Jobs in property retrofitting may increase as the government encourages green improvements, an expert has said.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), has stated that the most entrepreneurial firms are already targeting work adapting buildings to be more energy efficient.

This comes as the latest Markit and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Purchasing Managers' Index recently revealed that construction rose to hit its highest gauge on the instrument since September 2007.

However, Mr Berry said that for smaller firms, which are more reliant on local authority work, it is still a "very depressed market" and the upcoming spending cuts could make the situation worse.

Diversifying may be the way forward for construction companies, as the expert noted: "In terms of the retrofitting market and energy efficiency, that is where the job creation will be in the next few years."

Written by Ryan Gilbert