Constructionline reported a 12% year-on-year increase in construction buyers’ use of its online procurement portal at the end of Q2 2014.

The figures are calculated from the number of tender lists and supplier searches run on the database.

Buyers’ use of  Constructionline increased by over 2% between March and June 2014, while the number of construction clients using the service to assess suppliers reached 2,665 in the second quarter – an increase of 31.

Constructionline’s subcontractor membership base also grew by 8% in the second quarter of 2014 and now totals in excess of 23,000 firms.

Neil Thompson, a director at Constructionline, said: “Over the past 12 months we’ve seen a steady rise in construction buyers using the service to assess suppliers, which all points towards increased activity on the horizon.

“While it’s evident that construction is benefiting from the wider UK recovery, there are new challenges facing the sector as it grows.

“The supply and demand issue has reversed since the downturn and there’s now a worry of capacity shortage among construction suppliers.

“To help combat the shortage of available subcontractors we expect more buyers will grow the number of construction partners they work with to deliver schemes.

“We regularly engage with buying organisations to help them source new suppliers through our meet the buyer events, supplier engagement days and webinars as well as advertising upcoming work opportunities on our noticeboard.”