Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders merchant Jewson, part of the STARK group, has launched a petition to get Britain’s building and into positive economic growth.
The petition, #LetsGetBritainBuildingNOW, calls on the government to; provide financial incentives for people to buy or improve their homes, implement a simpler planning consent process, and incentivise careers in building and construction.
CEO of STARK Building Materials UK Ltd, John Carter, said: “Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Britain still needs to get building again. The conflict continues to bring price inflationary pressures that we’re pushing back very hard on to protect our customers as best we can, and as we maintain a reliable flow of material supply into the market. However, this latest challenge only strengthens the headwinds our sector continues to lean into, with building and construction being in the longest period of significant downturn that I’ve seen in my near 50-year career. Enough is enough. Sometimes you just can’t wait, and saving our industry is too important to be left on the brink.
“Britain’s hardworking professional trades are at the heart of building our local communities. It’s unthinkable that slow, costly and contradictory planning processes, chronic skills shortages, and a collapse in public confidence are pushing one of our most vital industries to the brink. I really hope that people will get behind this petition, so that we can bring the collective voice of building and construction to Number 10 and turn debate into decisive positive action that kickstarts the sector’s recovery and also much needed broader economic growth.”
