Why construction matters

In this video we see how construction is all around us and how it shapes everything we do in our daily lives.

Whether that is helping the country respond to the coronavirus pandemic, keeping the lights on, building the schools of the future or the homes we live in, the construction industry is also a key player in our nation’s efforts to tackle the major challenges we all face such as climate change, housing, and our response to COVID-19.

The video shows just some of the range of activities in the construction industry including:

• the design and build of buildings and structures
• conversions, alterations, fitting out, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration and maintenance
• demolition of buildings and structures
• production of prefabricated construction materials
• investigation and preparation of construction sites
• commissioning, installation, maintenance, repair or removal of mechanical, electrical, gas, compressed air and hydraulics
• other IT and telecommunications services included within a building or structure.

Crucially, the construction industry plays a huge role in the UK economic output. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry was worth £119 billion per year to the UK economy, with almost 300,000 construction companies operating and employing 1.3m people.

References

_{Office for National Statistics. 2021. Construction statistics, Great Britain. [online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/constructionindustry/
[Accessed 1 February 2021].}