en.Wedoany.com Reported - The latest State of the Roofing Industry Report published by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) reveals a significant decline in business confidence within the UK roofing industry.

The report indicates that economic headwinds from overseas conflicts, adverse weather disruptions, and market uncertainty have largely dampened industry activity. Only 29% of roofing contractors reported an increase in workload during the winter, down from 37% in autumn 2025 and 48% in Q4 2024. New business inquiries also remained low, with 26% of firms reporting growth, compared to 34% in the previous quarter.

Looking ahead to the next year, only 28% of roofing contractors expect workload to increase, compared to 40% in autumn 2025. Contractors in the public sector were described as "particularly pessimistic." Political uncertainty has also risen among respondents and is listed as the second biggest challenge facing NFRC member firms. The Middle East conflict has led to ongoing fluctuations in fuel surcharges and material prices, with some contractors noting that suppliers are increasing surcharges "almost weekly."

James Talman, Chief Executive of the NFRC, stated that the full impact of the conflicts remains unclear, but businesses are struggling, and growth expectations for the construction industry have been downgraded in line with the broader UK economy. Gray Gibson, NFRC Policy and External Affairs Manager, added that while peace agreements are welcome, they have not alleviated any pressure on firms at the end of the supply chain. Material prices remain high, profit margins are squeezed, and confidence is fragile.

This winter report explores for the first time the channels through which NFRC members recruit workers. The survey found that the industry still relies heavily on informal networks rather than formal recruitment infrastructure. For both experienced skilled workers and new entrants, word of mouth and referrals from existing employees are the primary methods. The NFRC stated that while these methods reflect the close-knit nature of the industry, they also point to a structural challenge: if firms fail to recruit beyond their existing networks, the pool of potential job seekers will remain narrow. Given that NFRC members typically represent larger firms in the roofing and cladding sector, these results are likely even more pronounced for smaller businesses.