BSRIA Brexit white paper

Revision as of 09:36, 10 March 2017

BSRIA is a non-profit distributing, member-based association, providing specialist services in construction and building services.

In February 2017, following consultation with its members and the wider industry, BSRIA published a Brexit White Paper, The voice of the built environment, identifying the key issues in the specific context of the built environment industry.

The White Paper points out that the industry that supports the built environment has a major impact on the overall UK economy and plays a positive role in supporting the government’s climate change and emissions reduction objectives. But it is technology intensive, requiring a highly-skilled work force which takes years rather than weeks to train and educate, and it is also very dependent on international trade.

The White Paper suggests the major opportunities arising from Brexit are:

• The possibility of greater international trade.
• The possibility of a more streamlined regulatory environment.
• An increased motivation to boost the UK skills base.

The key threats are:

• The potential lack of access to skilled labour.
• The potential lack of access to the single market, with consequences for tariff and non-tariff barriers.
• Future divergence from, and lack of influence over, European standards and regulations.
• Uncertainty over future research funding in the UK.

The priority issues the government should prioritise in its negotiations are:

• Access to the remaining EU.
• International trade.
• Access to skilled labour from the remaining EU.
• Research funding.
• Standards and regulation.
• Skills funding.

BSRIA intends to embark on a programme of government and parliamentary engagement to ensure the industry’s voice is heard throughout the negotiation process.

Julia Evans, BSRIA Chief Executive, said: “There are several issues that are of severe concern to our industry. Without satisfactory resolution, these could have a large negative impact on the industry and the 562,000 people employed within it.

“Likewise, the EU negotiation and the UK’s new role in the world represent a real opportunity to strengthen and grow this vital industry with opportunities for greater international trade, better focussed regulation and developing a stronger indigenous UK skills base.

“The transitional period will undoubtedly be challenging and from time to time difficult, however, there is a sense of purpose around the subjects which affect this sector of the economy and they deserve and indeed demand attention.”