The document discusses challenges and solutions around unlocking finance for UK infrastructure projects. It notes that the UK was ranked 28th for overall infrastructure quality by the World Economic Forum. The Armitt Review recommended establishing a national infrastructure commission to coordinate stakeholders and promote infrastructure development. Key actions identified include defining roles and accountability, developing a business case and route map, prioritizing investment opportunities, and creating a skills development program linking education to careers in infrastructure. Unlocking infrastructure finance through consensus is said to provide economic and social benefits like job creation, improved living standards, and competitiveness.

1. www.nce.co.uk | 07.11.13 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 21
TonyLatienda
Unlockinginfrastructurefinance
UK Infrastructure has a rich
heritage of Roman ancestry
combinedwith its develop-
ment duringVictorian times.
In 2013 theWorld Economic
Forum, the United Kingdom
was ranked 28th for the overall
quality of its infrastructure.
Challenges
There are a number of
joined-up challenges covering
the spectrum of political,
stakeholder engagement,
policy, planning, regulation,
investment and outsourcing
issues, aswell as organisational
barriers and skills for paving
theway for consensus.
Solutions
TheArmitt Reviewwas
published in September 2013
and issued a recommendation
for the establishment of a
national infrastructure
commission in the next 30
years.The following items
need to be considered in
order to promote and develop
this idea:
n Establish terms of reference
n Develop an organisational
chartwith roles, obligations,
responsibilities and account-
ability clearly defined
n Design a route map
co-ordinatedwith all stake-
holders
n The route mapwill include a
business case based on an
“assessment of need”
n Issue and update online
prospect pipeline including a
list of all specific opportunities
for all types of business
n Prioritise opportunitieswith
the types and levels of
investment required from the
public and private sectors,
including definition of the
ownership model, operating
model and finance model
defined at the start of the
whole lifevalue cycle
n Skills – design aworking
together training and develop-
ment programme including
apprenticeships linking
schools, academies and
universitieswith business in
supporting and delivering
career opportunities
n Develop an integrated
marketing and communication
plan
Benefits
Paving theway for consensus
in connectionwith “unlocking
finance in UK infrastructure”
will give the following
benefits:
n Major component of
economic growth
n Lead to higher demand
profile in terms of a long
supply chain –higher labour
intensity and higher consump-
tion rates
n Establish career job creation
– generate decent jobs quickly
and produce attractive jobs
n Improve standards and
quality of life for all
n Providewealth generation
in the future
n A legacy for future genera-
tions
n Make the UK competitive in
all global areas and markets
As a final thought,we are a
nation of talkers - it is time for
long-term collaborative action.
We have an obligation,
responsibility and duty in
terms of legacy to our future
generations.
n Tony Latienda is a member of
the senior management team
leading the growth plans of
UKPN Services
Viewpoint
Pavingthewayforconsensus.
Consulting –Technologies – Innovation
– Engineering/Design – Construction –
Operations and Maintenance – Finance