Image: Dreamstime/Bogdan Hoda
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called on the government to continue to support construction, following news that buyers reported the biggest fall in activity on record in April.
The IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index fell from 39.3 in March to 8.2 in April, where 50 indicates no change. Its previous record low was 27.8 in February 2009.
But CIOB chief executive Caroline Gumble said there was hope for the future of the sector, so long as government continued to offer its support.
Gumble said: “A key factor in our economic recovery is how the government supports industry. It is vital that government takes steps to ensure the construction industry remains strong during this uncertain time, and provides support for trained professionals to deliver current projects and develop a pipeline of work for the future.
“Construction professionals clearly feel confident about their ability to get and keep a job, to improve their financial situation and advance in their careers, which shows that despite the output stagnation, the industry remains hopeful for the future.
“But while we remain strongly supportive of getting the construction industry back to work, we must continue to follow government guidelines and find pragmatic ways to ensure the workforce and the general public are kept safe. We must also continue to work collaboratively within the industry, taking an approach to our partners and the supply chain which is focussed on communicating effectively and cooperating to pragmatically resolve any contractual issues that may come up between us.”
