The State of the Nation: Capacity and Skills

• Does the nation have the capacity and skills to deliver its long-term infrastructure programme?
• How will a lack of capacity affect our infrastructure?
• What will be the effect on costs?
• Is the industry investing enough in the development of civil engineers?

This State of the Nation report focuses on civil engineering capacity and skills and how they will affect the provision of the infrastructure the UK needs. 

It raises issues that government and industry must address, if the long-term infrastructure of the UK is not to be undermined.

The report has been compiled by a steering group comprising leading experts in the field, and follows in depth research by the University of Warwick's Institute of Employment Research (IER) and interviews with thirty industry leaders.

You can download the full report, or read the individual sections:

1. President's foreword
2. Introduction
3. Heading for a tough period
4. Signs of greater certainty?
5. Politics in infrastructure planning
6. Education
7. Time for the industry to change
8. Time to choose
9. Construction data explanatory notes (pdf) and output projections (Excel)

You can also read ICE's regional State of the Nation briefing sheets:

• East of England
• East Midlands
• London
• South East England
• Wales (Cymru)

State of the Nation 2008
The Capacity and Skills report is the first in a series of State of the Nation reports which ICE will publish throughout 2008, each focused on specific issues that affect the delivery of infrastructure in the UK. A Flood Protection report will be published in June 2008 and Transport report in October 2008.

You can also read previous State of the Nation reports

More information
If you would like further information on the issues raised within the report please contact ICE External Relations on 020 7665 2152 or email stateofthenation@ice.org.uk

Organisations interviewed for State of the Nation, Capacity and Skills:
Amey Plc
Arup
Association for Consultancy and Engineering
Atkins
BAA
Balfour Beatty
Costain
Crossrail
Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland
Edmund Nuttall
Galliford Try
Halcrow Group Ltd
Highways Agency
Jacobs
Laing O'Rourke
Loughborough University
Mott MacDonald
Mouchel
Network Rail
Office of Government
Commerce (OGC)
Queen's University Belfast
Scott Wilson
Sir Robert McAlpine
Skanska UK Plc
Transport Scotland
Tube Lines
University of Birmingham
University of Nottingham
Welsh Water

Acknowledgements

Steering Group
Keith Miller, Director, Keith Miller Consultants (Steering Group Chair)
Raymond Coe, Technical Director, Black & Veatch
Adrian Coy, Technical Director, Scott Wilson
Andrew Dainty, Professor of Construction Sociology, University of Loughborough
Adrian Dyball, Chief Executive, Dean and Dyball

Research Team
Dr Geoff Briscoe, Associate Research Fellow, University of Warwick, Institute for Employment
Research
Dr Terence Hogarth, Principal Research Fellow, University of Warwick, Institute for Employment Research

Staff Support
Nicola Bates, Andrew Crudgington, Andy Gooding, Ed Horton, Anne Moir, Paul O'Grady, Dr Chrissie Pepper, Graham Sibley

Thanks to
Guy Hazelhurst - ConstructionSkills
Constructing Excellence
Infrastructure Forum