What is the significance of the construction products industry to the UK economy?
Simon Storer: The construction products industry is at the heart of the UK economy, providing essential materials for our homes, schools, hospitals, factories, offices, roads and railways. Every year the industry has an output of more than £40bn and exports in excess of 10 per cent of output. The construction products industry accounts for 20 per cent of the UK’s manufacturing output and four per cent of the UK’s GDP. It employs more than 650,000 people in almost 30,000 companies. The Construction Products Association acts as a single unifying voice to promote and campaign for the industry and represents 85 per cent by value of all manufacturers and suppliers of construction products in the UK.