As the country begins to shake off the shackles of COVID-19 restrictions, and businesses unlock, we are bolstered by the Construction Industry Forecast unveiled by Glenigan.

The report, which focuses on 2021-2023, has revealed that green shoots are finally beginning to emerge, thanks in particular to the stimulation of growth due to planned office refurbishments and increased public sector investment.

Activity is now on an upward trajectory, with current calculations indicating that construction output will return to pre-pandemic levels by 2022, with underlying project starts costing less than £100 million expected to rise to three per cent above the levels documented in 2019.

The report confirmed that a 20 per cent escalation in the value of underlying programme starts was recorded during the three months leading up to May 2021 – a staggering 70 per cent higher than figures registered when the UK was in the midst of the first national lockdown a year ago.

Positive news has also been predicted for local authority-led construction schemes, with school projects estimated to experience a five per cent upturn this year, followed by an impressive 14 per cent next year.

An injection of Government funding is expected to result in an eight per cent surge in the value of further education facilities delivered during 2021, climbing to 22 per cent in 2022, while projections show a 14 per cent growth in NHS developments in the same year, and a six per cent boost in 2023 due to increased capital investment.

Commenting on the report, Solus Managing Director Marcus Bentley said: “After a very difficult year for the construction industry, and its affiliated sectors, Glenigan’s forecast is exceptionally positive and certainly gives us all hope for a brighter future.

“At Solus, customer service is our top priority and, with this in mind, our team has continued to work throughout the pandemic, while adhering to all Government guidelines relating to COVID-19. We have been, and will continue to be, fully supportive of our loyal customers in the architectural, interior design and specification fields who have been instrumental in moving economy-boosting construction projects forward despite the many challenges we have all encountered.

“As a nation, we are all working hard to build back better and Solus is very much on track in terms of our own roadmap towards a return to growth. We have invested in both our IT systems and our offices, and we are now delighted to once again be expanding our dedicated team to ensure the continued delivery of inspirational products and first-class service as the economy reawakens.”

To discover more about exciting career opportunities within our thriving London based Area Sales Team, and Operations Co-ordination and Sales Support teams at our head office in Birmingham, please visit linked.com/company/solus-ceramics/jobs