Goodbye darkness, my old friend: bright idea could boost UK construction industry by £265 million per year

·           Construction businesses lose a cumulative three days’ work over the winter months due to poor light

·           Having more light in the winter could earn workers on average £295 more per winter season

·           Direct Line for Business highlights how new Fleetlights technology can help companies overcome challenges in the future
 

New analysis1 by insurance provider Direct Line for Business reveals construction companies across the UK could be collectively losing as much as £265 million every year because a lack of light in winter prevents employees working.

Last year, construction workers clocked up an average of 37.9 hours per week during the summer months (April to September), but only 37.2 hours per week during winter (October to March).  A total of 20 hours and 22 minutes of working time is lost over the course of the winter, nearly three full days’ work, per employee.

Analysis of historic weather patterns2 in the UK shows that there are over 15 hours of sunlight in the summer months and less than nine and a half hours of sunlight in the winter. With five and half fewer hours to work outside, this weather change has the most significant impact on professions that rely on the light, such as the construction industry.

For the average construction worker earning a wage of £544.60 per week3, the financial impact is a loss of £295.32 over the winter months. This means that there are around 899,000 employees in the UK’s construction industry who could be missing out on a total of £265,495,910 in lost earnings each winter due to poor light. 

While over the past decade construction businesses’ hours have increased, companies are still losing a fortune in lost productivity because of the enforced reduction in working hours in winter.
 

Table one: Seasonal working hours of construction business employees, 2012-2016

Source: Direct Line for Business, 2017
 

Matt Boatwright, Head of Direct Line for Business, said: “Those working in the construction industry are clearly in demand, with the average hours of work increasing by more than 45 minutes per week over the last decade. However, the UK’s construction businesses have always been restricted in the hours that they work by the weather, with poor weather conditions or light quality having an impact.

“New innovations, such as Fleetlights, which is a prototype service that uses a fleet of flying torch drones, responsive to movement and controlled via a bespoke app, could potentially make the construction industry more productive. Just a few minutes’ extra work per day can have a positive impact on a project, and without the burden of poor light, the construction industry could complete contracts faster and increase their business’ earning potential as a result.”
 

Table two: Average number of hours worked per week by those in the construction industry, compared to the UK average, 2012-2016

Source: Direct Line for Business, 2017
 

Over the course of a year, construction workers average a total of 1,953 hours on the job – the second highest for any industry after agriculture, which averages 2,287 hours. This has increased by 3.6 per cent over the past five years – or one hour and 18 minutes per week – compared to the average working week, which has only risen by 0.9 per cent over the same timeframe (18 minutes per week).

Direct Line Group recognises the transformative power of new technology to help revolutionise the way we live and work. The company donated a fleet of waterproofed drones, fitted with its pioneering Fleetlights technology, to the Caister Lifeboat service.  The Norfolk based lifeboat service will use this network of Fleetlights drones, equipped with high-powered lights and high-definition cameras, to perform semi-autonomous flights helping lifeboat crews to spot people stranded at sea.  For further details on Fleetlights, please visit: 

For further details on Direct Line for Business’ tradesman insurance please visit: https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk/public-liability-insurance/tradesman-insurance
 

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Notes to Editors

1           Direct Line for Business analysis of ONS labour force statistics on average actual weekly hours of work by industry sector (HOUR03), published 16th August 2017.        

2           Direct Line for Business analysis of sunrise and sunset times during 2016. Analysis was conducted on daily hours of sunlight in three locations across the UK (London, Aberdeen and Cardiff) during 2016. Averages for summer (April to September) and winter (October to March) were used.

3           Direct Line for Business analysis of the ONS’s Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2016 preliminary results by Industry (2 digit SIC) - ASHE: Table 4, 2012 and 2016. Median figures used for wages.
 

For further information please contact:

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Antonia Green

Tel: 020 7282 2967

Email: antonia.green@citigatedr.co.uk
 

Direct Line for Business

Jade Trimbee

PR Manager

Tel: 01372 839 452

Mobile: 07825 315 931

Email: jade.trimbee@directlinegroup.co.uk
 

Direct Line for Business

Launched in 2007 Direct Line for Business provides a range of insurance products for the small business sector direct by phone and online.

Direct Line for Business insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line for Business and U K Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line for Business products or get a quote by calling 0345 301 4827 or visiting www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk