“The built environment industry in the UK faces an exciting yet challenging future. High profile programmes such as the 2012 Olympics promise great opportunities but will subject the industry to intense public scrutiny. Equally, society and governments alike are presented with the need to act according to the principles of sustainability and to reduce the world’s demand for resources: the built environment has a significant contribution to make to this challenge. Increasing global competition is exerting pressure on the UK’s built environment industry as with other sectors: we must improve our performance to compete effectively in this global market.
In order to address such issues, we have launched the National Platform for the Built Environment. The National Platform promotes strategic, collaborative research because we believe this is a vital catalyst for long-term, industry improvement.
Crucially the National Platform has to be owned and led by industry while engaging the wider research community. Not only will this ensure that research programmes reflect the real needs of industry and clients but will also create a single powerful voice for the built environment industry. Today, the built environment industry has to compete for recognition with technology-driven sectors such as aerospace and pharmaceuticals. To be effective in securing research funding and influencing our regulatory environment, we have to be more focused and work collaboratively.
It is significant that the National Platform is concerned with the built environment industry rather than purely construction. We believe that by focusing on the broader definition of the industry, we can deliver the potential of research to improve the built environment for all its stakeholders.”
Keith Clarke, Chairman of National Platform High Level Group
Bob White, Chairman of National Platform Support Group