Builders in Northern Ireland (NI) have reported a fall in workload and enquiries in the period February to April 2020, and a drop in confidence about future workload prospects, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Northern Ireland. However, enquiries for local builders in NI have dropped the least compared to the other home nations in recent months.
To reverse this decline, the Northern Ireland Executive must support investment in public and private sector projects to ensure industry capacity is maintained. Builders need support to deliver new homes and upgrade existing buildings.
Key findings from the FMB’s State of Trade Survey, the only survey to track key indicators in the small to medium-sized (SME) building sector, are as follows.
In NI:
- 53% of respondents in NI reported lower total workloads in February to April 2020, compared to the previous quarter; and the net balance of expected workload fell to -24;
- Though firmly in negative territory, the level of enquiries recorded by Northern Irish builders dropped by a far smaller amount over the same period, than those of their English, Welsh and Scottish counterparts.
UK-wide:
- 9 in 10 (93%) builders say the impact of the coronavirus is constraining their firm’s output;
- 4 in 5 (82%) report that they expect materials costs to increase over the next three months.
Gavin McGuire, Director of FMB NI, said: “Contracting workloads and enquiries bring home a gloomy picture of the far-reaching effects of the coronavirus on construction in NI. The industry must adjust to a new way of working on site, which will understandably hamper productivity. Supporting recovery in this sector, among others, will be challenging. I’m heartened that the Finance Minister is planning to put construction front and centre of economic recovery. This sentiment must be backed by investment in both private and public sector projects. Local builders are the foundation of industry and must be at the heart of recovery."
McGuire concluded: “New build housing should also be central to investment in construction, and this can be achieved by better resourcing planning departments. These steps must happen now to inject confidence in the market, and to save jobs. The NI Executive must also develop a national retrofit strategy so that we do not neglect the fitness of our existing buildings; tackle fuel poverty and provide healthier homes; and produce much-needed jobs for the people of Northern Ireland.”
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.
