Three Major Changes Needed to Improve How the Built Environment Operates: ICR Results
The Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP) Industry Confidence Report, based on responses from contractors and consultants across the UK Built Environment Sector, provides a clear window into how the industry feels about current challenges and opportunities. Beyond capturing sentiment, it highlights the actionable changes that professionals believe could significantly improve how the sector operates.
While many themes emerged, three priorities stood out above all others: procurement reform, collaboration, and investment in skills. Taken together, they provide a roadmap for the public sector and industry stakeholders to build a more resilient, sustainable, and innovative sector.
Procurement Reform & Moving Beyond Lowest Price
Procurement reform was one of the most consistent and urgent calls from respondents. Contractors expressed frustration with procurement models that continue to prioritise lowest-cost tendering over long-term value. Comments such as “Move away from price only tendering” and “Fair and transparent procurement routes” underline a sector that is eager for change.
The reliance on lowest-price tendering not only squeezes contractor margins but also creates risk across the supply chain, undermining quality and sustainability. Reform is about reshaping procurement into a process that rewards innovation, whole-life value, and collaborative approaches.
Public sector bodies should embed value-based procurement frameworks that evaluate bids on a wider set of metrics, including quality, sustainability and social value. Early contractor involvement should become standard practice to improve budget realism and reduce adversarial relationships.
Collaboration, Transparency & Trust
Respondents also highlighted the need for greater collaboration across the supply chain. Contractors called for “more collaboration, less transactional” approaches and emphasised the importance of transparent, trust-based relationships with clients.
The underlying message is transactional procurement models do not encourage innovation or efficiency. By contrast, collaborative procurement creates space for honest dialogue, earlier problem-solving, and fairer risk allocation.
Clients should adopt more open-book contracting models, with market engagement sessions that encourage partnership, and ensure transparency in tender evaluations. This will strengthen trust and create a healthier, more resilient construction ecosystem.
Skills, Workforce & Industry Promotion
Finally, the Industry Confidence Report underlined the urgency of addressing skills shortages and attracting the next generation of talent. Comments such as “Promotion of the industry and the skills required to people aged 8–25 to attract them into the industry” and “More entry-level and apprenticeship roles” reveal concerns.
Skills shortages not only impact project delivery today but risk undermining the sector’s long-term capacity. Without action, the industry will struggle to meet future challenges, including digital transformation and net zero commitments.
A sustained focus on training, apprenticeships, and industry promotion is essential. Public sector clients should provide clearer long-term pipelines of work to give contractors confidence to invest in workforce development, while industry must redouble efforts to make construction an attractive and rewarding career choice.
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