The growth in construction is happening faster in the south than in the north - claims a Coventry industry expert.

According to Julie White, the managing director of specialist diamond drilling and concrete sawing company D-Drill, recent figures of an improvement in construction output were being felt by her firm. But, she said, D-Drill’s offices south of Birmingham are seeing a stronger level of enquiries than those in the north.

The firm’s offices in Coventry, Hampshire, Cardiff and Plymouth have all seen growth in the region of 14.6 per cent since the turn of the year and the company is now opening an office in London too.

Projects range from the new development at Birmingham New Street to the diamond cutting of a former bank vault in Berkshire.

The firm’s offices in Sheffield, Wigan, Newcastle and Blackpool have experienced growth but Ms White said the north is only just beginning to catch up with the south but growth so far this year was around 2.5 per cent. Ms White was appointed chairperson of the National Specialist Contractors’ Council Training Committee last month.

The organisation brings together the common aims of 29 specialist trade organisations within construction and is the voice of more than 7,000 contractors across the UK. It has four key topics at the heart of its policy - fair payment, training, reducing bureaucracy and low carbon.

Ms White said: “People talk about the north/side divide and it is certainly apparent in the construction industry – that is what we are experiencing any way. We have very strong teams in our offices north of Birmingham and they are going out and making sure that they win the work that is available – that is where having a strong reputation helps.

"But it’s very hard work and, while everyone welcomes recent figures that say the sector is growing, they are certainly still finding it tough. It’s by no means easy in the south but there is certainly a more consistent level of enquiries and, as for London, it seems to have been insulated from many of the issues most other areas have faced.

"The north is starting to move in the right direction but there is still a very long way to go. Everyone knows that these have been among the toughest times for the construction industry but we have stuck to our guns – invested in apprentices and diversified into new areas.