ABSTRACT
The UK construction industry is a unique, complex and often fragmented industry. Nevertheless, in 2011 the total turnover of the industry was close to £100 billion or the equivalent to 8.5% of the UK gross domestic product, making it an important contributor to the wealth of the nation. The industry employs approximately 190,000 contractors and 1.8 million people, a high percentage of which are self-employed with a ratio of male to female of 7:1. The construction industry is defined in accordance with Division 45 of the Revised 2003 Standard Classification to include the following:
• general construction and demolition work: establishments engaged in building and civil engineering work not specialised to be classified elsewhere;
• construction and repair of buildings: establishments engaged in construction, improvement and repair of both residential and non-residential buildings, including specialists engaged in sections of construction and repair work such as bricklaying and the erection of steel and concrete structures, etc.;
• civil engineering: construction of roads, railways, airport runways, bridges, tunnels, pipelines, etc.;
• installation of fixtures and fittings: establishments engaged in the installation of fixtures and fittings including: gas fittings, plumbing, electrical fixtures and fittings, etc.;
• building completion work: establishments engaged in work such as painting and decorating, plastering, onsite joinery, etc.
