CPA welcomes Government’s new 10-year Industrial Strategy

Construction Products Association has expressed strong support for the clarity and ambition shown 

THE Construction Products Association (CPA) today expressed strong support for the UK Government’s newly launched 10-year Industrial Strategy.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the strategy as a turning point for the British economy, delivering long-term certainty for business through significant public investment across eight high-growth sectors – including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital, and defence – underpinned by an £86 billion R&D package. Central to its vision is addressing industrial energy costs: more than 7,000 manufacturing firms will be exempted from green levies, and network charge rebates for energy-intensive industries will be significantly increased.

The CPA, representing the UK’s £68.6 billion construction products manufacturing sector, welcomed the clarity and ambition shown. It emphasized the critical importance of aligning implementation with the needs of industries like construction products manufacturing, which accounts for 11% of total UK manufacturing output and employs more than 407,900 people.

Peter Caplehorn, chief executive of the Construction Products Association, said: ‘We welcome the renewed commitment to a long-term industrial strategy. The strategy must not only be ambitious – it must be consistent, clear, and rooted in real engagement with industry. Delivery is everything, and we look forward to working with government to make this vision a reality.’

The CPA says it particularly appreciates the proposed consultation on industrial electricity pricing and plans to increase rebates for eligible manufacturers from 60% to 90%. These measures could significantly improve competitiveness for UK-based producers, provided they are rolled out effectively and equitably across sectors.

Whilst the strategy highlights sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy, the CPA strongly agrees with the Government’s recognition of construction manufacturing as a foundation sector – underpinning the delivery of national priorities on infrastructure, decarbonization, housing, and economic growth. The Association emphasized that this acknowledgment must now be matched by full and consistent inclusion of construction products manufacturing in the strategy’s delivery frameworks, investment planning, and cross-sector co-ordination.

The 10-year horizon also aligns with the CPA’s calls for long-term stability in policymaking. In the past, industrial strategies have too often faltered due to fragmented implementation, frequent policy shifts and a lack of follow-through. The CPA is urging government to ensure this strategy is backed by strong governance, defined timelines, and meaningful collaboration with industry.