Editor's comment: Making the most of what we've got...

Being regarded as a "decent and diligent soul" is a good start if you're going to be looking after the UK's construction industry. And it's a view that would see most people in construction welcome the appointment of new construction minister Stephen Timms. Bolt responsibility for a further eight industries onto that and you're looking at stretching even the most conscientious person beyond their capabilities.

Timms, who joined the government 10 years ago and has gained experience across a wide range of departments, faces probably his biggest challenge yet - managing to give enough time and attention to nine major sectors of the UK economy.

Besides construction, Timms has manufacturing, e-commerce, communications and information, bioscience and chemicals, shipbuilding, automotive, retail and the creative industries in his brief at the newly formed Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. For a "decent and diligent soul" - as one political commentator called Timms - the burden of looking after nine industry sectors will be a huge challenge.

Few politicians come into office to do as little as they can. Many become politicians because they want to change they way things are. But with nine industries - four of those being worth almost £500bn to the economy - affecting positive change will be a huge challenge.

But it also means that those who represent each of those nine industries will have to be more focused, and more wily about achieving the outcomes they want.

For construction, this is the time when the industry must come together to cut out the clamour from 300 different representative bodies. Maximum impact and influence will only come from strong cross-industry representation. Making every meeting and every word count will be vital. It's time the industry got it's act together and acted as one on the things that matter. Right now, it will be the only way to achieve any meaningful relationship with our industry's minister.

Emma Penny, editor, Contract Journal, 11 July 2007, p2