This interpretation is reinforced by the results showing that just under half (40 per cent) of respondents reported a rise in their total workload in the first quarter of the year, compared with 26 per cent indicating a fall. There was also a similar balance of ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ proportions of replies for the change in employment during January to March.

However, looking at this quarter and ahead to quarter two expectations, a more cautious interpretation of the results could be justified. While the trend in enquiries for future work is clearly stronger than those for the same period in 2006, it is not as strong as the majority of years in the present decade.

Cautious optimism
FMB director general, Richard Diment, greeted the results with cautious optimism. He said: “We are heartened that the recent decline appears to have come to an end, but perhaps I think it is still too early to say whether this upturn is a sign of genuine recovery, or simply a normal seasonal variation.”

There is a slight reduction, and close to its lowest-ever level, in the proportion of firms reporting problems with the availability of skilled labour to work either as direct employees or as sub-contractors. For the availability of individual skills the highest proportion indicating supply difficulties is 15 per cent for recruitment of carpenters and joiners to work as direct employees, followed by 14 per cent for plumbers to work as sub-contractors.

This may suggest that small and medium-sized builders and contractors are not, for the present, anticipating such an increase in workload as would require a significant increase of the workforce to deliver it.

Regions
Results by region are quite mixed. Taking all indications into account, trends in the first quarter and expected trends in the coming three months appear to be strongest for firms working mainly in the South East, South West and Yorkshire & Humberside.

Taking into account the results for different types of work, the strongest are for new build and repair, maintenance and improvement of private housing, although not all regions are looking forward to growth in these areas. The weakest, by comparison, are those for new build and refurbishment of non-residential buildings for public sector clients.

Indications of the supply of building materials and products are again good, with no more than seven per cent of respondents reporting delays of more than two weeks.

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Susie Hughes
The Editor © Hardhatter 2007