Following the budget presented by the UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves on 30 October 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering and the Environmental Industries Commission, Kate Jennings issued the below statement.

“Today’s Budget did not contain many surprises, however, as many of our key asks were recognised, we welcomed the statement. The Chancellor’s announcement of more funding for projects at national, devolved, regional and local levels was a welcome signal for our whole sector. Similarly, the commitment to a stable and longer-term approach to planning and funding to give security and certainty, we hope, will see an end to the disastrous ‘commit, stop, review’ habits that have added the most costly delays to projects like HS2, inevitably fuelling the burden on the public purse.

The continued commitment to moving towards net zero through Great British Energy and funding for 11 hydrogen projects around the UK is encouraging. However, it’s vital, as proved by our One Crisis seminar and featuring in the current round of UN COP campaigns that climate change, nature and biodiversity and pollution control should not siloed. These aspects must be considered throughout the planning and delivery process of every project for the UK to thrive.

We welcome the commitment to increase capital investment including the change to fiscal rules that will unlock private investment. It is crucial that funding is funnelled into a stable pipeline and that even greater clarity is provided in the Spring Infrastructure and Industrial Strategies. Engineering design consultancies play a major role in reducing regional inequalities through infrastructure connectivity and socially valuable placemaking – a key Government mission.

We will continue to support our members who are poised and have the know-how to help Government realise its budget goals for UK sustainable growth and prosperity.”