News

The Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) and The National Federation of Builders (NFB) have announced a new partnership to raise health and safety standards in the UK and make the world of work safer. The NFB represents small to medium-sized builders, regional contractors and house builders across England and Wales. As one of the UK’s longest standing trade bodies, …

As the economy continues to come to terms with the collapse of Carillion, the latest figures suggest that on the day of liquidation, the industry giant was the main contractor on 57 construction projects worth a total of £5.7 billion, including a £1.3 billion HS2 contract. This latest information comes from construction industry analysts Barbour ABI, who outlined that ten …

Two-thirds of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms are struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters as construction skills shortages hit a ‘record high’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).   Key results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey, the quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, include: More than two-thirds (68%) of construction …

Banks must show leniency to the thousands of SMEs in Carillion’s supply chain, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Following the news that Carillion has gone into liquidation the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) has issued a statement stressing the need to learn from the event and to use it as a catalyst for change. In its statement Carillion said: The news that Carillion has ceased trading is both sad and shocking. The clear priority is to ensure …

A company has been fined after an employee died following a fall through a skylight. Leicester Crown Court heard how the deceased was working with another employee on the roof, re-siting a heater and new chimney flue when the incident occurred. He suffered severe injuries and died from these injuries approximately 6 months later. An investigation by the Health and …

Ian Anfield, Managing Director for construction audit and contract provider, Hudson Contract, shares his construction industry predictions. “This time last year, I shared my thoughts on what would dominate the construction agenda in 2017. Some of the observations I made, such as Brexit being linked to skills shortages, were fairly safe, while others, like losing one of the major contractors …

Redland – the manufacturer and supplier of pitched roof systems – has announced the launch of the Apprentice of the Year with an important twist.

HSE is reminding companies of the necessity of monitoring workers’ health after a South Wales Housing Association was fined for exposing workers to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard how Charter Housing Association Ltd. reported six cases of HAVS following a health surveillance programme launched in June 2015. The affected employees were all part of the maintenance …

As the chilly weather sets in JSP has launched a new thermal helmet beanie called the Surefit Beanie which is fully approved to be worn with all the JSP Evo range of Safety Helmets. Compatibility is key when combining PPE and this new Beanie will prevent workers from wearing incompatible and dangerous alternatives such as hoodies under their helmets. Designed …

Hudson Contract has revealed this year’s winners and losers across 10 regions and 17 trades in its annual Construction Pay Trends Index with plumbers enjoying biggest pay rise in 2017 while electricians have experienced a pay drop. The index shows that self-employed builders in England and Wales have seen a year-on-year increase in average weekly earnings of 3.8% – with …

The construction sector has come together to warn the Government of the dangers of the industry facing a ‘cliff edge’ regarding EU workers.

Responding to the Budget, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has welcomed recognition by the Chancellor that housebuilding needs to be one of the Government’s main priorities.

Roger Bisby attends a one day damp-proofing course with Safeguard Europe where he learns about the different causes and types of damp in buildings and what can be done about them. I have been using DryRods from Safeguard Europe for a couple of years now. Before that I used the Dryzone cream. There is no doubt that the product works …

Builders’ merchant Jewson has taken its online store www.jewson.co.uk offline amidst fears that customers’ data may have been stolen by hackers. The breaches are believed to have taken place between 23 August, 2017, and 3 November, 2017. Jewson notfied its customers of the breaches in a recent letter which stated: “As a Jewson Direct customers, we regrettably are writing to …

A company undertaking excavation work has been fined for safety breaches, when a worker was burned after striking underground electrical cables. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that in February 2016 an employee was excavating the ground at a site on Spare Lease Hill in Loughton, Essex. He struck an electrical cable and was set on fire. He received significant burns to his …