Latest news : Positive outlook for engineers

Up-and-coming civil engineers could be encouraged by news that an important part of the civil engineering industry has returned to growth for the first time since the credit crunch. 08/05/2012

According to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)  Workload Trends Survey 2012 Q1, site preparation for building projects - also known as preliminary works - has increased over the first three months of the year compared to the final quarter of 2011.

This, combined with an improvement in the rail and electricity sectors, helped the civil engineering industry as a whole grow for the second consecutive quarter, following more than three years of decline.

Workloads increased for 1% of CECA members over the past 12 months compared to the previous year, with 10% reporting they expect their workloads to now increase.

However, 43% of firms in the motorways sector, as well as 30% of companies in the local roads sector, reported a decrease in activity.

Commenting on the figures, Alasdair Reisner, CECA director of external affairs, said, ‘The news that the industry is growing - albeit slowly - and that certain sectors, such as preliminary works, are showing positive results, should be welcomed.’

Nevertheless, he went on to add, that the ‘good news for the industry must be put in context’, as certain sectors have continued to limit growth.

‘It is far too early to be talking about a recovery in the sector as a whole, let alone successfully addressing the looming infrastructure deficit Britain faces over the coming years,’ Mr Reisner stated.