THE Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) has issued a warning on the future stability and growth of the plumbing and heating profession following the publication of its latest State of Trade research.
While demand for services remains high, ongoing challenges, including payment delays, rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers, are said to be placing ‘increasing strain’ on the sector.
The research, based on SNIPEF’s 750 member companies, shows 38% of firms were busier than expected in the last quarter, with 84% anticipating steady or increased order volumes in the coming months.
Despite this, 82% of businesses reported payment delays and 57% noted a rise in non-payment incidents.
Profit margins have remained ‘stable or slightly increased’ for the majority, with 49% of businesses reporting a slight improvement and 42% seeing no change. Additionally, 54% of businesses remain confident about the state of trade of the profession over the coming year, although only 23% expect to increase staffing in the next six months. 86% reported finding low availability of skilled plumbing and heating professionals in their area.
Confidence in the UK economy remains cautious, with only 32% expressing optimism about economic conditions over the next year.
“With the Scottish Government’s budget on the horizon, there is an opportunity to put in place measures that will protect the future of this essential profession,” said Fiona Hodgson, SNIPEF chief executive. “Our members are committed to delivering quality services in their communities, but without fair payment practices and improved access to skilled workers, the path to growth remains challenging.”
The decision to increase employer National Insurance (NI) from 13.8% to 15% is expected to add further cost pressures. “While the increased Employment Allowance will help smaller employers, the NI hike limits funds that could otherwise go towards essential skills training and development,” Hodgson added.
Ahead of the Scottish budget, SNIPEF is calling on policymakers to address these critical issues. “Supporting skills development, incentivising apprenticeships, and ensuring fair payment practices across the supply chain should be top priorities,” Hodgson added. “Such measures would help relieve the skills shortage and give our members the confidence to grow and continue delivering essential services across Scotland.”
