Despite construction growth being recorded at an 11-month low by IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®), the construction market is confident of a return. Continued uncertainty in the political arena and concerns over Brexit negotiations have led to a subdued confidence among clients.
Bright spots for the sector see the industry bucking the trend with a reduction of eight per cent in the amount of bad debt owed to them.
And while commercial growth is seeing a slow down, the residential market remains buoyant. With the government leading housing and infrastructure investment, civil engineering is experiencing a boost and recorded an upturn in growth.
Political uncertainty is also effecting the fleet and freight industry, with the FTA encouraging David Davis to put logistics at the heart of Brexit negotiations.
This month we focus on the evolution of technology and the emergence of augmented and virtual reality in the construction sector. We speak to two experts in construction innovation about how the technology can be applied and the benefits of integrating this emerging software.
With one eye always on the future, we also speak with Matthew Pencharz about tackling pollution on construction sites and the advantages of using cleaner, more efficient equipment.
As more information emerges from the Grenfell disaster, we follow the inquiry’s investigations and speak to Stephen Adams, Chief Executive of BAFE, about current attitudes to fire protection and the implications for building regulations going forward.
And, as always, we catch up with the latest contract news, industry movers and our guest contributors, inside.
