Wave 2 of the FIA’s popular and authoritative Market Conditions Review that looks at the UK’s fire sector is now available. The rolling back of the ‘waters’ has revealed some interesting features on the ‘fire’ beach.

In particular the fire sector is now beginning to experience the growth that others have already reported with increased invitations to tender and a higher level of enquiries than reported in the last survey of October 2013. However while enquiries and tender invitations have increased over the last six months tender prices and labour recruitment have generally stayed at the same level as in the previous survey. Supplier prices continue to rise and thus gross profit margins are falling. During the same time period it is encouraging to see that the level of training has increased as has the requirement for companies to be a member of a third party certification scheme.

Of particular gratification to the FIA is the fact that in the last six months its member companies received nearly 15% more invitations to tender than did non-members!

Survey respondent comments include the following which sum up the general view:

“Very Buoyant and increasing gradually as confidence in the market returns.”

And

“The sector seems to be more professional and training and accreditations are playing more of a role.”

Looking forward to the next Review should we expect the approach of Tsunami or even the generation of some new islands from the market’s increased seismic activity – probably not but it’s fair to say that Surfs Up and it’s time for all of those in the sector to wax down their boards and ride Wave 3 into the ‘fire’ beach!