Welcome to the first Infrastructure Intelligence magazine of a new year. Like everyone, I hope that 2021 will see the coronavirus crisis abating due to the brilliant work of scientists and medics so that society can get back to something approaching normality, whatever ‘normal’ is in these post-Covid times.

We know that the aftershocks of the pandemic will be felt for some time, especially economically, and in the UK there is a real danger of the economy taking a double hit over the next 12 months as we contend with the aftermath of Brexit as well as the coronavirus. It is likely that we will be living with uncertainty for at least the first part of 2021, but I believe there is a real opportunity for our industry to make a positive impact over the next 12 months.

The construction and infrastructure sector is crucial to the UK’s economic recovery because of the boost to employment it can provide and as a result of the significant social and economic benefits that well-designed, sustainable infrastructure bring to communities across the land.

As we report in this issue, social value, ‘levelling up’ and diversity will rightly take centre stage this year and Infrastructure Intelligence will ensure that the industry’s voice is heard so that our sector can play its full part in the post-Covid recovery.

Let’s make 2021 the year of Infrastructure delivery - a year that our industry really demonstrates the positive role it plays in improving people’s lives up and down the country.

Andy Walker is the editor of Infrastructure Intelligence.

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