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More than 拢3bn could be unlocked for the construction sector if politicians got to grips with reforming the UK鈥檚 procurement rules, according to Scape.

The public sector procurement group said it wanted politicians to reform the rules to help boost local economies and deliver what it calls 鈥済reater social value for communities through public contracts鈥�.

Scape said its analysis of public sector contracts meant such a move could unlock up to 拢14.4bn for regional supply chains, including 拢3.4bn for the construction industry. Government procurement sees 拢268bn spent every year, it said, equivalent to 14% of the UK鈥檚 GDP.

Scape鈥檚 response to proposals in the Government鈥檚 pre-election Green Paper, , includes four key recommendations to boost local supply chains, help cut down unnecessary bureaucracy for SMEs, and drive up innovation and quality through best practice procurement in the public sector.

They are what the firm called a 鈥渃learer definition of social value鈥� and a 20% minimum on public sector projects and contracts over 拢10m; a new 鈥楤y Appointment to HM Government鈥� title for public sector suppliers to encourage SMEs to bid; a government-led Best Practice Guide for Public Sector Procurement, and further streamlining and standardisation of procurement processes and tendering requirements.

Mark Robinson, Scape鈥檚 chief executive, said that while politicians on all sides agreed that SMEs were the lifeblood of the UK economy and post-Brexit trade, 鈥渢he reality of a minority government and a parliament blocked up with Brexit legislation meant there is now a huge risk that industrial strategy gets watered down and major infrastructure projects like Heathrow or HS2 are delayed.

鈥淲e cannot afford to miss the opportunity to level the playing field for SMEs or invest in regional economies,鈥� he added.