Construction productivity has been stuck in neutral for decades, but change is possible. By learning from real projects and sharing what actually works on site, the industry can move past theory and into action. The message is simple: the best ideas often come from projects just like yours, writes Antony Impey MBE
Productivity has been a thorn in construction’s side for decades. Despite advances in technology and skills, there’s been little meaningful improvement in the past 50 years. In fact, between 1997 and 2020, productivity in building construction actually went backwards.
The reasons aren’t hard to find. Projects have become more complex, regulations tighter and client demands greater. These challenges have slowed progress – but they don’t take away the urgent need for change. With labour shortages biting and new technologies offering fresh opportunities, construction must find ways to boost efficiency if it’s to stay competitive. Other industries, like manufacturing, have done it. So why can’t we?
The Taskforce approach
That’s exactly the question behind the Construction Productivity Taskforce, launched in 2020 by Be the Business. Its mission: to tackle the industry’s longstanding productivity problem by uniting clients, contractors, designers and supply chains to work on it together.
This collective effort means looking at productivity in ways no single company can. The Taskforce isn’t another industry body. It’s a space for senior leaders to drive change, equipping teams with insights, tools and resources that deliver practical results. Members include names like Landsec, Mace, Skanska, Sir Robert McAlpine and British Land. What unites them is the belief that collaboration beats competition when it comes to solving the industry’s toughest challenge.
Learning from what really works
This is what makes the taskforce’s most recent publication so valuable. Improving Construction Productivity: Practical Insights from Pilot Site Studies has been produced in partnership with University of Cambridge to assess the productivity gains achieved on sites operated by taskforce members, including:
- How smarter sequencing lifted façade installation output at Broadgate Tower.
- How digital planning tools, paired with two-week lookahead schedules, improved design productivity at the Vehicle Storage Support Programme (VSSP).
- How tackling disruptors like crane dependency, weather delays and inconsistent sequencing helped keep work on track at Timber Square.
The message is clear: productivity gains come from practical steps anyone can adopt. Engaging the supply chain early, planning with integrated digital tools and tightening sequencing can all reduce variability and deliver smoother, more efficient projects.
Why looking sideways matters
While it’s tempting to look for breakthrough innovations, sometimes the most powerful improvements come from simply learning from others. Projects like Broadgate Tower, VSSP and Timber Square show that it’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about borrowing what works, adapting it and applying it consistently.
That’s the root of better productivity: not isolated brilliance but shared knowledge. And that’s exactly what the Construction Productivity Taskforce exists to provide.
Construction may have lagged behind the rest of the economy for too long, but it doesn’t have to stay there. With collaboration, openness, and a willingness to adopt proven approaches, the industry has every chance to close the gap.
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