A new survey from the Association for Project Management (APM) has revealed a significant boost in confidence among UK project professionals following the recent US/UK trade deal, though many remain cautious about the deal’s long-term impact.
The survey, conducted in partnership with Censuswide, found that 85% of project professionals are confident in their organisation’s ability to deliver projects under the new trade agreement. This optimism is particularly strong in manufacturing (92%), construction (83%) and automotive (81%).
More than half of respondents (51%) said the deal has opened up new opportunities for trading and improved access to suppliers, customers and partners. Nearly half (48%) also suggested that closer regulatory cooperation with the US is expected to reduce compliance burdens, streamlining project delivery and minimising delays.
“This survey highlights both renewed optimism and ongoing complexities for the projects that drive the UK economy following the UK/US trade deal,” said Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, “Confidence is clearly growing across key sectors, fuelled by better market access and improved regulatory alignment, which is positive to see.”
Despite the overall confidence boost, the survey also revealed some concerns. Nearly half (48%) of professionals worry that the trade deal could disrupt existing relationships with non-US/UK partners, potentially leading to contract renegotiations and supply chain complications. A further 44% expressed uncertainty about how the deal will be implemented, raising questions about evolving terms and their impact on project planning.
Looking ahead, one third (33%) of respondents expect project delivery to improve over the next year to 18 months. However, many anticipate challenges, including projects being reduced in scope due to tighter budgets or fewer resources (39%), projects being completed over budget (35%) and a reduced focus on net zero goals in project planning (33%).
