Presidential Roundtable summary: in conversation with Bill Esterson MP

Infrastructure systems are integral to the UK’s long-term ambitions: carbon neutrality, climate resilience, economic prosperity and energy security.

However, there’s a broad consensus that the UK has underinvested in its infrastructure.

The private sector finances and delivers around half of the country’s infrastructure. But the global competition for investment – as well as talent and resources – has never been greater.

Without strong policies and pipeline certainty, the UK risks being left behind.

ICE President Keith Howells was joined by Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Minister for Business and Industry, and infrastructure experts from the UK and around the world. They held a wide-ranging discussion about what governments can do to build investor confidence.

The conversation explored reforming the UK’s regulatory system to drive the level of investment required to meet its infrastructure needs, which policy questions need to be addressed and how to increase the UK’s skills capacity.

Low economic growth and international competition for resources mean deciding which investments to prioritise is critical.

The discussion also highlighted ways the UK’s strategic planning framework could be strengthened to improve infrastructure decision-making.