Insolvency in the UK construction sector

The construction industry has always tended to suffer a disproportionate share of both corporate insolvency and individual bankruptcy within Great Britain. This is particularly the case in the aftermath of economic recessions. The latest figures seem to indicate that almost a quarter of all corporate insolvencies in England and Wales involve Construction Companies. In Scotland, the situation is worse with almost one third of insolvencies coming from the sector. This is way out of line with construction’s five to six per cent share of Gross Domestic Product. Because of the differing legal definitions between England and Wales and Scotland, the main analysis will use data from England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland are excluded from the formal analysis.