Brexit and General ElectionWith polling day for the General Election imminent and Brexit dominating the party political debates, RIW, like the rest of the construction industry, is presented with yet further uncertainty. Moreover, as recent political outcomes have demonstrated, the political landscape seems beyond our control.
Around the Brexit vote business became slightly quiet and therefore we could predict the same will happen around the time of the General Election. However, this is much the same as how we often predict having an influx of calls to the office during a period of bad weather, for instance. Commercially, we can only take a positive stance and be prepared.
I recently read an article by Building on Norman Foster’s opinion of Brexit where he said: “If that’s the democratic decision then you get on with it and you optimise on that”. An opinion I feel also applies to the outcome of the General Election – whatever that outcome may be.
From an economic perspective, according to the Office for National Statistics, despite growing on a quarterly basis, construction output fell for the third consecutive period month-on-month – decreasing by 0.7% in March 2017.
This reflects concerns that the UK economy is facing another slowdown, having an effect on some firms’ decision-making and consequently, delaying contract completion times. As yet, RIW hasn’t experienced this slow down and, looking ahead for the next 6 months, is forecasting a healthy business outlook post General Election.
In actual fact what the industry needs is a bold approach, a strategy familiar to us. Our focus, post June 8th 2017 and again in March 2019, when the UK officially leaves the European Union, will remain committed to developing our range of waterproofing solutions for above, below and at ground level. Ensuring our products, the technical advice and service we offer architects, engineers and contractors, deliver the waterproofing assurance required to meet the complexities of modern and future building methods. Innovation is key.
Of course, post election and post Brexit, the true effect on RIW is unknown but referring back to Foster, he comments on the cycle of events saying: “If you turn every circumstance into an opportunity then I don’t see any reason why it just doesn’t become another blip in evolution.”
This is exactly what we intend to do, taking any circumstance that comes from the next General Election and Brexit, viewing it as a chance for growth and development.
In the words of one of the most successful meme’s ever “Keep Calm and Carry On”, that’s definitely what we intend to do here at RIW – how about you?
By Sarah Patrick, Marketing Manager at RIW Ltd
