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The UK construction sector is regaining momentum in 2025, with workloads rising and firms taking on more staff. Yet, despite this positive shift, persistent shortages of skilled workers and increasing costs mean that many homeowners could still face delays, higher prices, or even cancelled projects when it comes to building and renovation work

The UK construction industry is picking up pace in 2025 with an increase in workloads and enquiries for new work but the downside is that homeowners may still face longer waits, rising prices, and even cancelled projects, reports the new SME State of Trade Survey, carried out by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Our latest survey, refreshed for 2025, reveals strong growth in workloads, enquiries and employment — tempered by ongoing recruitment difficulties and cost concerns.

The steepest fall in construction activity since May 2020 is a serious a wakeup call that government announcements on construction have yet to be delivered, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to July’s S&P Global UK Construction PMI data

Measures announced as part of the Government's ‘Small Business Plan’, to tackle late payments and tool theft, futureproof skills, and improve access to finance, are welcome steps to create a more level playing field for small building companies, say the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Richard Quigley MP argues proper regulation in the sector would protect consumers and support legitimate tradespeople, in the latest episode of the Build Up: From the Basement podcast

Dodgy builders, delayed renovations and wasted money - new survey reveals how a lack of regulation is costing Britain's homeowners  

The Chancellor’s decision to spend £39bn to boost social housing projects is a welcome move to help tackle the housing crisis, but the delivery of these homes needs to be open to small local housebuilders who are often shut out of the procurement process, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Can community wealth building build up building firms? FMB Scotland Director Gordon Nelson reports from Holyrood.

Brian Berry reflects on trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, and how they might impact Small Builders across the UK

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, announced her Spring Statement today, with positive news regarding plans to grow the construction workforce, but it's all down to delivery according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

The 0.2% fall in construction output in January 2025, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), is another indicator that the economy is struggling despite the Government’s strong commitment to back development, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Urgent action is needed to address the slump in construction output demonstrated in S&P Global/CIPS UK Construction PMI data for February 2025, which shows the fastest downturn since the start of the pandemic, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Workloads for small building companies fell by 8% in the last three months of 2024 , according to the latest Q4 2024 State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Workloads for small building companies fell by 8% in the last three months of 2024 , according to the latest Q4 2024 State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

This quarter’s State of Trade data reflects the ongoing pressure faced by the UK’s small builders, with workloads, enquiries and employment numbers down and costs remaining stubbornly high.

Newly released S&P Global/CIPS UK Construction PMI data for December 2024, showing construction output at a six-month low and housebuilding as the weakest-performing area within the construction sector, demonstrates that there is a long way still to go to tackle Britain’s housing crisis.

On the 16 December, we hosted the FMB's Winter Parliamentary Reception for 2024 at the House of Lords, inviting our members, construction stakeholders and politicians to gather for an evening of discussion on the issues that matter to SMEs in the building industry.

The UK construction sector is regaining momentum in 2025, with workloads rising and firms taking on more staff. Yet, despite this positive shift, persistent shortages of skilled workers and increasing costs mean that many homeowners could still face delays, higher prices, or even cancelled projects when it comes to building and renovation work

The UK construction industry is picking up pace in 2025 with an increase in workloads and enquiries for new work but the downside is that homeowners may still face longer waits, rising prices, and even cancelled projects, reports the new SME State of Trade Survey, carried out by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Our latest survey, refreshed for 2025, reveals strong growth in workloads, enquiries and employment — tempered by ongoing recruitment difficulties and cost concerns.

The steepest fall in construction activity since May 2020 is a serious a wakeup call that government announcements on construction have yet to be delivered, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to July’s S&P Global UK Construction PMI data

Measures announced as part of the Government's ‘Small Business Plan’, to tackle late payments and tool theft, futureproof skills, and improve access to finance, are welcome steps to create a more level playing field for small building companies, say the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Richard Quigley MP argues proper regulation in the sector would protect consumers and support legitimate tradespeople, in the latest episode of the Build Up: From the Basement podcast

Dodgy builders, delayed renovations and wasted money - new survey reveals how a lack of regulation is costing Britain's homeowners  

The Chancellor’s decision to spend £39bn to boost social housing projects is a welcome move to help tackle the housing crisis, but the delivery of these homes needs to be open to small local housebuilders who are often shut out of the procurement process, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Can community wealth building build up building firms? FMB Scotland Director Gordon Nelson reports from Holyrood.

Brian Berry reflects on trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, and how they might impact Small Builders across the UK

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, announced her Spring Statement today, with positive news regarding plans to grow the construction workforce, but it's all down to delivery according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

The 0.2% fall in construction output in January 2025, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), is another indicator that the economy is struggling despite the Government’s strong commitment to back development, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Urgent action is needed to address the slump in construction output demonstrated in S&P Global/CIPS UK Construction PMI data for February 2025, which shows the fastest downturn since the start of the pandemic, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Workloads for small building companies fell by 8% in the last three months of 2024 , according to the latest Q4 2024 State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Workloads for small building companies fell by 8% in the last three months of 2024 , according to the latest Q4 2024 State of Trade Survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

This quarter’s State of Trade data reflects the ongoing pressure faced by the UK’s small builders, with workloads, enquiries and employment numbers down and costs remaining stubbornly high.

Newly released S&P Global/CIPS UK Construction PMI data for December 2024, showing construction output at a six-month low and housebuilding as the weakest-performing area within the construction sector, demonstrates that there is a long way still to go to tackle Britain’s housing crisis.

On the 16 December, we hosted the FMB's Winter Parliamentary Reception for 2024 at the House of Lords, inviting our members, construction stakeholders and politicians to gather for an evening of discussion on the issues that matter to SMEs in the building industry.