The CIOB has called for new prime minister Andy Burnham to empower regional leaders to develop skills locally for the construction industry as part of his devolution agenda.

Chief executive Victoria Hills said there was a longstanding case for devolving more skills funding and decision-making to combined and local authorities to address local skills gaps and enable opportunities.

She said: “CIOB has consistently acknowledged that regional leaders are best placed to understand local demand and the skills required to deliver priorities like retrofitting, housing and infrastructure.”

“CIOB has consistently acknowledged that regional leaders are best placed to understand local demand and the skills required to deliver priorities like retrofitting, housing and infrastructure.”

Victoria Hills, chief executive, CIOB

Hills added that the industry required Burnham to provide “stable leadership, honour long-term infrastructure commitments and work with the sector to give industry the confidence to deliver the homes, infrastructure and economic growth the UK needs”.

Other industry leaders welcomed Burnham to his new role – he succeeded Sir Kier Starmer today (Monday) only weeks after being newly elected as an MP.

Housing crisis

RIBA president Chris Williamson said the housing crisis needed immediate action, backed Burnham’s pledge to build more council homes and said the government “must consider bold solutions to strengthen local delivery at scale and pace”.

The RICS also supported the push to build more council housing. Chief executive Justin Young said: “Local authorities will need the professional skills, resources and professional support to turn that ambition into homes.”

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said Burnham needed to address barriers facing SMEs “including rising costs, skills shortages, planning delays, and weak consumer confidence”.

He added: “Builders will be looking to the new government to match ambition with delivery and create the conditions that will allow SMEs to thrive.”