Pennon : The UK Industrial Strategy and investment in infrastructure

The Government's been clear, infrastructure and skills are the keys to a strong economy. Infrastructure investment means striking a crucial balance - short-term affordability vs long-term resilience. We must deliver infrastructure fit for the future, but at a price we can afford. This means engaging with communities and giving confidence to investors and businesses.

Investing in infrastructure is a social responsibility as well as an economic one. We are managing a changing climate leading to more flooding and more risk of drought. This was highlighted in last year's National Flood Resilience Review. We are in the midst of an energy transformation and the industrial strategy must deliver a secure, decentralised energy mix will make a significant contribution to reducing energy costs and the need for costly subsidies.

Infrastructure investment requires the public sector, private sector and local communities working together to ensure our infrastructure is fit for purpose for the decades ahead and the challenges to come.

High quality infrastructure provision can raise living standards, it can improve health and well-being through reduced costs and travel time; it can reduce pollution, better connect us digitally and address our long-standing productivity challenge.

And productivity is where infrastructure meets skills....

We used to be famous for our apprenticeships and on the job training. We lost that somewhere along the way to prosperity. Until now. This Government has shown it's commitment to apprenticeships and technical education. Businesses must now step up to the plate, use the impetus of the apprenticeship levy and show their corporate citizenship. We must invest in our people.

Modern Britain needs a modern, workforce, equipped for the workplace of the future. We need skills we didn't need a generation ago, but the next generation won't be able to function without. This is going to be a huge, collective, concerted effort.

Investing in infrastructure, improving living standards and upskilling our workforce - these are all vital in delivering a successful economy - and a successful society and a successful Global Britain.