ACE firms continue to experience a slowdown in work – survey
We continue to hear from professional services consultancies that there is significant uncertainty and low business confidence. In July 2024, we surveyed ACE New Zealand members to understand the current environment and whether the announcements made by the Government in the last three months have made a difference on the ground, and what they’d like to happen next.
The Government has ambitious plans for the building and infrastructure sectors and is asking good questions about our long-term infrastructure strategy, funding and financing, and delivery productivity and efficiency. These are complex questions that understandably take time to work through.
In April 2024, we surveyed ACE members to better understand current business experience and what they want to see from the Government that would have the biggest impact for the sector and the communities we serve. We heard that many of our members were struggling due to a slowdown of work in the market post-election, with some having to make tough decisions to keep their business afloat.
Since then, the Government has announced the budget, released the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport, announced the review of school property projects and confirmed 252 projects will proceed with planning, design or construction activities, among other things.
However, we still hear from members that there is significant uncertainty and low business confidence. That’s why, in July 2024, we undertook a repeat survey to understand the current environment our members are operating in and whether the announcements made by the Government in the last three months have made a difference on the ground, and what they’d like to happen next.
We received 60 responses (around 22% of total member firms). 83% of respondents had firms with fewer than 50 employees which represents the makeup of the ACE membership which is made up predominately by small and medium sized firms.
This report covers:
• Areas we are seeing the biggest slowdowns
• How this is impacting businesses
• What these results tells us
• Actions needed from the Government and industry in the short, medium and long term