Construction SMEs expect high quality work and engagement with new technologies

Construction SMEs have a forward-thinking approach to business and are willing to adapt to new working practices, a survey from Constructionline has shown.

The survey undertaken by the supply chain and procurement experts, shows that SMEs are very aware of changes currently impacting the construction sector, but remain positive with nearly three quarters of respondents (74%) optimistic about the success of their business in the next two years.

The findings come despite Brexit looming, the widely talked about skills shortage and other macro factors.

John Edmunds Constructionline’s Managing Director comments, “The survey shows an awareness of changes that are coming to the sector and the vast majority of SMEs understand the need to engage with new technologies, which is promising. In particular we noticed the need to embrace Building Information Modelling (BIM) - as a way to adapt to digital working to utilise off-site manufacture.”

Off-site has been a buzzword in the construction world over the past year in particular, and increased use of the approach and technology was a change that over a third of respondents (36%) thought likely to happen.

“In addition to their ability to adapt to new industry demands, many construction SMEs expect to grow their business through a focus on the quality of their work. In fact, three-quarters (75%) of respondents expect future opportunities to come from their business’ reputation for producing high quality work,” continues Edmunds from Constructionline.

Of those businesses that did not expect their business to progress in the next two years, 60% said the ongoing squeeze on price margin as the biggest threat while 53% cited concerns about labour issues, a lack of skilled people and the impact of Brexit.

The survey is based on responses from over 500 respondents drawn from Constructionline’s 46,000 supplier membership database over a four-week period between March and April 2018.