“Today’s State of Trade survey tells a tale of extremes,” said Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master builders (FMB), about the findings of the FMB’ State of Trade survey, published today (2 August). “While it’s brilliant to see small, local building companies and sole traders bouncing back from the difficulties of 2020, record workloads and enquires are bringing significant challenges.”
Brian continued: “An extraordinary 98% of small builders now face rising prices for building materials, with the same number expecting this to continue into the autumn. Half of those who responded to our survey are struggling to hire a carpenter or a bricklayer. Without these fundamental inputs, how can Britain build back better?”
“In the absence of greater support from government and industry, to explain to consumers why prices are going up, I fear a growing number putting themselves at the mercy of cowboy builders seeking to undercut quality tradespeople. To address the skills crisis so starkly presented by this new data, industry efforts to encourage more people into construction must be supported at the spending review, with further investment in colleges,” Brian concluded.
The latest FMB State of Trade Survey, the only survey of its kind to track the experience of small-to-medium-sized (SME) construction firms in the UK, found that:
• Workloads, enquiries and employment all grew in the period April to June 2021, with workload and enquiry levels at their highest point for a decade;
• Findings indicate that Wales is bouncing back more strongly than other UK nations, with 76% of respondents reporting higher workloads, compared to last quarter;
• 53% of builders are struggling to hire carpenters/joiners, up from 23% six months ago;
• 47% are struggling to hire bricklayers, up from 22% in Q4 2020;
• 98% of builders are facing material price rises, with the same number expecting this to continue into Q3 2021; and
• 80% of respondents have been forced to raise their prices in the past quarter.
