King's Speech 2024: A New Era for Civil Engineering and Rail Infrastructure

The recent King’s Speech, delivered on 17th July 2024, marked a historic moment for the UK's legislative agenda, setting the stage for transformative changes across various sectors. For the civil engineering and rail infrastructure market, the speech heralds a new era of opportunities and challenges, particularly with the Labour Party’s ambitious legislative programme.

Rail Sector Reforms: A Unified and Publicly-Owned System

A significant highlight of the King’s Speech was the announcement of three pivotal rail bills: the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, the Rail Reform Bill, and the repurposed High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill. These bills aim to overhaul the current fragmented rail system by bringing train operating companies into public ownership and establishing Great British Railways (GBR) as the central coordinating body.

The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill is set to transition the UK's rail services i.e. train operating companies to a publicly-owned model, ensuring that public sector operators become the standard approach. This move is expected to unify the railway system, improve service quality, and increase productivity by eliminating payments to private operators. The Rail Reform Bill will further integrate the rail network by consolidating track and train operations under GBR, promising immediate benefits through a “shadow GBR” that will unify key industry bodies ahead of the formal establishment of GBR.

For civil engineering firms involved in rail infrastructure, these reforms signify an increased demand for expertise in rail construction and maintenance. The establishment of GBR will likely streamline project coordination, reduce bureaucratic delays, and facilitate more efficient implementation of rail projects. The High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill, focusing on enhancing east-to-west connectivity across northern England, will also drive significant infrastructure development, creating new opportunities for civil engineering companies.

Infrastructure and Planning: Accelerating Growth

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to simplify the implementation process for essential infrastructure projects, addressing costly delays that have plagued the sector. This legislative effort aligns with the Government’s mission to "get Britain building," promising reforms that will accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing. Civil engineering firms can anticipate a more favourable environment for project approvals, reducing the administrative burden and enabling faster project rollouts.

Moreover, the English Devolution Bill will grant metro mayors and combined authorities new powers over skills, energy, planning, and transport. This decentralisation is expected to empower local governments to drive infrastructure projects tailored to regional needs, fostering economic growth and development at the local level. Civil engineering companies should prepare to engage more closely with local authorities, adapting their strategies to align with regional growth plans.

Skills and Employment: Addressing the Workforce Challenge

One of the critical components of the legislative programme is the establishment of Skills England, a new body designed to bridge the skills gap by collaborating with businesses, training providers, and the government. The reformation of the apprenticeship levy into a 'growth and skills levy' underscores the Government’s commitment to skills development, although the speech was light on specifics.

For the civil engineering and rail infrastructure sectors, this initiative is crucial. The industry's long-standing skills shortage has been a significant bottleneck in meeting project demands. Skills England’s mandate to enhance training programs and support workforce development is a promising step towards building a more robust and capable workforce. Companies must proactively engage with Skills England and leverage the new funding opportunities to upskill their employees and attract new talent.

Economic Growth and Industrial Strategy: A Holistic Approach

The overarching theme of the King’s Speech was economic growth, with a clear intent to create a favourable business environment that supports wealth creation across all communities. The Government’s commitment to a new industrial strategy and the establishment of an Industrial Strategy Council highlights a shift towards a more active state role in driving economic development.

For the civil engineering sector, this translates into a more predictable and supportive policy framework, encouraging long-term investments in infrastructure projects. The focus on sustainable growth and the promotion of new technologies will likely spur innovation within the industry, offering new avenues for growth and development.

Conclusion

The 2024 King’s Speech sets a bold agenda for the civil engineering and rail infrastructure sectors, with legislative measures aimed at unifying the rail system, accelerating infrastructure projects, and addressing the skills gap. The Labour Government’s focus on economic growth, sustainability, and regional empowerment presents significant opportunities for the industry to thrive.

McGinley Support Services, as a key player in the recruitment and support of skilled labour in the infrastructure sector, is well-positioned to navigate and leverage these legislative changes. By staying ahead of policy developments and aligning our strategies with the Government’s growth agenda, we can continue to provide our clients with the skilled workforce needed to build a prosperous and sustainable future for the UK.