Dr. Liz Gilligan, CEO and co-founder of low-carbon cement manufacturer Material Evolution, is calling for more concrete solutions to support the UK cement industry.
With the Budget just two days away, Dr. Liz Gilligan, CEO and co-founder of low-carbon cement manufacturer Material Evolution, is calling for more concrete solutions to support the UK cement industry. She highlights smarter procurement as a key piece in solving this complex puzzle, especially given that UK concrete demand recently fell to levels not seen since 1963.
Liz says: “The Autumn Budget is an opportunity to move from talking about innovation to meaningfully backing it. At present, support is often directed toward large incumbents and familiar technologies, while emerging UK innovators are still expected to compete on cost in markets under pressure. In our sector, for example, UK concrete demand has recently hit a 62-year low, meaning low-carbon manufacturers are being asked to drive change in the most challenging market conditions in decades.
“If the government wants to foster innovation-led growth, it needs to align incentives, procurement and industrial strategy. That could include carbon-linked tax rebates, support for UK-made low-carbon materials and using public procurement as an anchor market for home-grown innovation. Civil servants cannot be experts in every sector, so we need expert-led procurement frameworks with clear performance and carbon criteria built in from the outset.
“Smart incentives don’t just reduce emissions. They strengthen domestic supply chains, create skilled jobs and ensure the UK grows the industries it will rely on in the future. Innovation can only scale when policy, demand and investment certainty move in step.”
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