The final quarter of 2021 in many ways has mirrored the previous nine months in our sector. Positive rays of sunshine, but with little outbreaks of rain to keep us on our toes.

December was a perfect example to end another unique year. According to the latest figures from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement (Cips), housebuilding experienced the strongest growth and was the only subsector to gain momentum in December. This was a reflection of the hard work that many manufacturers have put in to boost production capacity and resolve supply chain issues, the number of construction firms reporting supplier delays dropped from 47% in November to 34% in December. However, the same survey of 150 construction companies, showed building companies ending 2021 on a weaker footing, with coronavirus infections and fresh pandemic restrictions hitting demand.

As we come through another disrupted year and look to 2022, I can reflect on the amazing work and resilience I’ve seen from within our organisation, across the industry, our trade customers, and the UK as a whole. We come out of this quarter and into the new year ready to face the inevitable challenges: soaring energy costs, CPI inflation at over 5% – the highest in a decade – and the inevitable monetary tightening all look set to figure prominently. As an industry, we’ll overcome these obstacles and ensure the building sector continues on a positive trajectory.