Now in its seventh edition, RLB’s annual Procurement Trends survey paints an accurate and detailed picture of the procurement landscape in UK construction.
Every year we survey more than 100 contractors to examine the latest procurement trends and their effects on the planning and delivery of projects in UK construction.
We provide answers to key questions about what is happening, and what could happen, across supply chains at a time when the construction sector is being impacted by geopolitical headwinds, market uncertainty and rising input costs.
What are the key national trends in UK construction procurement?
Risk appetites are tightening and traditional approaches to procurement are becoming harder to sustain. Against this backdrop, clients and contractors that adopt more collaborative ways of working stand to gain the most competitive advantage.
In the report, we examine:
- Retention payments ban
- Route to market
- Types of contract
- AI in tender responses
How are construction supply chains performing in a volatile market?
A sustained rise in uncertainty, driven by geopolitical disruption, supply chain shocks and skills shortages, is no longer sporadic but represents endemic industry change, Risk management is more important than ever in the face of this uncertainty.
We provide data on:
- Behavioural responses
- Bonds and sureties
- Key pressure points
- Fixed price and tender validity
What is happening in the procurement of large construction projects?
Contractors are becoming more selective in bid decisions, with over half reporting more stringent bid/no‑bid criteria for their largest projects, driven by commercial terms, risk transfer, and concerns about client capability and governance.
Our survey covers:
- Route to market by contract size
- Bid/no-bid decision-making
- Bonds and sureties
How can construction projects deliver better outcomes?
Projects that define value and sustainability goals at the outset are most likely to deliver them. And yet four in 10 clients do not use value selection criteria, with their use dropping by 7% in the public sector.
We share our findings on:
- Value selection criteria
- Sustainable procurement
- Modern methods of construction (MMC)
- Built asset data
Creating a better built environment for everyone
Through sharing our data and analysis, our aim at RLB is to shape the industry’s thinking and best practice for the benefit of everyone working in the sector.
By making better procurement choices, we believe our industry can achieve better outcomes for our clients and communities.
Read the full report today.
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