Understand how your business will be impacted in 2021 and how the National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) can help
The Construction Products Association (CPA) has predicted that construction output will rise 14% this year and 4.9% in 2022.
The CPA’s latest scenario (Winter 2020/21) is based on a W-shaped recession and revises their previous prediction of an 18% increase in 2021 downwards to 14%. This is due to the impact of the latest lockdown from November 2020 onwards.
The projected 14% rise in 2021 is slightly lower than the estimated 14.3% market decrease caused by the pandemic in 2020. As such, overall construction output is not expected to return to pre-Covid levels until 2022.
What is the impact on the Shopfitting, fit-out and interior contracting sector?
Members of the NAS largely fall into the CPA’s definition of the Commercial sector, which includes entertainment, retail, offices, health, and education developments – although some members also undertake high-end residential works.
The Commercial sector is thought to have been affected more negatively than both infrastructure and housing. The CPA has predicted that Commercial output is expected to rise by nearly 7% in 2021, after falling by 18.6% in 2020. Output in 2022 is expected to be around 10% lower than 2019 levels.
The CPA reports that roughly one-third of the Commercial sector activity is in London, but this is likely to change as investment is moved towards smaller, regional projects, that meet the needs of those who are increasingly working from home.
What does this mean for NAS members?
Our members can expect to experience growth in 2021, but this will be at a slower rate than general construction. It will not be until after 2022 that members will see similar output to pre-Covid levels.
Smaller, regional projects are likely to be more prevalent than larger London-based contracts.
How the can NAS help
The NAS provides its members with a suite of benefits that can help reduce costs and safeguard businesses – including credit checks, helplines, discounted insurance schemes, and subsidised training.
In 2020, the NAS was able to connect its members to clients seeking quality shopfitters, fit-out and interior contractors within our membership. In 2021 we will enhance the number of opportunities for our members, as the shift to regional projects increases.
If you’d like to understand how the NAS can help your business, or get the most out of your membership, please email: enquiries@shopfitters.org.
