FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
The UK plumbing and hard facilities management contractors’ market, currently valued at over £27 billion, is forecast to grow steadily through 2029, reaching more than £32.4 billion, according to the latest market research report from Barbour ABI.
Highlighting the sector’s resilience, innovation, and opportunities amid regulatory change and technological transformation, the report states plumbing contracting remains the dominant segment, fuelled by housing development, decarbonisation initiatives, and retrofit demand, meanwhile, the hard FM sector is evolving rapidly with smart buildings, IoT integration, and AI-driven maintenance solutions reshaping service delivery.
Legislative momentum toward net zero is said to be a key driver, with policies phasing out gas boilers, supporting low-carbon heating, and enforcing stricter building standards such as the Future Homes Standard. Public sector investment in decarbonising social housing and public buildings continues to sustain demand, even as inflation, labour shortages, and supply chain pressures pose challenges.
Opportunities are emerging in energy-efficient heating systems, water-saving technologies, and bundled FM contracts, reflecting the sector’s shift toward sustainability and digitalisation.
London leads with 23 per cent of total construction output, followed by the South East and North West, making these regions hotspots for plumbing and HVAC businesses. Demand spans both residential and non-residential sectors, with strong growth in social housing, healthcare, education, and increasingly, data centres—facilities requiring complex systems and ongoing FM support.
Looking ahead, Barbour ABI says the market is forecast to grow by nearly 16 per cent between 2025 and 2029. Growth will be driven by increasing adoption of low-carbon heating systems, continued investment in housing and infrastructure, and the expanding role of technology in FM services. While plumbing contracting will retain the majority share, the hard FM segment is expected to see strong gains, particularly in smart building management and compliance services.
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.
