Construction UK Construction Directory
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Share this page
Construction News
07/09/2016

Engineering Firms 'Optimistic' Following Brexit Vote - Survey

Construction News Image
New figures have revealed building services engineering companies are "conditionally optimistic" following the UK's decision to leave the European Union (EU).

In a recent industry survey, 46% of respondents believe Brexit will have an positive impact on their company in the next five years, while 19% believed it will leave a negative impact.

However, larger contractors with over £20 million of turnover are slightly less optimistic than their smaller counterparts, while 47% of respondents also believe the cost of materials will rise as a result of Brexit.

The survey showed a general tendency of contractors using skilled UK workers rather than EU workers, with 92% of participants stating they "do not rely on EU migrant workers". Only 25% agreed Brexit would "worsen the shortage of qualified workers".

-- Advertisement --
hss

Overall, the sector has put maintaining access to the EU 'Single Market' at the top of its Brexit wishlist, followed by more control of employment law and the need to negotiate non-EU trade deals. Only 17% of respondents stated maintaining freedom of movement was one of their top priorities.

Steve Bratt, CEO of the Electrical Contractors' Association, said: "No matter how our relationship with Europe develops, our sector has a huge role to play in achieving UK business growth. This includes providing skilled jobs, fully functional buildings and infrastructure, and UK energy security.

"To help us achieve these aims, it's vital that we know the initial views of our sector as we head towards Brexit. Significantly, contractors are telling us that they want the UK to maintain access to the Single Market, while they are less concerned about ensuring freedom of movement."

The survey was carried out by the ECA, the Building Engineering Services Association and Scotland's trade association for the electrical industry SELECT.

(LM/CD)

Latest Construction News

29/11/2024

Helmsley Group secured planning permission for the final part of its Coney Street Riverside masterplan which will bring much needed residential space to the city and realise a 50-year ambition to reconnect York to its riverfront. With work expected to start in the summer of 2025, this approval ...
29/11/2024

Network Space Developments (NSD) has received planning approval from Manchester City Council for a major redevelopment project at its Welcomb Street site in Openshaw, Manchester. The four-acre site, acquired by NSD in 2022, will be transformed into an extension of the adjacent City Works Business ...
29/11/2024

Work has commenced on a new lighting scheme designed to create brighter streets in Digbeth, close to HS2's Birmingham Curzon Street station. The Birmingham City Council project – funded in part through a £210,140 investment from HS2's Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) – will see the ...
29/11/2024

Building work has commenced on 14 new modern one-bedroom apartments at Ludwick Green in Welwyn Garden City. The apartments are being developed as part of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's (WHBC) Affordable Housing Programme, and its commitment to building new social and affordable homes. Ludwick ...
29/11/2024

River Capital has invested £500,000 in Liverpool-based M&E engineering consultancy, Steven A Hunt & Associates Ltd. The funding was structured to facilitate a management buyout (MBO) by the senior management team of Neil Baines, Anne King, Dave Kelly and Dominic Sibbring from founder Steven Hunt, ...
29/11/2024

Henley Restoration and Remedials has been chosen to carry out extensive external and structural repairs on the Grade II-listed Phoenix Mill, the oldest building in the Rutland Mills complex. Originally a grain store, Phoenix Mill later became a corn mill in the 19th century before transitioning ...
29/11/2024

Dorset County Council's North East Technology Park (NETPark) has been allocated over £11 million towards its expansion. The North East Combined Authority's Cabinet has approved £11.3m of funding for the Sedgefield site from its £160m flagship North East Investment Zone (NEIZ), which aims to drive ...
29/11/2024

Laing O'Rourke, in collaboration with Barnsley College and T3 Training & Development, have opened the UK's first dedicated modern methods of construction (MMC) training facility. The first of its kind training centre represents a groundbreaking step in addressing the UK's construction skills ...
29/11/2024

Aqua Direct are keen to share their support for the Urgent Funding campaign from St Giles Hospice. With a national hospice funding crisis, they need your support more than ever ...
29/11/2024

As we approach the end of 2024, we have been reflecting on what an action-packed year it has been. We have worked with some fantastic clients and sites across the country. We started from our base in Essex over ten years ago, and the demand for trackway has certainly been at its highest ...
BRICOFLOR UKT & D Glazing And Installation LimitedThink Construction Skills Ltd.Stuart CanvasEfco UK LtdAqua Direct LtdLakeside HirePro Structures LtdTotalclean Solutions LtdWorkwear Gurus
Terms and Conditions
2024/11/29 22:08:04