NISTA CEO Becky Wood emphasised the collaborative approach taken in developing the tool: “We’ve listened to a wide range of voices to ensure this pipeline is designed to give the infrastructure sector the information and insights needed to plan with confidence and to build the skills, workforce and supply chains required. NISTA is committed to working with investors, operators and construction firms on future iterations to ensure the pipeline is where private and public sector partners will stand firmly behind a shared ambition to do things better”.
Industry Response: A Welcome Step Forward
The launch has been met with overwhelming support from industry leaders, who have long advocated for greater certainty in infrastructure planning. Marie-Claude Hemming, Policy Director of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), stated: “This is precisely the kind of clarity and long-term vision our industry needs. For too long, infrastructure planning in Britain has been plagued by short-termism, with skills and labour recruitment matching the peak and troughs of government commitment to projects”.
John Foster, Chief Policy Officer at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), described the tool as “exactly what business needs to plan, invest, and build with confidence,” whilst Sam Gould, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the Institution of Civil Engineers, highlighted its “essential clarity for the industry to plan – not just for delivery, but to enable better workforce planning and attract necessary finance”.
Leo Quinn, Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty, noted: “The new Infrastructure Pipeline is a big step forward, giving industry the clarity and confidence to invest in skills, grow capability and deliver sustainable, digital solutions. It’s what Balfour Beatty has been calling for: funded schemes, greater detail and transparency, and real-time updates to support business planning”.