Construction confidence slipping

Confidence among building contractors about future trading has dipped for an 11th consecutive quarter.

The latest Construction Monitor research carried out by the Scottish Building Federation found positivity had slipped by five points in the latest threemonth period and now stood at three.

The marginally positive outcome is the lowest rating for almost three years.

The SBF also took the opportunity to quiz its members on their attitude towards the EU referendum.

The survey found the industry was leaning towards the remain argument but the level of interest in the vote was relatively low, with just 6% of the businesses surveyed selling into Europe.

SBF managing director Vaughan Hart said: “The responses we’ve received to the questions related to the EU referen- dum suggest there is limited interest in or enthusiasm for the European Union amongst construction employers.

“The results also show the industry’s level of exposure to the European Union is far more limited than might be the case for certain other industries.

“The most significant relationship building companies have with other EU countries appears to be through their supply chain.

“But out of the minority of building companies responding who think the UK leaving the EU would have an impact on their business, four times as many think this impact would be negative as those who think Brexit would be good for their business.”

Concentrating on the job in hand.