UK project professionals report widespread heatwave disruptions

A survey by the Association for Project Management (APM) reveals that recent heatwaves in the UK have significantly disrupted project delivery across multiple sectors. Of 1,008 UK-based project professionals surveyed, 96% reported that their main projects were affected, with 64% describing the impact as significant.

Key consequences identified include changes to working hours, project postponements, heat-affected materials or equipment, and increased health and safety measures. The construction and energy sectors reported the highest levels of disruption, with 99% of professionals in both fields stating their projects were affected. In construction, 28% of respondents reported schedule delays leading to missed deadlines.

Dr. Hugo Minney of the APM Sustainability Interest Network stated that climate change should now be viewed as a delivery and cost risk rather than a distant environmental issue. The report suggests that organizations must implement climate-specific risk assessments and build flexibility into schedules, budgets, and supply chains to mitigate these growing risks.