Efficiency North welcomes the Chancellors Summer Statement and we will do all that we can to maximise the support available to create hope and opportunity for our young people and those seeking new careers in the construction sector within the communities of our Membership. Echoing our recent calls to train, train, train, we recognise that the Government sees youth employment as a central focus to addressing the economic challenges created as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the face of the various funding cuts for vital pathways into the construction sector we have already aired our concerns about the impact upon our young people and the impact that such funding cuts have on the social mobility of young people in some of the most disadvantaged communities. So, some of the announcements relating to traineeships and apprenticeships offer some encouragement in the light of our concerns. That said, any opportunities must be high quality and sustainable and we must ensure that retention and progression of young people is central to the development of future opportunities.
We are very enthusiastic about the potential of the green economy as part of the Country’s economic fightback and, whilst todays announcements in this respect are welcome, we hope that in the future the Government will be able to go beyond the green commitments in the Summer Statement. Indeed, with the right policy infrastructure, not only could the investment in the green sector significantly contribute to the economic recovery it could reset the accepted norms around green solutions and make a massive contribution to the Country’s zero carbon commitments. The optimum blend of green sector investment backed by an effective green skills training infrastructure could bring about a whole new market in carbon reducing solutions.
Our support for the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Homes at the Heart recognises our belief that the Country needs a once in a generation investment in social housing. Whilst the PM’s build, build, build announcements brought together a number of earlier spending commitments relating to social housing we hope that future Government policy takes further the investment commitments made in order to tackle the economic recovery and the housing crisis that our nation faces.
Lee Parkinson, Chief Executive, Efficiency North