By Sarah Macklin 
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on our country in more ways than one.
The building and construction industry has particularly struggled, as disruption at the UK’s main ports resulted in a shortage of materials, particularly timber and roofing.
A shortage often drives the price of materials up, so those who do manage to get their hands on materials will pay a premium. Others may not be so successful and could find it impossible to source materials altogether.
With the increasing demand for housing, combined with a high demand for materials, it’s no wonder that the building industry has struggled in the last 12 months.
But is there a silver lining on this cloud, a light at the end of the tunnel?
Well, the Federation of Master Builders certainly thinks so. The FMB was established in 1941 and are a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for members of the construction trade.
In their most recent survey of small to medium sized construction firms in the UK, they found that enquiries with local building firms have increased at their fastest rate in a decade between January and March 2021. While this interest may be good for our economy, the FMB has expressed worry over continuing construction material shortages.
COVID-19 combined with Brexit had a big impact on our imports and exports, and a huge 93% of builders have said that prices are still rising for materials. As well as this, 38% are struggling to hire bricklayers (increased from 22% in the previous period of September to December 2020) and 34% to hire carpenters or joiners.
Brian Berry, who is chief executive of the FMB, has said: “The worrying impact of these material price increases is that quality builders are at risk of being undercut by unscrupulous traders offering lower quotes to homeowners. Consumers must be aware that the cost of building works may change in the months ahead, as access to materials continues to cause a headache for 93% of Britain’s builders.
“With the construction skills shortage slowly creeping back up the agenda, it’s clear that there is significant capacity in the sector to take on new entrants and create much-needed jobs. I am bitterly disappointed over the decision to cancel the Green Homes Grant scheme, which offered an opportunity to not only bring more people into construction but also to tackle climate change. The Government’s answer to this must be a long-term National Retrofit Strategy, that has the backing of industry from the outset.”
You can read the FMB’s full report here.
