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Industry Confidence Report (ICR) Q3 & Q4 2025
Insights from principal contractors & consultants shaping the future of the UK built environment.
ICR Q3 & Q4 2025
Executive Summary
CCBP is committed to driving improvement, transparency, and innovation across the UK Built Environment Sector. As part of this mission, we have produced an ICR to provide a clear and evidence-based view of how contractors and industry professionals are experiencing current market conditions.
This report brings together insights from principal contractors & consultants across the UK, offering a snapshot of sector sentiment at a critical time. Respondents provided feedback across nine key areas, including workload, market pressures, procurement practices, sector confidence, skills and sustainability.
Insights & Analysis
Key Findings
Drawing on feedback from principal contractors & consultants, the findings reflect a sector balancing high demand with mounting external pressures. Inflation, procurement reform and the skills shortage continue to influence how projects are planned, costed and delivered.
Yet, despite these challenges, there are clear signs of adaptability: Contractors are finding ways to secure work, diversify operations and embed new approaches to collaboration and innovation.
72%
Say rising costs are significantly impacting project delivery.
81%
Report strong tender win rates, yet many warn the market is still driven by price over value.
74%
Are involved in collaborative procurement routes, signalling progress but also calling for faster reform under the new Procurement Act.
73%
Agree contractor insolvencies are affecting their projects.
56%
Of respondents said inflationary pressures are disrupting project planning and execution.
60%
Believe cost increases are not adequately recognised in client budgets.
Process
Research Methodology
The Industry Confidence Report draws on survey responses from contractors and consultants across the UK built environment sector. Participants provided quantitative feedback via a structured survey alongside open-text commentary, enabling both statistical analysis and richer qualitative insight into current industry conditions.
The aim of the Industry Confidence Report is to capture an accurate picture of current sentiment across the built environment sector and to understand how contractors and consultants are experiencing changing market conditions. The research seeks to identify perceived strengths, emerging challenges, and areas for improvement over the next six to twelve months.
A key objective of this work is to provide evidence-based insights that support better decision-making, encourage meaningful dialogue between industry and public sector stakeholders, and inform the development of future initiatives that strengthen resilience and performance across the sector.
The Industry Confidence Report is based on structured survey responses from contractors and consultants operating across the UK built environment sector. Participants were asked to respond to a series of quantitative questions using a five-point Likert scale across nine core themes, including workload, procurement, market pressures, sector confidence, skills, and sustainability.
To complement the quantitative data, respondents were also invited to provide free-text responses, enabling them to share detailed views on the biggest threats facing the industry and the changes they believe are most needed. This combination of data provides both a measurable snapshot of industry sentiment and qualitative insight into the real-world challenges experienced by organisations delivering projects on the ground.
All responses collected through the ICR survey were analysed by the Centre for Construction Best Practice to identify trends, areas of consensus, and emerging challenges across the built environment sector. Quantitative data was reviewed to highlight overall sentiment and key pressure points, while qualitative responses were thematically analysed to capture recurring concerns, priorities, and recommendations raised by respondents.
The findings have been presented in an accessible format to support transparency and informed discussion, with additional commentary articles published alongside the report to explore key themes in greater depth. Together, this approach ensures the insights shared are both evidence-based and directly informed by industry experience.
Data Deep Dive
Insights From Our Report
To build on the insights in our report, we’ve created a series of five in-depth articles that take a closer look at the data behind the headlines. Each piece explores key trends shaping the construction industry - from rising costs and inflation to major changes the built environment needed to improve how our sector operates - providing deeper analysis and practical takeaways for employers and professionals alike.
Rising Costs and Inflation: The Industry’s Relentless Pressure Point
Discover how inflation and stagnant budgets are reshaping project delivery,
squeezing margins, and
threatening long-term resilience across the construction sector.
Tender Market is Active However it is Still Price-Driven
Could shifting focus from
cost to value transform
long-term project
outcomes? Learn why contractors and consultants
demand reform to move beyond
price-led tendering models.
Three Biggest Threats to the Built Environment Sector: ICR Results
Uncover the top three
threats contractors say
are undermining industry
confidence — policy
uncertainty, rising costs, and
unstable funding pipelines.
Three Major Changes Needed to Improve How the Built Environment Operates: ICR Results
What should the roadmap for change look like?
Procurement reform, skills
investment and collaboration is a start.
Sentiment Towards Procurement: Progress, Pressure, and the Push for Reform
Explore how contractors
and consultants view procurement reform under the new Procurement Act.
Download The Industry Confidence Report
Download the full Report for more insights and practical takeaways. From rising costs and inflation to major changes the built environment needs to improve on.
Download Our Report
Industry Confidence Report 2025
This report brings together insights from principal contractors & consultants across the UK, offering a snapshot of sector sentiment at a critical time.
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Governance
Strategic Alignment
The ICR research conducted by CCBP has been strategically aligned with our Industry and Academic Advisory group's. Each shape the direction of CCBP and the research we undertake. By bringing academia and industry together, we create a government backed research to deliver real-world impact.
Industry Advisory Group (IAG)
The Industry Advisory Group (IAG) is made up of senior representatives from BAM, Kier, Morgan Sindall, and Wates. Serving in a dedicated advisory capacity, this group will provide expert guidance and industry intelligence to help shape CCBP’s strategy and output moving forward.
Academic Advisory Group (AAG)
The Academic Advisory Group (AAG) is made up of some of the UK's most respected universities, including Queen's University Belfast, Loughborough University and the University of Leeds. The AAG provides CCBP with the insight and rigour needed to ensure our work reflects the latest research and best practice.
