Question Time – Survive and Thrive: A Construction Industry Call to Action

Event Introduction

Poole Dick’s Question Time: Survive and Thrive event on Thursday 20 March at The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, brought together leading figures from across the construction and property sector to unpack the most urgent challenges facing the industry — and to crowdsource ideas for what should be in our collective “survival kit”.

Guided by moderator Stewart Grant, the discussion tackled themes of economic pressure, climate legislation, skills shortages, technology adoption, and shifting public perceptions — with a healthy dose of optimism, realism, and straight-talking insight.

Panelists

– Chris Fletcher – Policy Director, GM Chamber & Director, GMLSIP

– Karen Hirst – Managing Director, Maple Grove Developments

– Sean Stafford – Director, Saffer Cooper Consultancy

– Jane Healey Brown – Director of Planning, Arup

– Tom Higgins – Director, Laing O’Rourke

– Guest Contributor: Ryan Jones – SLG/Deconstruction

– Chair: Stewart Grant – Poole Dick

– Audience engagement included local voices from councils, consultants, and developers

Overview of Key Topics and Insights

1️⃣ The Skills Crisis: A Branding Problem in Disguise?

Ryan Jones opened the event with findings from his Deconstruction research, revealing:

68% of the public say they would never consider a career in construction
Among students, that number rises to 81%
Construction ranked lowest across perceptions of prestige, pay, and safety
Yet 51% would recommend it to others — suggesting an untapped pool of advocatesKey Insight: The public isn’t rejecting the reality of construction; they’re rejecting a narrow, outdated image of it. This is a brand challenge — and one that can be solved with smarter communications and outreach.

2️⃣ Project Viability: Navigating Economic Headwinds

Karen Hirst and Tom Higgins laid bare the reality:

Viable developments is currently a challenge and public funding support is needed for some projects
Cost inflation with increases in labour costs, delays with approvals and lengthy procurement processes are not helping
Clients must be clear on what they want and let the experts deliver with limited changes

Tom Higgins warned that convoluted procurement is “killing the will to bid,” urging a shift to early involvement and “big job mentality.”

Andy Bayley (Poole Dick) added that driving better outcomes means investing in design upfront, improving procurement education, and giving clients the confidence to deviate from the norm.

3️⃣ Housing & Government Targets: Ambition vs Reality

Sean Stafford unpacked the government’s 1.5 million homes target:

Affordable housing delivery only accounts for 400,000 of that
To hit targets, the government must fill the funding gap — rents are dropping, but build costs remain high
There’s appetite to deliver, but the economics don’t yet stack up

Call to action: Don’t dismiss the ambition — pressure test it, align behind it, and demand clarity on funding.

4️⃣ Devolution & Legislation: Opportunity or Overload?

Chris Fletcher noted that:

Devolution is gaining momentum. Greater Manchester is well-placed to lead
Legislation is only a barrier if seen that way — it can also unlock innovation and social value
Localised decision-making must be driven by business input, not just policy

Jane Healey Brown welcomed the new Planning & Infrastructure Bill:

Promises greater speed and accountability
Includes committee reform and councillor training
Emphasises strategic planning and green belt reform

5️⃣ Sustainability & Retrofit: Priority or Casualty?

Elliot Simm and others reflected on the retrofit challenge:

Funding windows are tight, and policy is inconsistent
Without clear standards, it’s hard to plan or deliver at scale

Karen Hirst stressed that Sustainability is embedded at the developer level with sustainable development champions, but not everyone follows the same approach.

Tom Higgins challenged clients directly: “Are you weighting sustainability in your procurement?”

6️⃣ Tech, Offsite & the Future of Building

Tom Higgins shared Laing O’Rourke’s investment in offsite construction and digital engineering:

“We build everything twice – once virtually, once for real”
Labour shortages are permanent — offsite is the only scalable solution

Chris Fletcher and Jane Healey Brown noted that all generations need to embrace tech and upskill — not just Gen Z.

7️⃣ Apprenticeships & Attracting Talent

The panel agreed that traditional trades are still essential — but the industry needs:

New roles like “assembly technicians”
Modern apprenticeships fit for offsite and digital methods
Early intervention — as young as primary school

Karen Hirst shared success from Eric Wright Group’s WOWEX programme, giving teenagers hands-on experience in the world of work and an understanding of the diversity of roles in construction and the built environment, including visiting a real site

8️⃣ From Talk to Action: A Collective Responsibility

Tom Higgins closed with a challenge: “We sit in these forums and hope someone else is doing it. Why aren’t we all doing it?”

Jane Healey Brown called for a mindset shift — and the confidence to call out outdated messaging.

Ryan Jones reiterated: the sector needs a unified voice, not fragmented efforts.

Stewart Grant wrapped up by pledging action, not just dialogue — to shape the Northwest Property and Construction Summit in November.

So… What’s in the Survival Kit?

Clear, early-stage briefs
Smarter, fairer procurement
Better brand for the sector
Realistic housing ambition — backed by funding
Devolved power + local accountability
Sustainability by default, not bolt-on
Digital delivery and offsite thinking
Cross-sector action on skills — not just talk

The conversation and dialogue around these subjects have only just begun. There will be more to follow.

Should you wish to discuss anything in more detail please contact the Poole Dick team on hello@pooledick.co.uk

Bury Office: 0161 447 8500

Stoke Office: 01782 443030

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