Large Contractors Information for Government Contracts Is Published
The Government has published its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy setting out a long-term plan for £725 billion of investment in the country’s infrastructure over the next decade. Promising an end to ‘erratic decisions, false promises and squeezed capital investment’, the strategy brings together in one place for the first time economic, social and housing infrastructure, with the aim of ensuring a more joined-up approach and increasing private investment. It commits to introducing a ‘new approach’ to how projects are prioritised, planned for and delivered, as part of providing the certainty businesses need to invest.
The Government has put better infrastructure at the heart of its plans for economic growth, and the £725 billon of funding will ensure that infrastructure capital spending continues to grow at least in line with inflation after the current Spending Review period. It will also support the delivery of the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published earlier this week, unlocking the potential of the highest-growth sectors.
The strategy will be overseen by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which has been established to ‘integrate infrastructure policy, strategy and delivery in the centre of Government’. A digital Infrastructure Pipeline will be published in July, providing data on timelines, size, funding status, location and procurement routes for projects with a total cost of £25 million or above for economic infrastructure and £15 million or above for social infrastructure. The pipeline will be expanded over time to include greater granularity, with updates at least every six months to begin with.
With successful infrastructure delivery ‘dependent on strong relationships between industry and the Government’, NISTA Chief Executive Becky Wood will be joining our next All Member Forum on Tuesday 1 July at 8:30am to give an overview of the strategy and NISTA’s objectives ahead of publication of the pipeline.
FenceX 2025 – Final Indoor Stands Remaining & Visitor Numbers Growing Fast
With over 85% of indoor space now sold and visitor registrations rising sharply each week, FenceX 2025 is shaping up to be the UK fencing industry’s biggest and most energised event in years.
Taking place on 15th October at NAEC Stoneleigh, this one-day show is packed with:
💥 The largest destruction testing schedule ever seen at a UK fencing event
⚙️ A fully curated Gate Automation Zone (in partnership with DHF)
🌿 A live, hands-on Best Practice Day incorporating both agricultural and domestic fencing with outdoor demonstrations and some exhibitor pitches still available
🎤 Expert seminars and valuable networking opportunities
🚨 Only a handful of indoor exhibition stands remain – if you’re thinking about exhibiting, now is the time to act. Whether you’re launching new products, building brand presence, or meeting contractors face to face, this is your opportunity to stand out.
🎟️ Visitor tickets are free and include a bacon roll on arrival – encourage your team, customers and contacts to register early and make the most of the day.
📧 To enquire about exhibiting: fencex@theafi.co.uk
🌐 To register as a visitor: www.fencex.com
Let’s make FenceX 2025 a standout celebration of innovation, professionalism, and progress in fencing.
Pay Rates 2025
Digital Skills Passport Launched
CSCS has launched an updated version of itsMy CSCS App to provide the basis of a ‘digital skills passport’, as recommended by Mark Farmer in hisIndustry Training Board (ITB) Review to enable Clients and other dutyholders under the Building Safety Act to demonstrate and enforce the competence of individuals working on their projects.
The new My Skills section within the app allows an individual to store in one place their qualifications; successful completion of the Health, Safety and Environment Test; and any additional training and CPD undertaken. Users can generate a CV-style summary of the information within the app, which can be shared with employers and others as part of demonstrating the skills and knowledge elements of competence.
The My CSCS App also holds an individual’s digital CSCS card, which is identical to the traditional plastic version and shows their photo, qualifications, training, occupation and the expiry date of the card. Build UK members should now be using CSCS Smart Check to check all 2.3 million cards carrying the CSCS logo, issued by the CSCS Alliance schemes.
🎉 Five Weeks to Go – Get Your Entries in for the UK Fencing Industry Awards 2025!
There are just five weeks left to submit your entries for the UK Fencing Industry Awards 2025 – and we want to see your name in the spotlight!
This year’s awards take place on Thursday 13th November at the incredible Mercedes-Benz World, and it’s shaping up to be the most exciting celebration the industry has ever seen.
🏆 11 award categories – from Domestic and Agricultural Contractors to Security, Sports, Gates & Barriers, Apprentice and the brand new Supplier of the Year (sponsored by Scanpole)
🥂 A champagne reception, bar (sponsored by First Fence), and three-course dinner
🏎️ The F1 simulator experience, sponsored by FH Brundle, with a prize for the fastest lap!
🎤 A guest speaker to inspire and energise (we’ll be revealing who soon…)
Whether you’re a contractor, supplier, apprentice, or project team, this is your chance to gain recognition, boost your reputation, and celebrate with the very best in the business.
You don’t need to be an AFI Member to enter – the awards are open to the entire industry.
But the clock is ticking – entries close on 31st July.
👉 Enter now at www.afiorg.uk – and secure your place in this year’s fencing hall of fame!
Small Business Strategy – Tell Government what YOU need for YOUR Business!
Construction Gender Pay Gap
A diverse workforce offers significant benefits, including better innovation, improved productivity and higher staff retention, and Build UK collates information each year on the gender gay gap (GPG) of its Contractor members to provide an overview of performance and support the work being undertaken on fairness, inclusion and respect (FIR).
Our latest report for 2024/25 shows that women were paid on average 76p for every £1 men were paid, when comparing median hourly pay. This has improved slightly from 71p in 2017/18 when companies were first required to report information on their GPG. In 2024/25, women represented on average 33.1% of employees in the lowest pay quartile, compared to 13.4% in the highest pay quartile. The number of women in the highest pay quartile has increased from 12.6% over the last 12 months and from 7.5% in 2017/18.
The construction GPG continues to be heavily impacted by the fact that only 16% of people employed in the industry are women, and it will take time and concentrated effort to improve. Build UK will continue to support initiatives that help to drive the required changes, including implementing flexible working, providing more inclusive working environments such as managing the impact of the menopause, and promoting mentoring programmes. More skills and training news can be found in our latest Recruit, Train and Retain update.
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