If there is one theme running through our 2026 Global Annual Report, it is this: the built environment is being asked to deliver more, with less margin for error, than ever before.
Ambition alone is not enough. Judgement matters just as much.
In this report, we demonstrate how our judgement – guided by our company values: Truth, Trust, Together and Tomorrow – translates into better value and better outcomes through trusted market intelligence, inspiring thought leadership and flawless project execution.
This is how we make progress for our clients and communities.
What is the outlook for the construction sector in the UK and Europe?
In the Our data section, we review the last 12 months of activity in construction markets worldwide and provide our forecasts for the year ahead and beyond. Our local analysts in the UK and Europe report that:
- Average construction output continues to stagnate in the UK and across Europe as GDP growth remains slow in most countries.
- Skilled labour shortages are still the talk of the industry and one reason as to the slow nature of growth on the continent.
- In the UK new orders data showed a 4.7% increase in infrastructure projects compared with the same quarter of the previous year.
- Data shows that the UK construction industry has demonstrated a marked improvement in productivity and GVA compared with pre-Covid data.
Read our full analysis here, access more market intelligence for the region here and use our Construction Cost Calculator to estimate the costs of your next project with our industry-leading tools.
How can the construction industry deliver better value?
In the Our ideas section, our subject matter experts explore how the construction industry can respond to rising expectations for sustainable, ethical, productive and value-adding projects.
Emma Hooper, Head of Information Management Strategy, RLB Digital, explains how effective information management is key to unlocking better value in the built environment.
Read the full article here.
How can modular construction fast-track building projects?
The University of Hull needed a new state-of-the-art computer teaching facility to be built in a matter of months, but conventional construction methods would have taken too long.
In the Our projects section, learn how our innovative modular construction solution ensured the project was completed not just quickly, but cost-effectively and sustainably, demonstrating the advantages of modern methods of construction in delivering complex projects.
Read the full case study here.
A better built environment for everyone
At RLB, we are passionate about what we do, and happy to share our knowledge for the benefit of everyone, which is why we are proud to showcase our data, our ideas and our projects.
You can access them all here in RLB’s 2026 Global Annual Report.
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