Ask the experts
Neil Smith, NHBC's head of research and innovation, presents bin storage, recruitment and its upcoming Part L guide as examples of how the NHBC Foundation is supporting the industry right now
Safe as houses
In July NHBC held its fifth annual Health and Safety Awards, recognising onsite health and safety best practice. Housebuilder profiles the winners and honours those who scooped special prizes this year for their hard work in this crucial area
Skills spotlight
This month's Housebuilder SWOT analysis identifies skills shortages as the major Threat facing the industry. Suzie Mayes looks at what housebuilders are doing to address the labour gap – including recruiting from other sectors and boosting the image of housebuilding
SWOT 2014: SUPPLIERS - Supply side looks to innovation to fulfil industry growth potential
How do the firms that supply materials and services to the housebuilders see the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the industry? Ben Roskrow looks at the responses from this key sector
SWOT 2014: THREATS - Skills shortages threaten industry growth
In one of the clearest trends in the industry, the challenge of "Labour and management shortages" has rocketed to the top of the list of Threats facing housebuilders.
SWOT 2014: OPPORTUNITIES - The land of opportunity for housebuilders
"We are getting more smaller builders coming back into the market, which is vital if we are ever to get anywhere near 200,000 homes a year", John Tebbit, managing director, Robust Details Ltd
SWOT 2014: WEAKNESSES - Mortgage market concerns back to the fore
Although not making the Top Five, a lack of land coming through the planning system scored among several respondents as a Weakness
SWOT 2014: STRENGTHS - Demand leads the way to strong market
While demand, supply and growth dominated the top three Strengths, the continuing "Low mortgage rates" and the positive "Industry/government relationship" also made the Top Five
SWOT 2014: People and politics threaten the positive mood
Housebuilder's analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the housebuilding industry reveals a sector enjoying a buoyant market with much potential but which may be undermined by a lack of staff both on site and in the office. Ben Roskrow reports
Material progress
NHBC’s Technical Standards Helpline is on hand to assist the housebuilding industry with various technical queries. And these queries have taken on a particular form since the sector entered recovery mode as Paul Cribbens, NHBC’s standards manager, explains<br /><br />
