Figures for the fourth quarter of 2014 show that 44% of specialist contractors have increased tender prices compared to just 11% who decreased prices in the same period.
The balance of tender prices – which is the difference between respondents reporting an increase and those reporting a decrease in prices – is the highest since the pre-recession days of late 2006. This has been driven by a combination of increased demand and the rising cost of materials, NSCC said, with 82% of specialist contractors reporting an increase in suppliers’ prices in the last quarter.
In what many in the industry are now calling a sellers’ market, eight out of 10 specialist contractors report working at above 75% capacity with almost half at over 90% capacity. Capacity levels look set to be maintained over the next year with more than half of respondents anticipating that their workload will increase during this period.
However, continued growth within the industry could be undermined by skills shortages with 43% of specialist contractors reporting more difficulty in recruiting skilled labour in the last quarter. The balance of recruitment difficulty remains at its highest level for 10 years. Late payment also remains an issue with 20% waiting on average more than 60 days to get paid.
NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol said: “Increasing workloads and higher tender prices are both good news for specialist contractors but the difficulty in recruiting skilled labour is a reflection of the skills crisis facing the industry. The only way to ensure continued growth in our sector is by sustained investment in training and apprenticeships.”
However, only 38% of specialist contractors reported an increase in enquiries, down from 58% in the third quarter of 2014, while 23% reported a decrease, up from 11% previously. The balance of enquires is now just 15 points, down significantly from the 14-year high of 47 points scored in Q3 2014.
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