The Department for International Trade is set to team up with 17 of the UK’s leading firms from the infrastructure industry to form a new partnership to help UK companies secure new international contracts.
Infrastructure Exports: UK (IE: UK) will bring together companies of all sizes to bid for global infrastructure contracts as a single ‘Team UK’ consortia.
Launched last week, the new body will be co-chaired by Mr Hands and James Wates, chairman of the Wates Group.
The main aim of IE: UK is to make the UK more competitive on the global stage and bring smaller companies into the infrastructure export supply chain.
Mr Hands said: “Global infrastructure investment is set to increase rapidly in the coming years and we must make sure UK firms are in prime position to take advantage of it.
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“Our ‘Team UK’ approach will bring together leading UK infrastructure companies to showcase their expertise on a global scale and work together to successfully bid for the biggest contracts.”
Companies from all over the UK, including Midlands-based Carillion, Mace Group from London, and Northern Ireland’s Lagan Construction will make up IE: UK, representing 200,000 employees from across the UK.
“This is a timely, fresh and strategic approach,” said Mr Wates.
“The UK has a wealth of expertise in developing major infrastructure projects.
“This is a great opportunity for businesses to work together – alongside the government – to target overseas projects, as many countries around the world plan to develop their physical infrastructure to support their own economic growth.”
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