Dart Tools warns of regional ‘material bottlenecks’

New research, from power tool accessories specialist DART Tool Group, warns that construction workforce shortages could disrupt the flow of materials to sites across Great Britain.

According to Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) forecasts, the sector requires an additional 47,860 workers per year on top of typical recruitment efforts to meet demand, the equivalent of 239,300 new recruits over the next five years.

With the workforce required to install products shrinking, the pull-through of materials from yards to sites risks stalling, leaving merchants holding elevated levels of stock as materials ordered for future projects fail to convert into timely site call-offs.

Managing director of DART Tool Group, Ryan Paterson, comments: “For builders’ merchants, a constrained labour workforce in the construction sector is not just a site issue, but a growing threat to stock turnover and cash flow.

“When projects stall due to a lack of skilled labour, materials don’t get used at the expected rate and material call-offs grind to a halt. That slows stock turn, ties up working capital, and creates a disconnect between what merchants are selling and what’s actually being installed.

“However, these pressures aren’t spread evenly across the country. Findings from our ‘Construction Regions Risk Report’ show that a merchant based in the Midlands may be dealing with significant stock stagnation, while another in Scotland or Wales is seeing stronger movement with materials moving quickly.

“By understanding the specific regional pinch points, merchants can manage their inventory more proactively, forecast more accurately with customers, and ensure they are stocking the right product mix to support the workforce where needed and keep materials moving.”