Jewson has launched a petition calling on government to get Britain’s building and construction sector out of crisis and into positive economic growth.

Jewson is championing the petition, #LetsGetBritainBuildingNOW, which calls on government to build certainty and confidence in the market, focusing on the three biggest things general builders and specialist tradespeople are crying out to be resolved:

  • Provide financial incentives for people to buy or improve their homes.
  • Implement a simpler, faster and cheaper rules-based planning consent process, powered by AI.
  • Incentivise careers in building and construction, accelerating workforce training and talent attraction.

John Carter, CEO of Stark Building Materials UK, which owns Jewson, said: “Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Britain still needs to get building again. The conflict continues to bring price inflationary pressures that we’re pushing back very hard on to protect our customers as best we can, and as we maintain a reliable flow of material supply into the market.

"However, this latest challenge only strengthens the headwinds our sector continues to lean into, with building and construction being in the longest period of significant downturn that I’ve seen in my near 50-year career. Enough is enough. Sometimes you just can’t wait, and saving our industry is too important to be left on the brink.

“Britain’s hardworking professional trades are at the heart of building our local communities. It’s unthinkable that slow, costly and contradictory planning processes, chronic skills shortages, and a collapse in public confidence are pushing one of our most vital industries to the brink.

"I really hope that people will get behind this petition, so that we can bring the collective voice of building and construction to Number 10 and turn debate into decisive positive action that kickstarts the sector’s recovery and also much needed broader economic growth.”

Commenting on the initiative, Helene Bradley, Communications Director for Stark UK, added: "The industry’s in crisis. It’s really important that the broader business community and general public start to understand what’s keeping our hardworking builders and tradespeople awake at night and to consider the unintended consequences if action isn’t taken.

“We believe this petition will help amplify the collective voice of builders and tradespeople across the land, so that we can together get Britain building again – and now.”

The Builders Merchants Federation and BMN have both added their support.

Tim Wood, BMN Editor, said: “As the UK’s leading trade magazine for builders’ merchants and the wider building materials industry, we are proud to support Jewson’s #LetsGetBritainBuildingNOW petition.

"The campaign gives voice to concerns we hear daily from merchants, manufacturers and professional trades: uncertainty, planning paralysis and ongoing skills shortages are stalling a sector that should be driving national recovery.

"BMN exists to represent, inform and champion this industry. We believe this petition is a timely and constructive call to action, uniting the sector behind realistic, deliverable solutions. If government is serious about growth, housing delivery and regional regeneration, it must listen – and respond decisively.”

The petition can be seen at www.change.org/LetsGetBritainBuildingNOW.