CBI: Businesses welcome focus on long-term value, not just costs

26 Jun 2018 11:36 AM

The CBI has responded to a speech on improving public services by Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington. 

Responding to Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington's speech, which was delivered at the Reform think tank, Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said:

“The collapse of Carillion was a warning of the dangers of short-termism in public contracts. It’s therefore important industry and government learn the right lessons, putting their partnerships on a more sustainable footing to protect public service delivery and people’s jobs.

“With public services and infrastructure under growing pressure, it’s vital for the government to draw investment and innovation from a healthy, competitive and dynamic marketplace of suppliers of all sizes. 

“So businesses will welcome a change of focus to long-term value rather than short-term costs in procurement, and its intention to reduce complexity and cost involved in bidding to allow more SMEs to compete for work.”