Michael Freeley reflects on the factors that have shaped the demolition industry this year, the impact on our business, and thoughts on the future.
It has been another challenging year for the whole construction industry, and demolition is no exception. Despite these hurdles, we are ending the year with positivity and are optimistic about the future.
So, here is a look back at how 2024 has fared and what lies ahead.
A dwindling labour pool, compounded by an aging workforce, remains one of the biggest issues facing our sector. As a growing company, this challenge is particularly acute for us. Yet, despite the broader industry struggles, we hired several new team members this year.
Our ability to attract staff is driven by our commitment to being a good employer; we pay the real Living Wage and provide training for all our people under the National Demolition Training Group’s (NDTG) CCDO card scheme. The positive feedback we have received from employees throughout this year is testimony to the success of our employment practices.
Undoubtably, the skills shortage will remain a challenge for the whole construction industry for the foreseeable future. Ongoing investment in staff, including learning and development will be paramount.
Generating social value
Creating social value continues to move up the priority list for our clients, particularly in the public sector. This is a need that will intensify in the years ahead and while challenging, it is a trend we are embracing.
We are working more closely with charities and local authorities to refine our social value delivery. Over the past year, this approach has seen us support a wide range of initiatives ranging from sponsorship of local sports teams through to school visits and mentoring. Our adoption of the Social Value Portal is helping us to measure, report and amplify these activities. In doing so, our aim is to exceed our clients’ social value expectations and make a positive difference that goes well beyond our projects.
The debate surrounding the environmental impact of demolition shows no sign of abating.
As the construction industry continues to seek ways to reduce its carbon emissions, there have even been calls for an outright demolition ban. Thankfully, key decision makers appear to have a more sensible stance on the matter, recognising there will always be a need for demolition in a developed economy.
Many of our projects this year involved the removal of unsafe or poorly designed buildings, including some relatively modern structures. This not only underlines the need for better building design, but the indispensable role that demolition contractors play in the built environment, especially where safety is the primary concern.
Linked to this trend is the removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which has been a major focus for us this year within NHS sites. We have developed an efficient and highly effective method for these sensitive environments, ensuring minimal disruption while maintaining safety. This expertise positions us as a leader in tackling more RAAC-related issues in the year ahead within hospitals, schools and universities.
2024 highlights
Despite the challenges, 2024 was a year of growth and achievement for J Freeley.
As well as increasing our turnover and client base, including the civils side of our business, we maintained our high safety record. This commitment to safety was recognised with the British Safety Council’s International Safety Award in 2024.
From industrial dismantling and RAAC removal, to complex building demolitions and civil engineering for NHS and education clients, we have delivered a diverse range of projects.
One of our largest was the demolition of the Wallasey Town Hall annexes. Completed on time and budget for Wirral Council, the project has paved the way for regeneration within the area. We look forward to continuing to work with Wirral Council on further demolition projects in early 2025.
As a business that is passionate about continually improving our industry, attending the NFDC Convention in Rome was another highlight. This provided opportunities to share ideas and discuss industry challenges with contractors from Europe and the US.
The year ahead offers opportunity for both J Freeley and the demolition sector at large.
With numerous projects already in the pipeline we are excited to hit the ground running in 2025. We will also be unveiling a fresh new look for our company with a rebrand that we are looking forward to sharing with clients and partners.
On the operational side, adaptation and proactivity remains key. The Procurement Act 2023 comes into force in February, and as a company that works extensively in the public sector, we will be ensuring all measures are in place for seamless compliance.
Innovations in plant machinery and robotics are poised to make the industry cleaner, safer, and more sustainable. We watch with interest the plant manufacturers which are leading the way in this respect so we can embrace the latest developments.
As we close the chapter on 2024, we are proud of the progress we have made but won’t be resting on our laurels. Wider industry challenges will remain next year, cementing the need for nimble management, adaptation and investment in people. But with a clear vision, refreshed brand and dedicated team we will be ready to meet these head on.
