Medium sized civils firms suffering the most

Grant Prior 15 years ago
Share

Medium sized civil engineering contractors are being hit hardest by the downturn with 63% of firms reporting falling workloads.

The latest survey by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association shows companies employing between 115 and 299 employees are suffering the most from a work drought.

The association’s Workload Trends Survey for October shows that half of all the country’s civil engineering contractors saw lower workloads during the survey period than at the same point in 2009.

Just 18% saw higher workloads. This balance of -32% represents a worsening of conditions since the last survey, where the balance was -24, although it is still some way off the -77 and -59% balances recorded in January and April respectively.

Only 4% of medium sized firms reported an increase in business.

Work on roads, rail airports, harbours, water and wastewater, electricity, communications and preliminary works were all down, with gas the only subsector showing any growth.

The outlook for the future looks little better, with order books also down on last year across all sizes of firm and types of work.

Contractors have little confidence that there will be any return to growth in the sector, with 44% of respondents anticipating their workloads will be lower in 2011 that they are now, against just 8% who expect workloads to increase.

CECA National Director Rosemary Beales said: “It is now well over two years since the industry first started to see its workload declining.

“Since then we have had tens of thousands of redundancies and there are now well over 20,000 fewer construction companies overall than there were in 2008. This is all before we experience the impact of the forthcoming cuts to public spending triggered by the Comprehensive Spending Review.

“The recently published National Infrastructure Plan highlights the fact that the UK will need to build £200 billion of new infrastructure over the coming five years.

“There is a real concern that the industry will have contracted dramatically by the time it is called on to deliver these vital improvements, which may force up tender prices and could put the future of the UK’s transport and utility networks at risk”.

Latest news

Balfour Beatty terminates Danny Sullivan labour deals

Around 500 workers on HS2 will be moved to alternative agencies or be taken on direct
1 day ago

Trio face prosecution after Hinkley site death

Main contractors and client to face charges over death of site supervisor
1 day ago

Buyers see recovery in house building sector

But civil and commercial work still in the doldrums
2 days ago

Apprentice saws-off thumb on hotel refurb site

Court hears how digit was reattached and teenager continued training with another firm
2 days ago

Laing O’Rourke tops June contracts league

£919m animal super lab dominates new orders
2 days ago

TSL turnover smashes £500m as profit almost trebles

Data centre and logistics contractor rises high on surging demand
2 days ago

Gleeson Homes chief exec leaves business after restructure

Management revamp after "challenging" year
2 days ago

Green light for 1,600-home Oldham town centre overhaul

Plans for over 1,600 homes across six regeneration sites approved
2 days ago

DSM wins Norwich city centre clearance job

Anglia Square shopping centre clearance for £300m scheme
2 days ago

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
2 days ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
3 days ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
3 days ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
3 days ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
3 days ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
3 days ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
4 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
4 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
4 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
4 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
5 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
4 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
4 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
4 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
5 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
5 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
5 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
6 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
6 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
5 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
6 days ago