Why do so few contractors employ public and government affairs people?

Anthony Arkle
27 April 2015

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More companies should make the effort to build links with politicians and government officials as the services they offer develop and broaden, says Anthony Arkle.

One thing I have noticed, both as a civil servant working closely with business in UKTI and when I joined Skanska, is that the general level of knowledge of government and how it operates within the commercial sector is limited, particularly in construction.

"Public affairs professionals can play a pivotal role in helping businesses understand the ever-changing political and policy environment, and the resulting infrastructure and construction needs."

There is good dialogue and understanding of tenders and contracts and transactional matters, but less understanding of strategic and longer-term matters or the challenges that each other faces.

For Skanska, one of my aims has been to raise the level of awareness and understanding of government and how it works. I also facilitate discussions with politicians and officials, so that our conversations are not just about immediate contracts. The world is changing, government and the public sector is changing; it is important Skanska keeps on top of these changes to shape solutions to meet its needs.

Our Swedish parent company is strongly committed to public affairs, with a dedicated team. Skanska’s global CEO, in particular, is passionate about the company making a positive contribution to society and helping to shape society’s future needs, so it’s great that this work has the backing at the highest level within the company.

Since joining the business, however, I have noticed how few UK contractors employ government and public affairs people, unlike other industries where it is common to have teams of people working in this area.

Some of the very largest contractors in the UK are active, but activities tend to be restricted to one or two people. In many instances there isn’t a close relationship between construction companies and government and I suspect many contractors don’t see the value in employing public affairs professionals or just haven’t considered it.

A trend towards increased government outsourcing and contractors diversifying their service offering means it is increasingly important that both take the time to understand where each other is coming from. Although public and private sectors come from very different perspectives, there is a huge amount of synergy. Public affairs professionals can play a pivotal role in helping businesses understand the ever-changing political and policy environment, and the resulting infrastructure and construction needs.

Skanska is a forward-thinking company, which is why it can see the value in taking action to develop a step change in its approach to government and public affairs. In the future I hope to see more contractors adopting a similar approach. That can only be a good thing for the industry.

Anthony Arkle is director of government affairs, strategic development at Skanska UK