If clients and contractors can work together to rethink risk, attract diverse talent, embrace digital and embed carbon reduction, the UK can deliver infrastructure that is faster, smarter and greener, writes Mary Osuagwu, operations director - EMEA, Soben part of Accenture
When the government launched its 10-year infrastructure strategy earlier this summer, it laid out an ambitious pipeline of around 780 projects worth £530bn.
Energy, healthcare, transport and water all feature heavily, alongside a renewed commitment to defence and education.
The scale is historic. The challenge? Making sure the industry has the people, processes and technology to deliver at speed and scale.
At Soben, we believe this is a turning point. That’s why we’ve been working on a new white paper, Transforming UK Infrastructure Delivery, which will be published soon. It brings together insights from my colleagues at Soben, alongside guest contributor Huda As’ad from Accenture, to explore what has to change if we are to unlock the value of the UK’s infrastructure pipeline.
Rethinking risk
The past five years have reshaped attitudes to risk. From Brexit to covid to global supply chain shocks, contractors are less willing to shoulder client-driven risks, while investors are increasingly cautious.
The high-profile struggles of HS2 underline the need for better governance structures and more collaborative procurement models. Lessons from major programmes show that early supply chain involvement, longer pre-construction phases, and realistic cost planning are essential if we want certainty on both budget and timelines.
A skills crunch - and an opportunity
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that the UK will need to recruit 50,000 new workers every year between now and 2028. Yet in 2023, more people left construction than joined.
This mismatch is about more than trades. We’re already seeing shortages of sustainability experts, digital specialists, and commercial leaders.
The good news? Recent projects like Crossrail, Thames Tideway, and HS2 show how creative recruitment strategies, flexible working, and mentoring can help widen the talent pool. In the upcoming paper, we argue that the industry must change the narrative - telling stories about the social and environmental impact of infrastructure, not just its engineering complexity.
Digital disruption is here
Digital tools have advanced rapidly since the government’s Construction Playbook in 2020. AI, machine learning and “true BIM” are no longer futuristic concepts - they’re being deployed today to optimise programmes, flag risks early, and cut costs.
But as Accenture’s Huda As’ad said, this is only the beginning. The real step change will come from systems thinking - using data throughout the entire asset lifecycle, from planning to operations.
Making carbon contractual
The push to decarbonise can no longer sit on the sidelines. Programmes like the Lower Thames Crossing have shown that contractual carbon reduction commitments can achieve dramatic results - in this case, a 50% reduction against baseline emissions, at no additional cost.
With more clients signing up to the Five Client Carbon Commitments and the adoption of PAS 2080 accelerating, carbon performance is set to become a defining measure of project success. Supply chains that can’t evidence their approach risk being left behind.
The road ahead
The next decade of infrastructure will be shaped by collaboration, innovation and resilience. If clients and contractors can work together to rethink risk, attract diverse talent, embrace digital and embed carbon reduction, the UK can deliver infrastructure that is faster, smarter and greener.
At Soben, we never forget that behind every programme are people - the professionals designing, planning, and building the infrastructure our society depends on. That’s why our upcoming white paper, Transforming Infrastructure Delivery, brings together perspectives from industry experts including Andrew Gallacher, myself, Rachel Cunningham and guest contributor, Accenture’s Huda As’ad.
We’ll be releasing the full paper soon here in Building magazine and over on sobencc.com. So, watch this space for ideas and practical solutions that could shape the future of UK infrastructure.
To find out more about Soben’s infrastructure consultancy services in EMEA you can contact Mary on the details below:
Mary Osuagwu, ChPP
Operations Director
