UK Construction Workers Optimistic Post-Brexit

Trade professionals in the UK’s construction and building sector are broadly optimistic following the UK’s vote to leave the EU in June.

A survey conducted by Gibbs & Dandy shows that 69% of those questioned are optimistic about the short to medium-term (one to five years) outlook for the sector, as opposed to 12% who said they were pessimistic.

Those surveyed also reported that work levels since the Brexit vote had remained stable, with 84% seeing no change, while 14% revealed they had taken on more work since the referendum.

Neil Lawrence, Managing Director of Gibbs & Dandy, acknowledged that the full impact of Brexit won’t be known until trade deals are negotiated, he commented: “My view has always been the same, which is the UK needs a housebuilding revolution.”

He added that the level of housebuilding required in England alone is on a scale not seen since the 1970s, stating that should the need for 232,000 to 300,000 homes be met, “such an investment in housebuilding will benefit trade professionals and the optimism and confidence they have now will inevitably increase further”.

Earlier this month, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) praised the government for launching a new £3 billion housebuilders fund designed to lend to small-scale developers. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, explained that lack of access to finance is one of the biggest barriers to this group of builders.

However, he cautioned that the government will need to work closely with those in the industry to ensure SMEs find the fund accessible and are therefore able to make good use of it.

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