THE National Federation of Roofing Contractor’s (NFRC) latest State of the Roofing Industry Report has revealed a ‘significant deterioration’ in business confidence across the UK roofing sector.
Economic headwinds driven by overseas conflict, wet weather disruption, and broader market uncertainty were found to have weighed heavily on activity.
Only 29% of roofing contractors reported an increase in workload over the winter months, down from 37% in autumn 2025 and 48% in Q4 2024. New enquiries also declined, with just 26% of contractors reporting growth, compared to 34% in the previous quarter.
In terms of outlook, only 28% of roofing contractors expect workloads to increase over the next year, down from 40% in autumn 2025. Public sector contractors are described as ‘particularly pessimistic’.
Political uncertainty has also risen and was identified as the second most reported challenge amongst NFRC member businesses.
Conflict in the Middle East also led respondents to report that fuel surcharges and materials price volatility has persisted, with one contractor noting that suppliers were increasing surcharges ‘virtually on a weekly basis’.
NFRC CEO James Talman said, “While the full implications of the conflict remain unclear, businesses are struggling, and growth projections for construction are being revised down in line with the wider UK economy.”
NFRC policy and external affairs manager Gray Gibson added, “The peace deal is welcome but it has not alleviated any pressure for businesses at the delivery end of the supply chain. Materials prices remain elevated, margins are being squeezed, and confidence is fragile.”
The winter report for the first time explores the recruitment channels NFRC members use to bring workers into the industry. The findings reveal a sector that continues to rely heavily on informal networks rather than formal recruitment infrastructure.
For experienced and skilled workers, word of mouth and recommendations from existing employees were the most commonly cited methods. The same was true for new entrants, where informal channels again dominated.
The NFRC said that while these approaches reflect the close-knit nature of the trade, they also point to a structural challenge. If businesses are not reaching beyond their existing networks, the pool of potential recruits remains narrow. With NFRC members generally representing the larger end of the roofing and cladding industry, these results are likely to be even more pronounced for smaller firms.
