Home improvement boom sees 35% growth for SMEs

The home improvement boom experienced during lockdown has seen sales for SMEs in construction increase by 35% in 2021, compared to 2020.

15 Sep, 21

The home improvement boom experienced during lockdown has seen sales for SMEs in construction increase by 35% in 2021, compared to 2020.

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Analysis from field service software for professional trades, Powered Now reports almost a quarter of million invoices, recorded by 915 trade SMEs, shows the average order is 6% higher than 2020.

In addition, the company has found sales for the first eight months of 2021 amounted to £111 million, compared to £82 million for the same period last year.

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Originally prescribed to the national lockdowns  in the Spring of 2020 and Winter of 2021, the home improvement boom has continued throughout the summer months.

Usually a quieter period for the trades, the significance of this increase is emphasised by the growth that has continued past ‘Freedom Day’, with the average value of an invoice amounting to £1,233, reaching total monthly sales of £15.1 million.

According to Powered Now, it means August is near the highest month for deal flow in 2021, second only to March.

CEO of Powered Now Ben Dyer commented on the analysis:  “Since the reopening of the construction sector after the very first lockdown in 2020, there has been an unprecedented boom period.

“Sales in 2020 surpassed those in 2019, which was totally unexpected as we learnt how to deal with the pandemic.

“2021 by all accounts has taken us all by surprise even further. Starting the year with an equally restrictive lockdown didn’t dent the appetite of the British public for home improvements, and even the very well documented shortages of labour and materials couldn’t deter Brits from going on a renovation bonanza.

“The knock-on effect of this golden year for tradespeople has meant that the trade has become a hugely popular sector for job seekers, and we’re seeing training courses becoming over-subscribed as education centres are inundated with new apprentices.”