UK Enters Infrastructure Top Ten for 2016
Big news hit the construction world in May 2016. The UK has been ranked 9th in an Infrastructure Index survey conducted by Arcadis. Huge news for anyone involved in construction and infrastructure. Continue reading for a look at how the rankings were calculated, as well as what this means for the UK and its construction industry.
How it works
The new research is based on The Global Infrastructure Investment Index. It asks several questions of countries and their infrastructure industry, such as:
· How easy is it to do business?
· How much of a demand is there for infrastructure?
· What is the level of risk?
· And does the country’s industry possess the ability to deliver on infrastructure projects?
After considering these different points, the researchers have ranked the UK 9th out of 41 countries. Singapore comes out most impressive in the rankings, with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also landing a top 3 finish.
The performance of the UK in this industry is particularly impressive, when you consider that it is third out of all European nations, beaten only by the Scandinavian efficiency of Norway and Sweden.
Why the UK is doing well
According to Arcadis, the UK’s commitment to major infrastructure, such as Crossrail 2, HS2 and HS3 have given potential investors and opportunity to get involved in the market.
In fact, the result could have been even better: The UK’s ranking suffered slightly from the presence of the upcoming EU referendum. The uncertainty has meant a lot of trade and construction deals have been held off, as companies await the outcome.
Whilst the current government have contributed to this, they have also been criticised for their prolonged decision making process. It’s seen as a bit of an obstacle when it comes to ease of business.
What it all means
The news has generally been received very well. It’s obviously a great sign of progress for Britain to be amongst the best in the world. It shows that there is a great opportunity for construction businesses, both big and small, to get involved in what is clearly a strong point of British trade.
The concerns about politicisation of the industry, however, should probably be tackled head on. If they are simply swept under the carpet, we could see the UK declining internationally, as investors’ interest reduces because of the political process.
Infrastructure equipment and supplies
With the UK’s infrastructure industry booming, there is a call more than ever, for high quality construction equipment. At Manchester Safety, we stock a huge range of construction and site supplies, along with personal safety equipment, to give you the right tools for the job. Speak to our friendly sales team on 01706 364 943 if you have any queries.
