Pick Everard survey finds 52% of firms busier despite low confidence in Government

More than half of construction firms have increased their workloads over the past 12 months despite widespread concern about costs and policy, according to a market intelligence report published by Pick Everard on 12 October.

The multi-disciplinary consultancy said 52% of respondents reported higher workloads over the year and a further 21% said activity was unchanged. The announcement described the sample as 100 contractors, developers, clients, consultants and other construction professionals.

Confidence in Government remains weak, the firm said. Only 1% of respondents strongly believe the Government understands the needs of the construction sector, while 59% said they are not very confident or not confident at all.

William Phillips, divisional director of cost management at Pick Everard, said: "The most striking finding from this year's survey is the contrast between how the industry feels and what it's actually doing."

Mood and costs

On the report's landing page, Pick Everard said 42% of respondents described the current mood as concerned, while 29% were cautiously optimistic.

Pick Everard described cost pressures as a major concern across the industry, with 83% of respondents expecting tender prices to continue rising over the next 12 months.

Phillips said practical measures could still move projects forward: "Early contractor engagement, clearer project briefs and a more proportionate approach to risk allocation all have a significant role to play in improving outcomes and creating greater certainty."

Respondents quoted in the report called for stability from policymakers. A consultant said certainty would be by far the most valuable thing the Government could give the market, while a local authority respondent said the constant review and changing of standard construction contracts such as JCT and NEC needed to stop.

Innovation and skills

The report page asked whether construction is more innovative than it was five years ago.

Response	Share of respondents
More innovative	56%
Not more innovative	20%
Unsure	24%

Pick Everard said the share of organisations reporting skills shortages had fallen to 39%, down from 53% in what the announcement described as its previous survey at the end of 2025.

Phillips cautioned against reading that as a solved problem, drawing a distinction between having enough people to deliver today's workload and having enough capacity for the pipeline of projects ahead.

Earlier surveys

The Q3 2026 edition was produced with colleagues at Artelia UK, according to Pick Everard's market reports index. The firm's pre-Autumn Budget 2025 survey found 81% of respondents had positive or neutral expectations for business performance in 2026, and 66% said projects were paused or under review pending the Chancellor's announcement. Its Q1 2026 report, based on a survey of more than 100 professionals, said the sector had entered a period of "output paralysis".

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that total construction output fell 0.5% in the three months to July 2026, with new work down 0.4% and repair and maintenance down 0.7%. Monthly output grew 0.1% in July, and a 4.9% fall in private housing new work was the largest contributor to the month's decrease in new work.

The company

Pick Everard grew from an 1866 partnership between architect John Breedon Everard and engineer Samuel Perkins Pick. Artelia acquired 100% of its shares in October 2024, when the firm had more than 700 people in the UK; its turnover was £71m in 2024. The Artelia Group has more than 9,700 employees worldwide.

Phillips is listed as the key contact for Pick Everard's cost and commercial management service, which covers quantity surveying, cost, commercial and risk work.