Repair and maintenance work is supporting recovery in the construction sector, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The recovery in the construction sector is far from secured, as shown by today’s ONS statistics which reveal just 1% month-on-month growth. It is encouraging that the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector is still doing well with 26.8% growth over the last three months. However, there is increased concern about the availability of building materials because of import issues and the growing uncertainty about Brexit. 78% of builders are forecasting material shortages in the coming months and prices are rising across the board.”
Berry concluded: “While it is good to see boosted activity in the RMI sector, falling activity in the new build housing sector is a cause for concern. Increased support should be given to SME house builders through better resourced planning departments and by ensuring that the new National Home Building Fund is accessible to smaller and micro firms.”
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
