Brexit is coming – whether with a good deal, a bad deal or absolutely no deal at all, the UK will leave the EU in just 31 weeks’ time. With that deadline in mind, Building surveyed more than 600 people working in the industry to get a snapshot of how they feel about the changes to come and how these could affect their business. The results show high levels of anxiety about the future and an overwhelming pessimism about the government’s ability to find a path forwards. 

The survey shows that for the vast majority working in construction, Brexit represents a future of acute labour shortages, falling workloads and projects put on hold. And while the industry accounts for about 7% of GDP, its voice has so far been ignored by the government, which has failed to allay fears or make special provision for construction’s future. It’s time that voice was heard. So between now and when the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, Building will take the views of the industry and shout them loud, in its new campaign: Building Without Borders: Construction Needs a Deal. 

Construction is one of the UK’s biggest employers, providing jobs to about 2 million people. Fishing, by contrast, supports just 11,000 jobs but seems to hold much more emotional sway over government and mainstream media alike. Since the EU referendum, the UK has dropped from being the fastest-growing economy in the G7 to one of the three slowest. Sterling is in decline, and the impact of this on the cost of raw materials makes it more expensive to build in the UK than in other European countries.

"I have seen no evidence to suggest that the impact of Brexit on construction has been considered by our negotiators" 

Survey respondent

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