North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has spoken of the opportunities ahead for Wales and the UK at an event celebrating the opening of Vinci Construction’s new office.
Mr Isherwood sponsored and spoke at the Consultants and Client evening event at the Senedd, to mark the opening of the company’s new office at Cardiff Gate, following twelve years in their old office at Fountain House, St Mellons.
Speaking at the event, Mr Isherwood said:
“Vinci Construction UK is an International business which has been in Wales for the last 20 years as an amalgamation of Norwest Holst, Taylor Woodrow and Stradform, with a strong presence in South Wales.
“As an Assembly Member representing North Wales, I am also aware of their presence across the Nation.”
Mr Isherwood spoke of the 1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, which over its lifetime is expected to deliver up to 25,000 new jobs and leverage an additional £4 billion of private sector investment; the £1.3 billion City Deal for Swansea which the Prime Minister signed for in March and the North Wales Growth Deal.
He added: “At UK level, the construction industry reported in May that growth was rising at the fastest rate since December 2015, driven by residential workloads and sustained growth in civil engineering.
“In January 2016, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) research forecast that the Welsh Construction sector would grow at the fastest rate in the UK up to 2020, creating 17,500 jobs. This assumed major infrastructure projects, including the new Wylfa Nuclear Power station on Anglesey, and the M4 relief road, alongside the £400 million Central Square regeneration in Cardiff and Wrexham’s new Berwyn super prison, and taking into account the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project.
“In February this year, CITB research predicted that construction growth in Wales would be stronger than any other part of the UK for the third consecutive year and that the sector is set to grow almost four times faster than the UK average – adding, however that the challenge is to ensure the right skills are in place and we have the workforce available to build these major projects.
“Only today, figures published by the UK Department for International Trade reveal continued growth in inward investment in Wales, creating, supporting and safeguarding’ over 11,500 jobs.
“So let us embrace the opportunities ahead for Wales and the UK - and for the Welsh Government to work with the UK Department for International Trade in order to deliver for Wales as we move closer to the post-Brexit era.”