BCIS urges Budget rethink on business costs after poll insight

The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) has urged the government to use November’s Autumn Budget to lower business costs, after a poll of more than 300 construction professionals named it the top action to improve sector confidence in the year ahead.

Reducing business costs such as wage requirements and business rates was the most popular option in the BCIS poll, ahead of sector-specific measures like increasing investment in housing delivery and boosting infrastructure spending.

The results come as new data⁽¹⁾ from the Department for Business and Trade show that SMEs account for at least 99% of the private business population across every major industry sector, with construction home to the largest share – around 885,000 SMEs, or 16% of the total.

Further, since 2020, construction has seen a loss of 107,000 businesses.

‘The government must recognise that to stimulate economic growth, it needs to better support all businesses – not just those in construction, and particularly SMEs which feel high business costs more keenly’, said BCIS chief economist Dr David Crosthwaite.

‘Increasing employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) in April reduced the impetus to invest, which has a direct impact on construction output and its ability to support the wider economy through the sector’s multiplier effect.

‘I urge the government to rethink its stance on employers’ NICs in November’s Autumn Budget. The Chancellor is wedged between her own borrowing rules and the desperate need to raise public funds, but sticking with flawed manifesto pledges will not win favour or growth in the long-term.’

The poll also showed that more than two-thirds (68%) of surveyed construction professionals expect materials costs to rise in the next 12 months; 65% felt labour costs will increase in the same period.

‘High business costs are only compounding the impact of growing labour costs for construction and curbing firms’ recruitment drive. This often means companies cannot afford to directly employ more people, despite the demand for skills,’ Dr Crosthwaite added. 

Karl Horton, data services director at BCIS, added that Budget month is a prime opportunity to get the ball rolling on more projects in the Infrastructure Pipeline to the benefit of construction and the wider economy.

‘The government is yet to confirm the private finance models it plans to use for projects in the Infrastructure Pipeline. A decision on public-private partnerships is expected by the time of the Budget, but investors and construction businesses also need the finer details of specific finance models. The former to assess risk and return, and the latter to plan capacity.

‘We know from the latest BCIS Civil Engineering Tender Price Index Panel that infrastructure demand is healthy, particularly for rail, aviation and energy-linked work, but skilled labour availability is still a major challenge.

‘Training won’t resolve these gaps quickly so the best thing the government can do in the coming months is to give firms as much demand visibility as possible. Using the Budget to support businesses and improve investment conditions is essential.

‘This, alongside clear financial direction in the Infrastructure Pipeline, should help to kickstart more projects and improve the national economic picture sooner.’

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^{(1) GOV.UK – Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2025: statistical release  - here}