Green shoots of new growth?

As the Government doubles down and backs itself on a steep housing target of 1.5 million new homes to be built in the next five years, the house building sector is kicking into gear following some years of stasis. The latest Office for National Statistics show housing starts up 10% on the Q3 2024, and a whopping 23% up year-on-year to during Q4 of last year, while Glenigan reports that private housing builds have seen a 39% annual increase.

There has been a slowdown in major projects, but given the number of ￡1bn plus projects now open for tendering, let’s hope this log jam doesn’t last too long and 2025 sees the industry switch from ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’.

While there’s lots of discussion on how the construction sector and other industries in the supply chain can respond to this surge in demand from a Government impatient for growth, perhaps the best course of action is one many in our sector can appreciate: just get going and start doing.

With that in mind, on with the news from a busy few weeks at SLG.

A look to the Horizon

This week we have published our third annual Horizon report on the current state of marketing in the construction sector. The data reflects a lot of optimism across the sector for increasing budgets and perhaps a more realistic workload to tackle during 2025.

The aim of these annual reports is to build a picture the activity and challenges that dominate the day-to-day job of marketers in this very fragmented sector, to find common challenges and point towards emerging trends.

Download the latest report and read our executive summary on the findings here.

Out of the darkness into the light for Inovara Group

Our first big piece of work for the year is now out in the open. SLG has been working with the team at the newly formed Inovara Group to assist with their relaunch, delivering the brand launch video and a range of assets for an official launch day for staff held in Brighton.

Inovara Group brings together four established electrical lighting equipment manufacturers of Collingwood Lighting, Indigo Lighting, Nobile Italia and Inovara International.

Group CMO Laura Chadwick called it “a standout brand campaign that truly captured who we are and where we’re going.”

SLG joins the Chamber of Commerce

SLG has join the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce for the very first time.

With more than 4,000 members across the ten local authority areas of Greater Manchester, this is the largest chamber of commerce in the UK and is a recognised voice of business in the city. We are delighted to be involved and you can be sure to see the SLG team at a range of the upcoming events.

Thanks to Lucy Mulligan for taking us through the membership process and the support from the GMCC.

Further insights

Members of our team have been adding to our growing Insight section on slg.agency.

This month Digital Services Director Tino Triste lays out the case for using the power of AI as part of a long term strategy rather than short term trouble shooting. https://www.slg.agency/ai-beyond-automation/

Client Services Director Milica Trifkovic kovic reflects on her first full year in construction marketing with the message for the marketing underdogs in our industry: we see you! Milica has a range of suggestions on how to become indispensable to your organisation and how to tackle those tricky conversations with the people who provide the budget. https://www.slg.agency/a-year-in-construction-marketing/