Construction sector losing confidence

CONFIDENCE within the UK’s construction industry has “collapsed” with just 5 per cent of small businesses operating in the sector expecting their workloads to increase this year, according to a new report.

The Federation of Master Builders’ “state of trade survey” found workloads have fallen in each of the past 16 quarters and confidence in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RM&I) market is plunging.

Brian Berry, the federation’s director of external affairs, said: “The disastrous results for the RM&I market are very alarming.”

Commenting on the Scottish construction sector, John Hall – Scottish council member with insolvency trade body R3 – said: “Given the continued squeeze on facilities by lenders, it is highly likely that many more businesses in the construction sector will fail in the coming year.”

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