than later."
Ms Goldsworthy added: ""It was very useful to meet with Jewson representatives to discuss the state of the construction industry at a local and national level. The ten point manifesto provides some interesting food for thought on measures that could be taken to help stimulate the sector, creating and supporting jobs that will be vital to any upturn in the economy.
"With a critical shortage of social housing, the best way the Government could help tackle this problem and stimulate economic growth is by freeing up councils to start rebuilding council homes once again. The billions of pounds poured into the VAT cut would have been better spent on making environmental improvements to the existing housing stock - this would not only have helped create jobs, it also would have helped cut people's energy costs."
The CPA is coordinating visits for key Ministers and Shadow Ministers throughout the UK over the summer recess. The objective is for politicians to develop a greater understanding of the industry as whole.
