œ7 billion EU structural grant on offer

Contractors are missing out on the chance to make use of nearly œ7 billion worth of European Union Structural Funds and should be taking a more pro-active role in influencing local authority spending priorities.

The œ7 billion is the total amount of EC structural grant payable between 1994 and 1999. The Building Employers Confederation is to launch a campaign in June to show how firms can gain access to this money.

The main thrust of the campaign, which will be run in conjunction with legal firm Masons, is that construction firms should form partnerships with local authorities. To date this has happened in only a few urban regeneration schemes.

'At the moment construction firms only tend to get involved in local authority contracts once the funding has been agreed and we want to see them involved in helping set priorities, says Mindy Wilson, BEC European Affairs director.

'The series of seminars, which starts in Leeds on June 5, will be open to non-BEC members including building professionals and local authority representatives', Wilson added.