Editor's comment: A dose of reality for 2012

There can be few people in the UK construction industry who have enjoyed the last two weeks. Hot on the heels of the Wembley Stadium debacle, Tessa Jowell’s admission that the cost of the Olympics would rise by up to £900m has once again made the construction industry seem like it is holding UK plc to ransom.

The initial wave of euphoria about winning the Olympics has been replaced by a gathering storm of cynicism on the part of the media at large. Every potential problem is picked at, dissected and then hung out as yet another major cock-up on the part of those taking part in constructing the Games – from the government, to the Olympic Delivery Authority, to the construction industry itself. We’re all seen as being culpable in this "gathering disaster".

So who is going to defend the construction industry? Are we going to allow our sector to be berated by the press for the next six years for our alleged incompetence and greed? Are we going to just keep quiet while we are held up as examples of bad practice, bad management and bad attitude?

Right now, we are sitting ducks. No-one has enough of a voice to stand up for the construction industry – and little wonder when we have more than 300 organisations representing us. Just who can the industry’s media critics go to for comment? Is there one credible source who can put across the industry’s views?

It’s something that needs to be considered right now. Another six years of constant criticism will be enough to dampen the spirit of even the most committed in construction. It’s time someone took a lead, rather than relying on government and public bodies to defend our industry. Should it be the role of the specialist media, such as Contract Journal, or an appointed industry spokesman, or the head of delivery partner CLM?

What do you think should happen? I’d like to hear your views: e-mail emma.penny@rbi.co.uk.

[Contract Journal, 29 November 2006, p 48]