The UK suspended ceilings and partitioning systems market was worth an estimated £283m in 2020, having declined by an estimated 16% due to the impact of the pandemic. The overall market for suspended ceiling and partitioning products is relatively mature and primarily dependent on   construction and refurbishment activity in the non-domestic sector, particularly offices, education, retail, entertainment & leisure, and health. Suspended ceilings are typically installed towards the end of a construction project and partitions are generally fitted upon tenant occupation, so there is a delayed impact compared to changes in construction levels. The market experienced growth to 2018 and was relatively static in 2019, before declining significantly in 2020, primarily due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the initial lockdown, construction levels recovered throughout 2020 and have continued into 2021 as government guidance indicated that the manufacturing and construction sectors could continue to work. This led to an improvement in market performance improve with growth forecast for the year to 31 December 2021. During 2020, the pandemic significantly impacted market growth levels, particularly during the first national lockdown from mid-March. At the peak impact of the Covid-19 lockdown measures in the Q2 2020 many working sites were closed although some activity resumed relatively with the easing of lockdown. Despite the implementation of social distancing measures, overall construction and RMI output grew during H2 2020. For the year, however, it is estimated that the suspended ceilings and partitions market fell by around 16% in 2020. Perhaps one of the most significant developments due to the 2020 lockdowns was the change in working patterns, with people working from home where possible. Any permanent shift in where and how people work is likely to have a lasting impact on the market. The office sector was changing prior to the pandemic but faster adoption of more flexible patterns may accelerate this movement further. Construction in the office sector has fluctuated since 2016, being on a downward trajectory overall. Many companies are reviewing their need and use for office space. Recently ministers have said they want to consider proposals for giving office staff a ‘default’ right to work from home. However, there are concerns by some that this would allow companies to employ workers from abroad, which may impact employment levels in the UK. Alex Blagden, Senior Research Analyst at AMA Research, comments “One of the key factors expected to impact on future demand for suspended ceilings and partitioning is the current change in working practices in offices, largely brought about by the pandemic. While some employers have been encouraging staff to return to the office in 2021, others have – including some major employers – have permanently closed many of their offices and/or changed working practices to full-time or part-time remote working.” Due to the current high number of offices that are vacant or with lower density occupation office blocks, combined with uncertainty among investors, speculative office construction activity has fallen. However, Since Q3 2020 in London there has been a marked increase in starts, with more than half being major refurbishments and the remainder mostly pre-let newbuilds. Refurbishment has centred on reformatting offices to make them both more ’eco friendly’ and more Covid-19 secure. Across the UK, it is likely this is being replicated, so generating requirements for partitioning in open plan spaces and hygienic suspended ceiling tiles. Prospects for the suspended ceilings and partitions market into the medium-term are relatively optimistic with forecast growth to around £335m by 2025. Prospects for the short term remain challenging as construction output growth rates fell in 2020, feeding through to reduced demand for suspended ceilings and partitions.

New research unveils 18% of Brits are seeking a career in the trades as a result of the pandemic 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, have found employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career path 15% of tradespeople have seen their client demand increase post-COVID to their highest levels ever Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now discusses the UK’s vocational skills gap  Research by the Office for National Statistics states that the employment rate in the construction sector for the UK fell from 2.3 million in 2017, to 2.1 million at the end of 2020. This demonstrates a 4% decrease in UK-born workers, and a 42% fall in EU workers. In London, employment fell from 311,124 workers in 2017, to 261,271 at the end of 2020, representing a 54% fall in EU workers, which has only led to further difficulties considering the construction industry was relied on heavily during the pandemic. Whilst an array of challenges for the skilled workforce has come to the surface by the pandemic, the trade sectors has seen exponential growth, proving to be the only retail sector to have grown throughout the pandemic, alongside groceries. Fuelled by the home improvement boom in the UK, the market research provider Kantar has indicated that £4.94 billion was spent on home improvements last year, £552 million than the previous 12 months, ensuring many tradespeople have been inundated with work, creating employment opportunities throughout lockdown for those who have changed their career path. However, with such a large number of EU workers from the UK has left the industry, this is leaving the construction sector suffering from a further employment drought. New national research from Powered Now, a field service management software that specialises in trades, has unveiled that 18% of Brits have sought a new career path in the trades as a result of the pandemic. Furthermore, the research has indicated that the pandemic has been a catalyst for diversifying the UK’s trade workforce, with 15% of those considering the trades as a career being female.  Key Statistics 18% of Brits agree that after COVID, have found employment within a trade sector to pick up additional work or to commence a new career path 15% of tradespeople have seen their client demand increase post-COVID 17% of tradespeople regularly work over 10 hours a day 16% of tradespeople agree that they lose out on business due to extensive administrative tasks, such as chasing invoices 16% of tradespeople agree that sequential waves of COVID has made them more motivated to work The UK Skills Drought The UK construction workforce is an ageing one, with over 20% of tradespeople being over fifty and 15% being in their sixties. The problem was a simple one, as these electricians, builders and plumbers retire, the same percentage of young people were not entering these professions. Although there are many opportunities in the trade industry, many young people were simply not choosing it as a career. This is despite that 74% of parents in a recent YouGov survey would encourage their child to learn the skilled trades. However only 3% of young people aged between 18-24 have searched for a job in the trade industry. Now however, the tide is turning in favour of the labour market, and Brits are seeking new career paths in the trades at record rates, and for good reason. Powered Now’s research had further unveiled that 15% of the UK’s skilled trade workforce were experiencing their highest levels of client demand during the pandemic. Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now, has commented on the research and how this revival in business has caused a welcome increase in productivity and growth for the sector.  “Withshortagesof supplies and labour, the whole industry is still in catch up mode and the various projects that were delayed by sequential lockdowns, are now taking priority. This has helped to spike demand and we expect it to continue in the short term. Our research has entirely confirmed that tradespeople and consumers alike are very much eager to sustain this growth.  “Our SME customers are also talking about the pressure to complete jobs as they don’t have enough boots on the ground. As we have seen from the sentiments established in this research, a new wave of tradespeople are more motivated to work and are commencing their work on home improvements even sooner. These concerns are also sure to help the sector bounce back even quicker as people will rush to hire a tradesperson for their desired work.”