UK’s small construction companies must innovate to succeed

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Construction companies
© Yunkiphotoshot

Construction companies that fail to innovate, will undoubtedly suffer from poor operational and financial performance. At the same time, they will lack sustainability for long-term survival and success

Businesses who develop new products, services and processes – generally put themselves ahead of competitors and are in a better position to adapt to any changes in the needs/expectations of their customers.

  • Small construction businesses primarily innovate to increase the range of goods and/or services they can offer (33%)
  • Thereafter, construction enterprises in their infancy, innovate with the aim of raising their turnover and accelerating growth prospects (29%)
  • Contrastingly, construction firms are least likely to innovate for the purpose of developing business rights and/or technology (6%)
  • 59% of construction start-ups claim to be ‘very or slightly aware’ of their competitor’s innovation efforts
  • Additionally, 57% state they are willing to experiment and take risks when trying to refresh their products/services/processes/ strategies with new ideas/concepts

The notion of taking a pro-active approach towards innovation should ring especially true for start-ups. Especially, when only 15% of new companies go on to become profitable, according to statistics from the ‘Sussex Innovation Centre’.

Interested in strategy and development, TheKnowledgeAcademy.com analysed the latest findings from ‘The Federation of Small Businesses’, who surveyed UK’s small construction companies to better understand their varying motivations for innovating.

Construction companies

Focusing on construction, small enterprises within the industry, mainly engage in innovation because of the added range of goods and/or services (33%) they can offer from doing so. Thereafter, construction firms are encouraged to innovate, as they believe it can increase their turnover and accelerate growth prospects (29%). Likewise, for 29% of construction companies in their infancy, their primary driver to innovate is fuelled by a desire to achieve efficiency and productivity gains.

Contrastingly, construction firms are least likely to innovate for the purpose of developing business rights and/or technology (6%). Equally, just 6% want to pursue innovation initiatives due to the potential collaboration opportunities it may lead to. Interestingly, 11% feel obliged to innovate, purely to meet regularly requirements.

Furthermore, 59% of construction start-ups claim to be ‘very or slightly aware’ of their competitors innovation efforts. Additionally, 57% state they are willing to experiment and take risks when trying to refresh their products/services/processes/strategies with new ideas/concepts.

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