As we approach next week’s Spring Statement, contractors today said that a return to growth in the UK infrastructure sector is welcome after an alarming dip in 2025 Q3, but that the weakest order book growth balance since 2020 Q3 highlights fragility in the forward pipeline.
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has published its Workload Trends Survey for 2025 Q4, which showed that, on balance, 17 per cent of firms reported an increase in workloads compared with a year earlier, reversing the fall reported in the previous quarter.
Within the context of the broader economic picture, these results come at a time when GDP growth for the same period came in below estimated at 0.1%, inflation is tracking at around 3% and unemployment grew steadily to 5.2%.
Workload growth in the last quarter of 2025 was driven by increases in the airports, electricity, and gas sectors. However, the survey also shows that order books rose for only 3 per cent of firms on balance – the weakest order book growth balance since 2020 Q3 – indicating that while current activity has improved, the flow of new work remains under strain.
CECA members also reported increased cost pressures, with 86 per cent of firms in Great Britain reporting an annual increase in costs, on balance, while tender prices for both new work and repair and maintenance remain elevated.
Commenting, CECA Director of Policy & Public Affairs Ben Goodwin said: “CECA’s latest survey shows a mixed picture, and while it is heartening that growth in workloads has returned to the sector, nonetheless the clear weakness in order books is an indication that too much of the pipeline is struggling to be converted into committed work on the ground.
“CECA has been working closely with Government on driving the infrastructure agenda, and we will be monitoring next week’s Spring Statement closely for further policy developments designed to unlock growth, push costs down and to ensure that skills investment is effectively channelled into the infrastructure sector.
“For our sector to fire on all cylinders, public and private sector clients must focus on timely decision-making, realistic pricing, and adopting procurement models that give contractors the confidence to invest in people, skills, and capability.
“The outlook for 2026 is positive, with firms expecting workloads and orders to increase. The priority for our industry now is to turn that confidence into delivery by working to bring projects to market, accelerate approvals, and maintain a visible, investable pipeline.”
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