Welcome to the second episode of Buildup from the Basement, the Federation of Master Builders’ podcast hosted by Iona Stewart-Richardson. This episode features Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Aqua Consultants, alongside regular guest Jeremy Gray, Head of External Affairs at the FMB. Together, they explore the current UK economic outlook and what it means for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction sector.
Tom Hall offers expert analysis on key issues such as ongoing economic uncertainty, the impact of interest rates, and the prospects for infrastructure investment. The discussion highlights how persistent unpredictability is affecting builders’ confidence, investment decisions, and consumer spending. The conversation also covers potential positives, including real wage growth outpacing inflation, as well as the need for long-term government strategies, planning reform, and increased public investment to support SMEs.
Watch more in the series