Thinking Globally Delivering Locally

While 44% of firms believe the UK’s infrastructure has improved over the past five years, and 42% believe that the policies undertaken so far in this parliament have had a positive impact, only 27% think that it will improve in the next half decade. Over the longer term, 64% of respondents felt that the UK was unlikely to be more internationally competitive in 2050 than we are now. With the UK currently ranked 24th in the world for the quality of its infrastructure, this indicates that the government still has some way to go in setting out a vision that inspires business confidence. With our economic prospects uncertain, it is crucial, now more than ever, that we are bolstering investor confidence at home. Support for delivery of projects in the existing infrastructure pipeline is high, with 99% seeing delivery of rail projects in Control Period 5 (CP5) and 97% seeing delivery of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) as important priorities for UK plc. To this end, maintaining a relentless focus on delivery must form a core part of the approach taken on infrastructure. There is significant opportunity to drive growth and prosperity right across the country: government and industry must now join forces to seize it.