Insights, news and ideas for construction, building products, energy and environmental markets

The environmental goods and services (EGS) sector is growing rapidly, shaped by net zero goals, innovation, and regulation. Explore how strategic market analysis from Leading Edge helps organisations uncover new opportunities and make confident, evidence-based decisions. READ MORE

The environmental laboratory services sector is evolving fast. Discover how tailored customer research can help laboratories, startups, and equipment manufacturers stay competitive, identify market trends, and drive smarter business strategies. READ MORE

The April 2025 UK Construction Market Update explores Spring Statement reactions, US tariffs, British Steel developments, and a cautious sector outlook. Featuring insights from ONS, CPA, Glenigan, BCIS and more – plus final thoughts from Leading Edge on what this means for the months ahead. READ MORE

The March 2025 UK Construction Market Update highlights continued challenges in housing, signs of recovery in commercial and infrastructure, and a strong pipeline of major projects. With insights from ONS, Glenigan, Barbour ABI and more, Leading Edge explores what’s shaping the sector this month. READ MORE

The Key Stages of a Market Research Project Launching a new product or expanding into a new market can feel like a leap into the unknown. For companies in construction, building products, and related industries, the risks are high — getting the wrong insight can mean costly missteps. A structured B2B market research project reduces […] READ MORE

Understanding NPS benchmarks is essential for building product manufacturers looking to strengthen customer loyalty. At Leading Edge, we provide expert NPS research and actionable insights, helping businesses improve customer satisfaction, benchmark performance, and drive long-term success. Discover how to enhance your NPS and build stronger client relationships. READ MORE

A well-defined business strategy is key to success in the construction industry. At Leading Edge, we provide in-depth market research and strategic insights to help construction firms, manufacturers, and suppliers navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and drive sustainable growth. Discover how market intelligence can strengthen your business strategy. READ MORE

A targeted, research-driven marketing strategy is essential for building product manufacturers looking to engage specifiers, contractors, and distributors. At Leading Edge, we provide market intelligence to refine messaging, optimise positioning, and strengthen customer engagement. Learn how data-led strategies can enhance your competitive edge and drive long-term sales. READ MORE

Customer satisfaction is essential in construction, impacting repeat business and reputation. At Leading Edge, we provide tailored NPS surveys and client feedback research to help businesses measure and improve performance. Learn how proactive strategies can strengthen client relationships and keep your business ahead of the competition. READ MORE

A successful construction business plan starts with robust market research. Learn how to define your services, set goals, and align with customer needs. READ MORE

Client satisfaction isn’t just a measure of success in the construction sector—it’s a predictor of future business. In this article, we explore how Net Promoter Score (NPS) acts as an early warning system for project risks, highlights supply chain challenges, and uncovers improvement opportunities. Discover practical strategies and real-world examples of how contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers can use NPS data to safeguard their reputation, secure repeat business, and fuel long-term growth. READ MORE

Understanding the UK construction market requires more than just reports—it demands real-time intelligence, competitor insights, and industry analysis. At Leading Edge, we do the legwork, delivering tailored market research to help businesses navigate trends, policy changes, and commercial opportunities with confidence. Get the insights you need to stay ahead. READ MORE

Discover how to conduct a building product market analysis in 7 clear steps, from sizing the market to understanding customers and competitors. READ MORE

Market research is essential for construction businesses looking to understand trends, customer needs, and competitive positioning. At Leading Edge, we specialise in delivering market insights that help manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors make informed decisions. Learn how market research can drive business success in the construction industry. READ MORE

Unlike other sectors, construction projects involve multiple stakeholders, long procurement cycles, and complex decision-making—not just based on price. Discover how market research reveals growing demand, improves stakeholder engagement, benchmarks competitor performance, and validates new product ideas. With the right insights, construction businesses can make data-led decisions that reduce risk and drive sustainable growth. READ MORE

For construction product manufacturers, market research provides the insights needed to align with industry demand, influence specification decisions, and track competitors. At Leading Edge, we specialise in helping manufacturers refine strategies through data-driven analysis. Learn how research can drive sales, improve market positioning, and support product innovation. READ MORE

The UK construction industry involves multiple stakeholders, from developers and main contractors to architects and merchants. Understanding their priorities is crucial for suppliers looking to secure contracts. At Leading Edge, we provide market research and insight to help businesses align their strategies with the needs of construction decision-makers. READ MORE

Marketing building products effectively requires more than just promotion—it demands a deep understanding of market demand, decision-maker priorities, and competitor positioning. At Leading Edge, we provide market research and strategic analysis tailored to building product manufacturers and suppliers. Our insights help businesses refine their marketing approach, ensuring efforts are targeted, commercially effective, and results-driven. Learn how a research-led marketing strategy can enhance your brand’s visibility, engagement, and long-term success. READ MORE

The building materials market serves a range of professional and trade customers, from housebuilders to merchants. Understanding their needs helps manufacturers position their products effectively. At Leading Edge, we provide in-depth market research to help businesses refine their approach and engage the right decision-makers. READ MORE

The UK building products industry in 2025 will be shaped by sustainability regulations, digital transformation, and economic shifts. Businesses that anticipate change can position themselves for success. At Leading Edge, we provide market forecasting and strategic insights to help manufacturers and suppliers navigate evolving market conditions with confidence. READ MORE

What is NPS? At its core, NPS is a simple yet effective measure of your company’s performance from the customer’s perspective. It answers the key question: “How likely is it that you would recommend [Company Name] to a friend or colleague?” Respondents rate their likelihood on a scale from 1 (very unlikely) to 10 (very […] READ MORE

Accurate sales forecasting is essential in the construction industry, helping businesses anticipate demand, allocate resources, and mitigate risk. At Leading Edge, we combine market intelligence with advanced forecasting techniques to deliver actionable insights, ensuring companies stay ahead of industry shifts. Discover how our expertise can enhance your strategic planning. READ MORE

AI is no longer a future trend — it’s already making an impact in environmental and energy market research. At Leading Edge, we’re using AI to support qualitative analysis and uncover valuable insights. But while the benefits are clear, challenges like GDPR and transparency remain. Here's how we’re navigating them. READ MORE

We are excited to announce the release of the latest edition of the "UK Commercial LVT Market Report." This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the commercial luxury vinyl tile (LVT) market in the UK, offering valuable insights into market trends, brand performance, and growth across various sectors. READ MORE

Discover the key differences between qualitative and quantitative market research in the construction industry. Learn how each approach can guide informed decisions for product launches, investments, and brand management. Explore our infographic for insights READ MORE

Competitive intelligence (CI) is crucial in the construction industry, where competition is fierce. By monitoring market trends, analysing competitors, and leveraging insights, construction companies can make informed decisions, enhance strategic planning, and improve bid success rates. CI fosters innovation, mitigates risks, and strengthens customer relationships, driving sustained success. READ MORE

Market entry research is crucial for building product manufacturers aiming to expand into new markets. It provides insights into local regulations, competitor analysis, customer preferences, risk mitigation, strategic partnerships, regulatory compliance, and tailored marketing strategies, ensuring sustainable growth and competitive advantage. READ MORE

Overcoming phone outreach challenges in the environmental technology and services sector is crucial as traditional methods face declining engagement. With 1 in 4 adults avoiding calls, adapting strategies is essential. Leveraging client contacts, utilising third-party sources, employing multiple contact methods, and optimising introductions can enhance effectiveness. Tailoring approaches based on projects and offering incentives for longer interviews can also help. These strategies ensure high-quality information gathering, balancing cost and efficiency for successful market insights. READ MORE

Letting customers dictate feedback delivery can skew results toward extreme opinions, overlooking moderate views. This risks creating a feedback loop that fails to represent the entire customer experience, leading to strategies that might not address the real needs or sentiments of the broader customer base. READ MORE

This blog emphasises the role of Voice of the Customer (VoC) research in the building products industry. It explores how VoC not only enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty but also drives product innovation and strategic decision-making. Through detailed insights, manufacturers can align their offerings with customer expectations and market trends, fostering sustainable growth and competitive advantage. READ MORE

We specialise in market research in the construction sector and, in particular, have carried out several studies involving research on roof tiles, roofing products and other related building materials. We also have operational experience in the distribution of roofing materials. READ MORE

We focus our research and market analysis services mainly on the construction and building products sector. We have significant experience working in the cement sector, having worked for the main industry body (The Concrete Centre) for over 5 years. We have also worked for other cement manufacturers on market analysis and research projects and so know the sector well. READ MORE

Our main services in the building materials sector include market research, market analysis, product forecasting and strategy planning. Most of our work is for manufacturers of construction materials, contractors, distributors and other companies involved in construction. In particular we have experience of working in the insulation products sector for a manufacturer of specialist products. We have also operational experience of distributing insulation materials. READ MORE

Our focus is on the building materials market while our main services include market research, analysis, forecasting, strategy development and customer benchmarking. We have completed a number of market research studies on the UK brick market and worked for several of the main manufacturers. Example projects are provided below. READ MORE

We focus on clients in the construction sector and know the market very well. Our key services include market research, market analysis, product forecasting and customer benchmarking. We have an excellent track record on working with manufacturers and distributors in carrying out research on construction materials. Examples of companies we have worked with in the last few years include: Aliaxis, Ardex, Bouygues, Gradus, Forterra, MITIE and Speedy Hire. READ MORE

Most of our clients are in or related to the construction sector and so we have a lot of relevant experience within this market. Our main services include market surveys, customer research, market analysis, product forecasting and customer service measurement. Our track record on working with manufacturers, contractors and service companies is excellent and feedback from customers pays testament to this. READ MORE

We have a wide experience of market research and analysis in the building products industry and have completed several research projects in the plasterboard sector. READ MORE

Focused market research can provide powerful information from customers and prospective customers and also provide valuable feedback on product performance and service levels. Respondent groups would typically include architects, contractors, sub contractors, industry commentators and distributors. READ MORE

To ensure you are making the correct strategic choices when breaking into a new market in the construction industry you need to have as much market data as possible, a Building Product Market Analysis. For example, what is the size of the market, who are the key competitors, are there any market trends and what is the route to market. READ MORE

A customer satisfaction survey should be the first stage in improving your service to customers in the construction sector. The results of the survey should then be used to identify an action programme to improve poor performing areas. READ MORE

One way to improve your margin for a building product or construction service and achieve a true competitive advantage is to innovate and develop a product or service that fulfils the customer’s needs in a new and more effective way. READ MORE

A marketing plan is an absolutely essential planning tool for any business in the construction sector, no matter what size or type. READ MORE

If you are looking for assistance with market research and are linked to the construction or building market then we’d be happy to help, we specialise in market research and analysis in these sectors. We are based in Hartley Wintney, a village south of Reading near the M3 and have been in business since 1988 READ MORE