TRA releases 2024 State of the Industry Survey results

The Trussed Rafter Association, (TRA), has unveiled the results of its second annual State of the Industry Survey. The survey suggests that while businesses are concerned about the next 12 months, activities are likely to improve, particularly following a change in government in July 2024.

Businesses remained cautious about the future, but are starting to feel more confident about the future of the sector. Despite some concerns, there is a noticeable trend towards investing in employee growth and new technologies.

Mixed signals in business confidence

Businesses in the trussed rafter industry have varied levels of confidence about the upcoming 12 months. While 45% of respondents are "somewhat confident" and 39% feel "confident," only 6% are "very confident" about their business outlook. In contrast, 10%  are "not confident at all."

The survey indicates that many trussed rafter manufacturers and suppliers are expecting housebuilding activities to recover with 39% of businesses expecting an increase, 55% believing it will remain steady, and only 6% anticipating a decrease.When asked about the potential impact of a government change on the housing market, 55% of respondents believed it would improve the market, and 39% thought it would make no difference.

The number of respondents unlikely to invest in new technology or new ways of working has decreased from 42% in 2023 to 10% in 2024.

Training and Recruitment

A majority of TRA members are optimistic about recruitment, with 58% planning to increase their staff over the next year; and 55% feel likely to take on new apprentices in the next five years.

Net Zero Initiatives

52% of respondents are actively pursuing carbon reduction as part of their current strategy. Customer inquiries about environmental and carbon savings have increased by 26%, indicating that net-zero pressures are beginning to affect suppliers.

Focus on the future

The TRA reminds members that resources are available, including the Designer Development Programme (DDP) for timber engineering designers, training courses in association with Edinburgh Napier University, and the Journey to Net Zero resources for members starting their net-zero journey.

Members are encouraged to contact the TRA with any concerns or suggestions at info@tra.org.uk. Full survey results are available on the TRA members portal, exclusively for existing TRA members.