The FMB’s latest state of trade survey revealed that construction SME workloads remained positive in Q2 2018 and grew at a faster rate than in Q1 2018.

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Key results from the survey, include:

• the construction SME sector has now enjoyed more than five years of consecutive quarterly growth
• more than three-quarters of builders (76%) reported increasing material prices in Q2 2018
• almost two-thirds of construction SMEs (65%) are struggling to hire bricklayers and 60% are struggling to hire carpenters and joiners
• more than half of construction SMEs (54%) expect salaries and wages to increase over the next six months

Brian Berry, chief executive at the FMB, said that the second quarter of 2018 proved to be a positive one for the UK’s builders.

“Our latest research shows that firms enjoyed stronger growth in workloads than they did in the first three months of this year.

“Pleasingly, the construction SME sector has now enjoyed more than five years of consecutive growth.”

He continued by adding that employment rose at a faster pace in the second three months of 2018 than it did in the first three months.

“Looking ahead, despite growing political uncertainty and Brexit now less than a year away, construction SMEs remain positive.

“Businesses are optimistic with nearly half of firms predicting rising activity levels over the next three months.”