Leicestershire Builder Magazine September 2019

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REACHING OVER 3,500 BUILDING-BASED COMPANIES IN LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND EVERY MONTH

Construction industry prepares for downturn, warns FMB

Opportunity to develop a substantial barn: £500k

CONSTRUCTION industry bosses are reorganising their workforce in preparation for a potential downturn, with higher levels of sub-contracting and lower levels of direct employment, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Key results from the FMB’s State of Trade Survey for Q2 2019, which is the only quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, are as follows: • There was a decrease in employment levels among small construction firms for the first time in more than five years with over one fifth (21%) of employers reporting a reduced workforce; • After a difficult start to 2019, workloads for construction SMEs grew slightly compared with the previous quarter with more employers (27%) reporting higher workloads than in the first quarter of this year (22%); • Bricklayers are the trade in shortest supply with nearly two-thirds (60%) of construction SMEs struggling to hire these tradespeople and 54% struggling to hire carpenters and joiners; • Looking ahead, expectations for the future weakened slightly. Just over one third of construction SMEs (37%) are forecasting higher workloads over the coming three months, down from 41% in Q1 2019. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Years of Brexit uncertainty have resulted in construction bosses starting to change how they employ their workforce. To ensure their firms are ready for any economic shock-waves later this year, employers are reducing their number of TURN TO PAGE 4 ...>

JAMES SELLICKS Estate Agents are offering for sale a substantial barn with planning permission (ref: 19/00312/FUL) for conversion. The property - The Grain Store, North Kilworth, Leicestershire LE17 6NG - is situated in a small development of agricultural buildings and barns in the grounds of Top House Farm. Various layout options would be possible, incorporated into a 448 sq.metre floor plan. The barn is to be sold with 2.23 acres of paddock land, and further land may be available by separate negotiation. Guide Price: £500,000. Contact James Sellicks on 01858 410008 or visit www.jamessellicks.com

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