Victoria Hills co-chairs the new Construction Growth Coalition to lobby the UK government on behalf of SME builders, joiners, and trade businesses.
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) chief executive Victoria Hills has been appointed to jointly lead the newly formed Construction Growth Coalition (CGC). The coalition has been established to act as a unified lobbying body, bringing the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) directly to the UK government.
SME contractors, specialist trades, and independent builders make up the vast majority of the UK construction sector, yet trade bodies have frequently warned that policy decisions—ranging from planning reform to public procurement—unduly favour tier-one contractors. The CGC aims to bridge this gap by pressing ministers for policy settings that support smaller firms, improve cash flow protections, and streamline regional building approvals.
What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit — does it change what they should pay, buy, or watch out for?
In the short term, this leadership move will not alter the shelf price of timber at Travis Perkins or pack prices of fixings at Screwfix. However, for self-employed tradespeople and small building firms, stronger SME representation at a cabinet level is intended to influence public spending distribution, sub-contractor payment terms, and local authority planning speeds. If the coalition successfully lobbies for reduced administrative burdens and better access to public works for smaller contractors, local firms may see a more stable pipeline of regional work. Tradespeople should monitor upcoming government announcements backed by the CGC for potential changes to apprenticeship subsidies or green retrofit grants that could boost demand for specialist trade skills.
The establishment of the coalition comes during a period of persistent cost pressures for regional builders, who continue to navigate elevated material pricing and tight profit margins. By bringing the CIOB's institutional weight to a dedicated SME group, the coalition intends to ensure that future building regulations and material compliance demands are realistic for smaller businesses to implement on site.
Reported by Construction Management — original article
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