9th February 2023

90-95% of building contractors and tradespeople prefer to conduct online research when they are looking for building products, materials or tools for purchase.
Contractors and tradespeople continue their migration online in search of information, advice, and digital purchasing options.
The share of purchases through online specialists (including Amazon) has remained high in 2022, in line with 2021 levels.
There’s an ongoing shift from branch-based purchases to online channels – especially so with ordering via apps.

75% of contractors and tradespeople across all countries and company sizes said environmental sustainability is within their top 3 priorities.
50% of those surveyed see sustainability as a growth driver, compared to 20% of those surveyed only focusing on regulatory compliance.
The top factors which led a company to consider sustainability were: higher material performance; customers’ requests; professional competitive advantage; and lastly, that it was an ethical decision.

L.E.K. Consulting, the global strategy consultancy, today announced the results of their annual survey of building and construction contractors which, this year followed a similar survey in the U.S. with its focus on attitudes to sustainability.

Comparing the results indicates that European contractors are ahead of their U.S. counterparts in their willingness to use sustainable products, and in their belief that their customers are ready and willing to pick up the bill.

The Marketing to Contractors & Housebuilders feature (which is sponsored by South East Construction Expo) in the Sectors section of our Directory provides an overview of the sector, including
details of its various media channels and events, together with access to our downloadable database of those with responsibility for procurement at key firms.

Looking across Europe, France takes the lead with over 80% of the contractors surveyed choosing sustainability as a priority, the UK lags behind at circa 55%, and Germany and Spain occupy the middle ground with around 70% each.

One of the survey’s clearest messages is that the sustainability agenda has already begun its journey from perceived burden to commercial opportunity, with half of the respondents declaring ESG as a clear driver for growth and a substantial 70% placing environmental sustainability in their top three strategic priorities; only a tiny minority of 3% say that sustainability is not on their radar. According to Rebecca Scottorn, Partner at L.E.K. Consulting, sustainability “is no longer a nice-to-have – investors, regulators and customers are all demanding sustainability, and increasingly businesses need to be sustainable to win a seat at the table.”

Younger people and the larger contractors are more tuned in to the sustainability agenda integrating sustainability into their long-term value creation strategy. “It’s a mistake to think that sustainability is all about loading in costs – for savvy businesses this is a great opportunity to create commercial value and competitive edge.” added Tom Diplock, Partner at L.E.K. Consulting.

Building energy efficiency has been a focus for some time, but the sustainable credentials of materials and construction operations are becoming increasingly important too. When it comes to which products are seen to be furthest ahead in the race for sustainability performance, roofing and insulation are clear winners due to their impact on energy efficiency of buildings, followed by concrete, windows and doors, and flooring.

In order to download the L.E.K. Building and Construction Survey, and to find links to related webinars (24 January 4pm and 15 February 3pm GMT), click here.

The Construct UK Sales & Marketing Directory hosts over 75 articles, 1,000 construction events and 30 different databases for download. The annual £195 (+VAT) subscription fee provides unlimited access to all resources on the site.

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