With Christmas soon upon us and 2023 rapidly disappearing, we have been asked for our predictions for 2024 for this month’s article in Flat Living magazine. However, before we do so, it is useful to reflect on 2023 and the challenges/successes faced by the lift industry.
As always at Ardent Lift Consultancy, we have had a mixed bag of lift equipment to review, from equipment installed in 2015 that has already expired and required wholesale renewal, to lifts installed in the 1930’s that remain “untouched” and still going strong. Our surveys have taken us the length and breadth of the country this year with 100’s of lifts surveyed for clients.
The lift industry remains buoyant despite the doom-laden headlines on the economy. This is in part due to the residential market needing to undertake lift works, (to prevent residents being without lift service), and also a push towards commercial buildings being converted to residential, with the move from “normal” office working which started during the pandemic.
Ardent Lift Consultancy has had its busiest year on record, with our steadfast reputation gaining us traction in the marketplace, and with 11 years of successful projects to demonstrate our stability and trusted approach… really living up to the Ardent name and principals.
To that end, we also made a new appointment in November 2023, bringing Derek Finch, (a former independent test engineer and trouble-shooter for the lift industry), into the team. We are delighted to have someone of Derek’s standing in the industry and welcome his wealth of experience to bolster our established team of professionals. The move is intended to further support our client’s, (existing and new), with expert advice, our professional approach, and honest appraisals.
Derek brings the engineering team to 4, with Gareth Lomax , Chris Eaton, and Dan Cheesman. We also have Leah Jennings in the administrative support role within the business, which really keeps the team ticking over. 2024 promises great things for the business and subsequently, our clients too!
2024 appears to hold further challenges to the UK with high interest rates looking like they will remain for a while yet, and the spectre of a general election on the horizon in Q1/Q2. The markets, and by consequence the economy, is likely to be in a state of flux for much of the year, as various external influences continue in the background.
This is felt most during the manufacturing/procurement of new materials, when looking at it from a lift perspective, the continued high costs of materials, (copper, stainless steel, etc), will keep prices at a premium; whilst it is likely wages will need to rise with inflation to keep people from going backwards in terms of their “real world” finances. Subsequently, it remains vitally important to keep a proactive approach to spending and budgeting for Capital Expenditure projects. Our lift condition surveys are the perfect tools for this, giving client’s clear guidance on where to best spend their funds to keep lifts reliable.
The below table is a snapshot of how our reports clearly identify components and offer guidance on anticipated lifecycle and budget costs:
We are happy to offer quotes for these, and can survey single lifts up to entire portfolios, subject to a client’s requirements.
All in all, whilst the year ahead appears to offer some challenges, I believe we, (as the UK property industry), are entering into 2024 in a more stable and healthier position than we were in 2022/3, and subsequently, there are many reasons for an optimistic outlook.
And with that in mind, myself and all the team at Ardent Lift Consultancy would like to wish you all a happy festive period and best wishes for 2024.
