The wait is nearly over for the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy and, before too long, UK industries will need to start putting proposals into action. With the recent spotlight on tariffs and the uncertainties faced by industries such as steel, questions are emerging over where we get our materials from – and whether we will have the building blocks we need to make Labour’s growth ambitions a reality.

Cement and concrete are undeniably key building blocks. They are essential as enablers of growth. Without them, we cannot build – whether that be water and energy infrastructure, roads, bridges, railways, airports or other projects that underpin the economy.

Despite this, we have seen an increasing reliance on cement supply from overseas, weakening our materials security as a result. Cement imports into the UK have tripled over the past 20 years and now make up 32% of the market