FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
The latest Market Report from international property and construction consultancy Gleeds has revealed that eight in 10 construction professionals feel the government is not providing adequate support to the sector, with training and planning identified as key blockers to progress.
Skills and training came in as the number one issue requiring further government support, reflecting growing anxiety around workforce capacity and the industry’s ability to meet future demand without sustained investment. Additionally, over 75 per cent of those quizzed said they do not think measures set out in the Chancellor’s November Budget will help to ensure delivery of the 1.5 million new homes target, as the workforce shrinks and wages and taxation increase.
As a result of these concerns, the survey suggests that many parts of the market are continuing to operate defensively, with more than two thirds of respondents claiming they have noticed a reduced appetite for risk from contractors over the past quarter. This trend is increasingly influencing procurement strategies, with two-stage tendering becoming the preferred route for many, reflecting a desire for earlier collaboration, greater cost certainty and tighter risk management in an unpredictable environment.
Despite the challenges posed by inflation and interest rates (cited as the number one threat to the industry going forward) just over a quarter of respondents say they expect to see more tender opportunities in 2026 and more than 10 per cent reported having secured more or significantly more work compared to this time last year.
Commenting on the findings, Brian McArdle, Managing Director, UK, Gleeds said: “The picture that our Market Report paints is one of an industry managing risk carefully rather than pushing for growth at any cost. Inflation, tight funding conditions and policy uncertainty are all contributing to the continuation of the cautious approach we’ve been seeing over previous quarters. While this is understandable, it does have implications for delivery, particularly where projects are already finely balanced.
“At the same time, the strength of feeling around skills and training shows that the industry is looking beyond the immediate cycle. Addressing long-standing challenges around planning, skills and funding certainty will be essential if the sector is to unlock stalled projects, improve productivity and deliver on housing and sustainability ambitions.”
The survey also highlighted ongoing scepticism around decarbonisation drivers. Nearly half of respondents (46 per cent) said they did not believe that the recent COP30 summit will act as a meaningful catalyst for decarbonisation within the construction industry, underlining concerns that policy ambition is not yet translating into clear, deliverable pathways for the sector.
According to the 2026 UK Facilities Management Market Research Report by askporter, facilities management professionals want clear, verifiable evidence of work being delivered, with teams that can communicate progress in real time. This requires technology that is affordable, intuitive, and quick to adopt.
Yet the report found that:
Over three quarters of FM professionals (76 per cent) experience operational inefficiencies caused by siloed software which results in a lack of real-time visibility.
Communications challenges lead to maintenance issues, with 73 per cent of teams being forced into reactive problem-solving on a weekly basis.
A worrying level of compliance gaps, with 44 per cent of admitting that half or less of their compliance tasks are tracked and automated within their systems.
Closing this gap requires the establishment of transparent and consistent communications using affordable software that gives FM teams the ability to track, evidence and improve their services.
This webinar provides a valuable overview of the main findings of the report by askporter followed by a panel discussion by FM thought leaders on practical, strategic solutions that can help close this communications gap.
To register for the webinar taking place 29 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
