HBF report shows significant increase in housebuilding activity

The flow of positive news for the construction and housebuilding industry can no longer be ignored, in fact, we are being drowned in a tidal wave of great news! The latest being the figures revealed in the most recent Home Builders Federation's Housing Pipeline report where the number of new home planning permissions granted in England in Q3 was 31% up on 2012, this confirms a very significant and clear increase in housebuilding activity.

In all 44,251 permissions were granted in Q3, 19% up on the previous quarter. This is the highest Q3 figure since 2007. The 12 month total to September is 166,978, 44% up on the 2011 low.

"This is the latest indicator to show how the industry is looking to quickly increase output," said HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley. "We have already seen evidence of a rise in new homes starts and these figures show the industry's intent to increase and sustain that over the next few years."

Pinnacle Consulting is a leading sales and marketing recruitment specialist for building products manufacturers and distributors. www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk 
Call us on 01480 405225.

Download your Ecobuild brochure for 2014 today

Believe it or not, 2014 will see the 10th Ecobuild exhibition. This show put construction and building industry exhibitions back on the map in the UK and filled the void left when Interbuild started to disappoint.

The 2014 show is again at ExCeL, London, and is being held between 4-6 March. The show brochure is now available to download here. 

It is important that the UK continues to have a flagship show for the built environment, so make sure it is in your diary to visit next year. Here are some reasons to visit:

• See the entire spectrum of sustainable construction products for new build and refurbishment of residential, commercial and industrial projects
• Network with industry professionals, clients and suppliers from around the world
• Get involved in a more sustainable built environment with the leading industry voices in our thought provoking conference
• Learn from over 600 of the most innovative and influential practitioners with our seminar programme
• Be seen and raise your profile, meet and network with the world's leading industry press

'Happy Birthday' Ecobuild from all at Pinnacle Consulting - recruitment specialists for sales and marketing roles in the built environment.

Every region in the UK and across all construction sectors set for growth in 2014

Glenigan, leading construction industry analysts, have released figures that show broad growth in construction activity during the three months to November, with project starts increasing across most parts of the UK.  The most encouraging aspect of their figures is that growth is driven across all three main sectors of the industry: civil engineering, residential and non-residential and 2014 looks even better according to Glenigan's forecasts for the whole of the UK.

The Glenigan Index, which covers the value of projects starting on site from September to November this year, is up 9% compared with the same period in 2012 and is based on extensive research of every construction project starting in the UK over the previous three-month period and provides an indicator of developing activity in the industry.

Utilities projects drive growth in civil engineering
Civil engineering has been one of the fastest growing sectors in 2013 in terms of underlying projects starts, with the sector enjoying double digit growth since August. This continued during the three months to November, with starts 28% higher than a year ago. Growth has been driven by a 61% rise in utilities projects, while infrastructure projects were slightly up on a year ago.

Office and retail starts have risen
Glenigan data points to a slight moderation in the growth of private sector non-residential projects. Office and retail starts have continued to increase, up by 42% and 54% respectively. However, following recent strong growth, the rise in industrial project starts has slowed, now just 9% up on a year ago.

Hotel and leisure not so encouraging
Hotel and leisure starts lagged these other sectors during the second half of 2013 and fell back further, down by 39%.

Great news ahead for the private sector
Allan Wilén, Economics Director at Glenigan, believes private sector construction will be the strongest driver of growth in project starts over the next year.

He said: “Private sector growth is key to a sustained recovery in construction activity, with double digit growth forecast for the office, industrial, retail and hotel and leisure sectors.

“Last month’s Index indicated that private non-residential construction has already begun to pick up alongside improvements in business sentiment. The economic brightening has continued and recent figures show an improvement in business lending.”

Project starts in non-residential sectors that are more dependent on public funding increased during the three months to November, with education starts up by 15% and health starts by 3% year on year.

This modest upturn in health starts bucks a declining long term trend caused by constrained NHS capital funding. However, Glenigan predicts further decreases of sector activity during 2014. The Index also saw continued declines in starts of community and amenity projects.

Education sector has excelled during 2013
By contrast, education has been the fastest growing sector during 2013, as the flow of government funding has increased through a range of initiatives.

“Low levels of government spending will be less of a drag on growth of overall non-residential activity than in recent years,” Allan said.

“Starts of health projects are expected to continue a long term trend of decline; however this will be offset by a large increase in funding for school renovation and new build projects through the Priority Schools Building Programme.”

Residential news
Starts of residential projects increased in the three months to November, up by 5% in value compared to the same three months of 2012. Surprisingly, this growth was driven by a strong upturn in starts of social housing projects rather than private housing starts.

Regional indicators
The wide based upturn in new project starts is taking hold across the UK, with project starts increasing across most regions.

Starts have grown strongly in Northern Ireland during the three months to November - over double the value of a year ago and the highest level since May 2011. There was also a marked improvement in starts in Yorkshire & the Humber after the drop in starts seen during the third quarter.

The North East, East of England and Wales were the only parts of the country to see a drop in project starts against the same three months a year ago.

Allan said: “The results of this month’s Glenigan Index are a further indication that the construction recovery is spreading beyond the housing market, and London and the South East.

Roll on 2014!
“Every UK region is forecast to see an increase in project starts during the first quarter of 2014.”

If you are recruiting for sales professionals in the construction industry take a look at our website and contact us on 01480 405225.

Major boost for housebuilding in the North announced

Chancellor George Osborne has said that more support is needed for the UK housing and construction industry and some evidence of this was shown during his Autumn Statement when he announced a new £1 billion housing fund to unlock development sites in the north of England, particularly Manchester and Leeds.

In other issues relating to housing, the chancellor did not announce any alterations or dilution of the Help to Buy scheme, but confirmed that the Bank of England will carefully monitor the housing market. It is our view that the Help to Buy scheme must continue to be supported and we would like to see some long-term commitment to this from the government. 

The announcement to help development sites in the north of England has been particularly encouraging though with the introduction of billion pounds of loans “to unblock large housing developments on sites in Manchester and Leeds and across the country”. The housing revenue account borrowing limit is also being increased by £300m.

“If we want more people to own a home, we have to build more homes,” chancellor George Osborne told a packed House of Commons. “The good news is the latest survey data showed residential construction growing at its fastest rate for a decade. And our hard-won planning reforms are delivering a 35% increase in approvals for new homes. But we need to do more.”

The National House-building Council (NHBC) Chief executive Mike Quinton reacted positively to this news: “We welcome today's Autumn Statement highlighting measures to support house-building in the UK. As our new home registration statistics show, the number of new homes being registered continues to improve on last year’s figures with an overall 24% increase for the rolling quarter August to October compared to the same period in 2012, but this recovery has been from a very low base.

“It is therefore crucial that the government delivers these policies, such as the £1bn loans to unblock stalled housing developments and continued support of Help to Buy, to help the UK get back to producing the volumes required to meet the demand for quality, new homes.”

Construction Products Association chief executive Diana Montgomery shares our view on the uncertainty over Help to Buy: 

“A missed opportunity was the absence of clarity around the future of Help to Buy, the main driver in our industry’s resurgence this year.  This, together with the recent diminishing of government support for ECO – one of the only effective initiatives helping to improve the performance and energy efficiency of the existing housing stock – leads us to believe that this important sector both for construction and the wider economy is being ignored at great cost.”

Despite the fact there always could have been more encouraging news, it is still good to see that the housing and construction industry remains high on the government’s agenda for economic recovery.

Sales and marketing recruitment for the building and construction sector www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk Call us on 01480 405225.

Construction sales and marketing recruitment clinics - December 2013

A new year is approaching and this might mean you are looking for a new challenge in construction sales or marketing or you might just want an independent evaluation of your career? Why not arrange to attend one of our FREE PinBuild Career Development Clinics this December.

PinBuild Clinics are for sales and marketing professionals in the building products, construction and interiors sectors and provide specialist career advice. 

Call us to arrange to meet one of our Specialist Consultants. Tel: 01480 405225 or e-mail recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

December PinBuild Clinics

• Tuesday 17th December: Dartford
• Thursday 19th December: Warrington

Our current jobs: You might find one you'd like to discuss: Construction products sales jobs

PinBuild Clinics will evaluate the job seeker’s career to date and identify the best opportunities available. The clinics provide professionals with expert advice on how to progress their career by discussing the industry sectors that have potential for growth, the skills and focus needed to ensure that they develop with the changing nature of the market and how to ensure that their career continues to progress rather than stagnating.

The clinics will also assist those that attend to map out a realistic and achievable career path, including any potential training requirements. Assistance will also be given to evaluate their CV and also their interview technique and where they should focus to ensure they realise their true potential in the building and construction industry.

We specialise in external and internal sales positions, marketing and management roles and director and board appointments with manufacturers, merchants or distributors across the whole building, construction and interiors product spectrum.

Take some time out to read about CRASH the construction industry's charity for homeless people people and one of our industry partners for our charity initiative 'Helping others as you recruit.'

Job in Focus for December: Fantastic KBB Sales Management role for Northern region

Our Job In Focus for December is an excellent sales management opportunity to lead and manage a team of Area Managers covering the North of the UK. You would be working for a market leading manufacturer within the bathroom sector.

Each month Job in Focus takes a more detailed look at one of the fantastic construction, building products, and interiors' products vacancies currently on our books. Job in Focus is also featured on the home page of our website. Take a look at www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk



Job Title: Regional Sales Manager
Product: KBB sector - Bathroom Products
Location: North & North East
Salary:  £50k

EMPLOYER: Our client is a true market leading manufacturer within the Bathroom sector. 

JOB DESCRIPTION: Regional Sales Manager - You will be tasked with leading, managing and motivating a team of Area Sales Managers selling a market leading range of Bathroom products, targetting the Merchant, Retail and Distribution Channels. In addition to management responsibility of the team, you will be tasked with senior level negotiation with key accounts. 

LOCATION: North - Covering the North of the UK - Applicants living North of Birmingham 

CANDIDATE: We are seeking applications from exceptional calibre field sales management professionals. You will have a background in managing a field based sales team. Experience selling via Consumer channels or trade distribution channels is significantly beneficial, ie experience dealing with Retail, DIY, Merchant or Wholesale and Distribution accounts. Product knowledge is not important, however a preference would be experience in FMCG, Bathrooms, Kitchens or Consumer led products. 

PACKAGE: up to circa £50,000 + Excellent Bonus + Car + Pension + Mobile + Laptop + Excellent company benefits. 

For further information contact Steve Brennan on 01480 405225 or email sbrennan@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Sales and marketing feature preview: What small independent tradespeople in the building industry really want...

In the overall sales and marketing strategy of a building products manufacturer or stockist, small independent builders and tradespeople may not appear to be that important. As a collective, however, they are a vital audience to reach and should form a key part of most companies’ strategy. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to communicate with them or advise about using your products and their benefits.

Many of these independent companies are small in terms of head count (sometimes just one person) but they still purchase, install and give their opinion on manufacturers’ products and the service they receive from a stockist. 

So, what makes them stay loyal? How do they become aware of a new product or a change in legislation? What support and information do they need to help them in their jobs? What is the best way to communicate with them? These and many other questions should be in the minds of manufacturers, distributors and merchants of building products when they are developing their sales and marketing plans. 

To get some answers, we thought we’d go straight to the people who know - the small tradespeople themselves - and ask them for their views. In our forthcoming series we speak to a building, carpentry and construction company; an independent plastering company and a bathroom retailer.

Our series starts in December, when we find out what a small builder really wants. Now live...click here..

Make sure you don’t miss out - follow us on FaceBook, Twitter or Google +, so you know when it’s published.

If you are a manufacturer or distributor of building and construction products and are looking to recruit, please visit our website or contact our specialist industry consultants on 01480 405225

Image courtesy of  Poulsen Photo FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Build it and they will come...

'Help to buy' is helping
people to buy the homes
they want

"Build it and they will come...". An inspiring phase which illustrates the importance of creating an environment where people can buy homes. This has been confirmed with the latest government figures for Q3. Private sector new home starts in England in the last quarter reached 28,850 - this is 29% up on last year. It just shows how simple policies like Help to Buy can make a real difference to the industry and economy. It must not end with this though, as the industry needs a full recovery to realise our fields of dreams for the future.

This is excellent news for housebuilders as well as manufacturers and distributors of building products.  One of the main reasons of the increase is down to the Help to Buy initiative, a view supported by major players in the house building industry.

HBF (Home Builders Federation) executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: "Help to Buy is increasing demand for new homes and the industry is responding. If people can buy, builders will build."

"Help to Buy has enabled us to build more homes on the sites we have already got open and gives us more confidence about investing in future sites," added Taylor Wimpey CEO Pete Redfern.

Persimmon CEO Jeff Fairburn said the firm was opening 85 new sites before the end of the year while Barratt boss Mark Clare said the company was rapidly increasing production. "We now have the confidence to target the construction of 45,000 new homes over the next three years and we are investing in land and bringing it through planning to meet increased demand."

He added that the firm is taking on 600 new apprentices. The confidence for companies to take on new staff is something that the whole industry is experiencing, as seen in the Reed Job Index which has shown a 73% increase in job opportunities in construction and property this year, and also reflected in our own experience at Pinnacle Consulting.

Steve Rogan, Managing Director of Pinnacle Consulting, commented: "At Pinnacle we have seen a significant increase in our clients - throughout all sectors - taking on additional sales and marketing staff. The most encouraging aspect of this is it is 'additional' staff, rather than replacement staff. A sure sign of confidence and growth. Much of our feedback is that the Help to Buy scheme has made a real difference"

If you are a building products manufacturer or distributor looking to enhance your team, please contact our experienced team of building and construction industry recruitment specialists to discuss your requirements. 

Using Pinnacle as your recruitment partner also benefits building and construction industry charities. Ask about our 'Helping others each time you recruit' initiative. Call us on 01480 405225.

Photo credit "Walkway To Home" by phanlop88 via http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

CPA chief warns that carbon taxes are a threat to UK manufacturing

The Construction Products Association has called for the chancellor of the exchequer to abolish the carbon price floor in his upcoming autumn statement, this is a stance that Pinnacle Consulting, leading sales and marketing recruitment specialists to the construction products industry also supports.

Speaking to an audience of senior industry leaders and government officials at the Construction Products Association’s recent autumn lunch, the CPA’s chairman Geoff Cooper stated: “The construction products sector in the UK is supportive of the government’s intent to deliver a low carbon, low cost built environment whilst securing the future of a vibrant, modern and innovative manufacturing sector.  However, like the ordinary householder, business is being considerably impacted by the rise in energy prices and the increasing insecurity of energy supply.

Geoff Cooper, Chairman of CPA

“According to a study conducted for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, by 2020 the UK’s electricity price is expected to have risen by more than three times that of Germany’s.  A primary reason for this is the additional taxes on energy.

“Much of our manufacturing is energy-intensive: energy bills and taxes can be up to 30-35% of total production costs.  The need to maintain diversity and security of energy supply, and to meet emissions reductions targets must be balanced against the ability of the industry to pay.  Many firms have already invested in the latest technology to improve energy efficiency to the maximum level possible so further savings here are unlikely.”

Cooper, who is also chief executive of Travis Perkins, also said: “The chancellor has said, ‘We are not going to save the planet by putting our country’s manufacturing sector out of business’, and so end up importing these same products.  His actions, however, speak louder than words as the minimal extra climate change agreement rebate on electricity from April 2013 has been more than eclipsed by the increases in renewable obligation costs and feed in tariffs this year, neither of which is compensated for energy intensive users.

“In this year’s autumn statement, therefore, we are joining the ranks of many senior industrialists by calling on the Chancellor to abolish the carbon price floor, or at the very least to a freeze to the rates of the tax.

“It is essential that the UK has a secure, low carbon energy supply at a price that does not jeopardise investment in UK manufacturing and sustained economic recovery.  We need a level playing field to ensure we can compete against international competitors to keep manufacturing in the UK.  This needs a concise and coherent regulatory environment and policy framework to allow confidence to invest.”

The CPA is also calling on the government to link the energy performance of the property to the stamp duty which the buyer pays, and offer a stamp duty refund where the new home owner improves the performance within the first 18 months of ownership. 

“We believe this will be highly effective in driving change right at the time homeowners are most likely to make such improvements,” he said. “Also, crucially, our model shows that such an incentive would not leave the Treasury out of pocket.”

Contact Pinnacle Consulting on 01480 405225 or search online for the best construction products sales jobs.