Restructuring in the construction sector: what does the future hold?
Restructuring in the construction sector
How has COVID-19 impacted the sector?
The supply chain pressures are likely to endure, as a result of the ‘double whammy’ of a global manufacturing slowdown during the pandemic and the logistical issues created by ongoing trade restrictions. The industry also faces a severe shortage of skilled workers; a problem that pre-existed the pandemic but has been compounded by Brexit and COVID-19. With average weekly earnings for construction work increasing by almost 14 per cent between April 2020 and April 2021 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), we are seeing further pressure being placed on the sector. Here, we explore the specific challenges the construction sector is facing, despite high levels of demand, and the immediate and long-term priorities for construction businesses.
In the industrial building sub-sector, we continue to see a growth in new development fueled by rising rents and capital values with demand currently outstripping supply. This increased demand contrasts markedly with the nervousness surrounding the longterm future of city centers and the future demand for office space. The big challenge across all areas of construction is around raw material prices. Steel and timber prices have increased considerably since Spring 2020 – with sourcing such supplies proving difficult – which could significantly erode firms’ margins; whilst shortages of materials for building products such as resins has had the knock-on effect of increasing manufactured product prices and lengthening lead times. This is reflected in the latest IHS Markit and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index, which in August 2021 fell to 55.2, the lowest since February 2021, as growth was weakened by supply chain disruption * 2 .
The enduring issues from the COVID crisis are largely around supplies and skills. The pandemic, combined with Brexit, has greatly impacted the available pool of talent. According to the Office for National Statistics, there has been a 42 per cent fall in the number of EU workers in the UK construction industry since 2017, rising to 54 per cent in London * 3 . The UK currently has low levels of unemployment, and so does not have the capacity in the labour force to fill this void. While a focus on vocational training is important for the longer-term, this arguably won’t make an impact soon enough to solve the current skill shortages. Another challenge for the sector can be seen in the reform of the IR35 regulation introduced in April 2021, seeking to ensure that contractors pay the same National Insurance and tax as employees. This was designed to identify workers employed through their own limited companies, which reduces their tax and National Insurance liabilities, while they are in effect working as an employee. This has seen many one-person service companies having their contracts terminated. Where this represents a de facto pay cut, many are choosing to leave the industry instead, exacerbating the staffing issue. From an operational perspective, SME contractors in particular may find they are winning work but don’t have the staffing or finance to deliver on contracts. While firms can access construction finance facilities to part fund debt and work in progress, it is typically expensive debt. This challenge has been heightened by the VAT reverse charge that came into force in March 2021, compounded by the return of Crown preference. The charge essentially means that sub-contractors require the contractor employing them to pay their VAT directly to HMRC, so no VAT is paid on their invoices, which takes cash out of the working capital cycle. CBILS and Bounce Back loans have so far masked some of the impact of the reverse charge on smaller sub- contractors, whose forecasting is not as sophisticated as it should be, but overtrading is likely to be an issue. More positively, those businesses that are able to respond to these challenges in an agile manner have been able to take advantage of high levels of demand for their services and experience record levels of growth.
14 Per cent increase in weekly earnings for construction workers between April 2020-21 600 Billion pounds of gross public sector investment planned over the next five years Per cent fall in the number of EUworkers in the UK construction industry since 2017 42
What is the current state of play?
Despite the impact of the pandemic on the UK economy, demand for domestic residential construction has experienced a boom as homeowners seek to improve both their indoor and outdoor living spaces. On the new build side, and the housing market generally, the Stamp Duty holiday had a big impact, increasing sales activity driven by a desire for more space or better homes following the first COVID-19 lockdown. These high activity levels also contributed to the parallel trend of people looking to improve their homes and build extensions, as opposed to moving. As a sub-sector of construction, big energy and infrastructure projects, like High Speed Two (HS2) – a high-speed railway network currently under construction between London and Birmingham – are also seeing an increase in demand and a positive funding environment. A government spending review in 2020 committed £100 billion of capital investment during 2021-22, with over £600 billion of gross public sector investment planned over the next five years as part of its Build Back Better plan for growth * 1 , which will support contractors’ order books and unlock further private sector investment.
Despite the impact of the pandemic on the UK economy, demand for domestic residential
construction has experienced a boom as homeowners seek to improve both their indoor and outdoor living spaces. Martyn Pullin Restructuring Advisory
Notes
* 1 Build Back Better our plan for growth. (2021). [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/968403/PfG_Final_Web_Accessible_Version.pdf. * 2 Reuters (2021). UK construction firms hit again by supply squeeze, prices jump - PMI. Reuters. [online] 6 Sep. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk- construction-firms-hit-again-by-supply-squeeze-prices-jump-pmi-2021-09-06/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021]. * 3 Building Products. (2021). Construction industry reports shortage of tradespeople and building materials. [online] Available at: https://buildingproducts.co.uk/ construction-industry-reports-shortage-tradespeople-building-materials/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021]. * 4 Inman, P. (2021). UK economic growth next year will be fastest since 1948, says OBR. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk- news/2021/mar/03/uk-economic-growth-obr-covid-crisis.
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