The results from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ‘State of Trade Survey’ show that more than two thirds (68%) of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms struggle to hire bricklayers and 64% struggle to hire carpenters and joiners. These are the highest figures since 2008 and are
The latest research carried out by the Federation of Master Builders has revealed that three quarters of construction SMEs have said that cowboy clients are having a negative impact on their business. Cowboy clients are thought to be clients who either delay or withhold payment without good reason or making
The latest alarming revelations from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) indicate that the amount of genuine building skills in the construction employee sector is getting worse as time goes by. The federal group found that the average British bricklayer is not the only one to suffer in the reduction
New President of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), Gary Lewis, says that he will be focussing on boosting the quality and quantity of apprenticeships through construction SMEs. At the National AGM and Conference in Newport, Wales, on September 10, Gary Lewis was elected National President of the FMB, which
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
The results from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) ‘State of Trade Survey’ show that more than two thirds (68%) of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms struggle to hire bricklayers and 64% struggle to hire carpenters and joiners. These are the highest figures since 2008 and are mostly to blame the construction skills shortages. Other results show that the difficulties to hire plumbers and electricians (48%), plasterers (46%), and floorers (30%), also reached record highs. The workloads in SME grew at a slower rate than in 2017 and the firms building new homes had a negative net balance for the first time since 2013. 87% of builders believe that material prices will rise in the next six months; however, nearly two thirds expect salaries and wages to increase as well. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, argues that these skills shortages will lead to the question of “who will build the new homes and infrastructure projects the Government is crying out for”. The new target for home developments every year is 300,000 for England only, but if the workload keeps decreasing there would not be sufficient personnel to build those houses. “More than two-thirds of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers which is one of the key trades in the building industry. This has increased by nearly 10% in just three months which points to a rapid worsening of an already dire situation. What’s more, nearly as many are facing difficulties hiring carpenters and joiners. These figures are the highest we’ve noted since records began a decade ago. As a result, the wages for these increasingly scarce skilled tradespeople continue to rise sharply; that’s a simple consequence of supply and demand. This, coupled with the fact that small construction firms continue to face significant material price increases, will inevitably squeeze their margins and put a brake on growth,” said Berry. There is also the question of what will happen after the Brexit and the Prime Minister must ensure that the immigration system that will replace the free movement of people will be capable to deliver the needs of these two key sectors: construction and house building.
The latest research carried out by the Federation of Master Builders has revealed that three quarters of construction SMEs have said that cowboy clients are having a negative impact on their business. Cowboy clients are thought to be clients who either delay or withhold payment without good reason or making completely unreasonable demands on the company. The Federation of Master Builders, FMB has carried out UK-wide research into the impact of cowboy clients. The results of this research include that nearly three quarters of SMEs feel that cowboy clients are a serious problem for their business, with nearly a quarter of respondents saying that they have had to wait for more than four months for payment from a client or a large contractor. The FMB’s research has shown that less than a third of the SMEs involved in the research are always paid within the standard 30 days. This delay to payment and other cowboy behaviours has led to the construction companies having to delay payment to suppliers and having to borrow additional funds from a bank or another lender. 5% of SMEs said that cowboy clients led to the company having to withhold wages and salaries from staff, with 4% having to let staff go due to delays in payment. More damaging to the construction industry as a whole, 20% of SMEs have said that cowboy clients have stopped them having the confidence to grow their business, and 8% almost went out of business. There are a number of horror stories connected to cowboy builders that is having a negative impact on the reputation of the industry. However, the research generated by the FMB has shown that there is a flip side to these horror stories and can restrict smaller construction companies. Behaviours of cowboy clients include demanding the completion of works additional to the brief or with no extra payment. The most damaging actions is the withholding of payment on spurious grounds such as discovering made up faults.
The latest alarming revelations from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) indicate that the amount of genuine building skills in the construction employee sector is getting worse as time goes by. The federal group found that the average British bricklayer is not the only one to suffer in the reduction of skills crisis that has plagued the building and construction industry. For example, the findings of the FMB indicate that 46 per cent of site managers and construction officials are finding it harder and harder to employ professionals to work on roofs. To make this trend worse, figures have shown that the level of plastering and electrical workers are lower than they have ever been in the last four years. Furthermore, the fact that there are less and less skilled workers operating in the construction industry in Britain is surely a sign that Theresa May and the government need to do something fast to rectify the situation before Britain runs out of skilled workers altogether. Mister Brian Berry, CE of the Federation of Master Builders, explains that the skills set in construction has significantly decreased in the past few years and is an issue that needs to be addressed. A lack of apprenticeships and the growing costs of training and materials is an alarming sign that many construction firms are in danger of losing many of their assets and acquisitions over the years, and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union will surely equally have an impact on the situation of building and construction in the country. The current fluctuations of the English Pound are also a worry for manufacturers in the country, and trade relations with the European Union will need be certified by the government so that the FMB does not have to report any more bad news for the construction industry. There is hope however that 2017 will be a wake-up call for the building industry to seek the government’s help to safeguard its future.
New President of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), Gary Lewis, says that he will be focussing on boosting the quality and quantity of apprenticeships through construction SMEs. At the National AGM and Conference in Newport, Wales, on September 10, Gary Lewis was elected National President of the FMB, which is the largest construction trade association in the UK. National President of the FMB, Gary Lewis, said that he has always been passionate about passing on his knowledge to the next generation and ensuring that they have sufficient skilled workers in the construction sector. Lewis continued: “My own firm is one of the many thousands of SMEs that provides broad-skilled apprenticeships. Indeed, two-thirds of all construction apprentices are trained by SME firms like mine. “FMB members are already playing a pivotal role in improving the quality of apprenticeships through the development of two new Trailblazer standards in bricklaying and plastering. However, root and branch changes to apprenticeship policy are on the horizon with the implementation of the new Government Apprenticeship Levy and the corresponding reforms to the CITB levy.” Lewis also said that these fundamental changes could make or break the quality and quantity of apprenticeship training and it is therefore crucial that the FMB ensures that the new system works for smaller firms, or else they could risk exacerbating the construction skills crisis. He said that as the FMB is celebrating its 75th year, he feels privileged to play a role in leading an organisation that stands for quality and professionalism in the building trade, adding that the FMB has made great strides forward over the last few years. At the National AGM and Conference, Arthur McArdle was elected as the new National Vice President of the FMB and Dave Bentley, the former FMB National President, will now serve as the Immediate Past President.
