The market for construction materials totals over £73bn.

This is fulfilled through a variety of channels but a significant proportion (over £56bn) comes through distribution and is therefore addressable by the Group.

UK addressable market size by business unit (£bn)

Market size by business unit


Market overview

The Group serves four major end markets, with half of revenues coming from private domestic housing (both new build and repair, maintenance & improvement "RMI") and the balance being split between the commercial and industrial market and the public sector.

Market mix

0 %

Private domestic new build

0 %

Private RMI

0 %

Commercial & industrial

0 %

Public sector

Group revenue mix

0 %

Private domestic new build

0 %

Private RMI

0 %

Commercial & industrial

0 %

Public sector

The market mix and market size figures are based on 2022 data.

The Group mix figures are based on 2023 Group estimates.

Growth drivers

  • Growth in the UK’s population
  • A shortage of housing
  • Sales incentives and support for first-time buyers
  • Ongoing desirability of home ownership over renting
  • Disrepair of housing stock
  • ECO+ Requirement for retrofit and cladding remediation works
  • Need for decarbonisation and improvement for EPC ratings in the rented sector
  • Reconfiguring homes for more space and home-working
  • Cost of moving and shortage of new homes has given rise to a ‘Don’t move, improve!’ trend
  • Growth in warehousing and logistics space
  • Refurbishment of office and retail space around hybrid working and new patterns of retail
  • Cladding remediation on commercial buildings
  • Hospital and school rebuilding programmes
  • Offshore wind growth
  • Ongoing requirements for public sector affordable housing
  • Significant need to improve the condition and thermal efficiency of existing public sector housing through retrofit programmes

Macro factors impacting our markets

Changes to the market are causing all parties to consider the way that they work - raising expectations and creating opportunities for partners that are able to respond.

Macro factors

  • ESG is highly relevant across the construction industry
  • Digital and technology developments are continuing to have a significant impact across all industries
  • Trade customer expectations are increasing driven by the experiences enjoyed by consumers

Sector-specific factors

  • Modern methods of Construction ("MMC") are beginning to change the industry.
  • Labour and knowledge scarcity is driving change through the ageing of the construction industry workforce
  • The construction industry has not enjoyed the advances in productivity seen in other sectors

Our 2023 Full Year Results

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Developing the next generation

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Upskilling the construction industry