News

A Cleckheaton engineering firm has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker suffered life changing injuries. H E Realisations Ltd (now in liquidation, formerly Hogg Engineering Ltd) of pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Reg 8(1) of the Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Gateshead Magistrates’ Court heard …

Entries for the 2017 Hoarding Competition which enables children of all ages to unleash their artistic skills on site hoardings are now open. Registered sites, companies and suppliers who are interested in the competition have until the 12th of May to complete an entry form. The entry fee is £400 (+ VAT), which includes two Ivor Goodsite promotional signs, two …

Baxi has joined forces with Expert Trades to try and make life easier for its installers, by helping them to win more business and spend less time on admin and paperwork. Expert Trades was set up in 2013 to provide tradespeople with business tools (accessible online and via an app) to help them manage and grow their businesses more effectively. …

Gas safety failings of a Preston Landlord lead to a suspended prison sentence after failing to ensure gas appliances were checked for safety.

An emerging North/South divide could derail the Government’s plan to install smart meters in 50 million homes by the end of the decade, new research suggests. Uptake of the money saving meters has been relatively strong in the north with 19% of homes in the North West and nearly a quarter of homes in the North East already having a …

A building supplies e-commerce start-up is taking on industry heavyweights B&Q, Travis Perkins, Selco, Jewson and Wickes to offer savings of 20-35%. Go Banana is said to be the UK’s first comparison website for building and DIY supplies. With 50,000 searchable products Go Banana provides an online platform for builders, tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts looking to purchase supplies quickly and …

An unregistered gas fitter from Farnborough has been prosecuted for carrying out illegal gas work which was found to be unsafe. Basingstoke Magistrates’ court heard how Mr Fergus Leask, who also trades as Eldan Plumbing, had assured the homeowner that he was Gas Safe Registered. When he was unable to supply the gas safe certificate months after installing the boiler, the …

The Health in Construction Leadership Group supported by the British Safety Council has announced the launch of Mates in Mind – a sector-wide programme intended to help improve and promote positive mental health across the industry in the UK . Every year, one in four people in the UK will experience either stress, anxiety or depression. In the most extreme …

Three companies from Essex have been fined after a worker suffered brain injuries after falling seven meters through a fragile roof he was replacing. Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Rafal Myslim was standing on the fragile roof at Dengie Crops Ltd in Asheldem, when the asbestos sheeting gave way and he fell 7.5m onto a concrete floor, hitting a number …

Throughout 2017, PASMA, the trade association for the international mobile access tower industry, will be making buyers, owners and users of low-level work platforms (LLWPs) – commonly referred to as pulpits and podium steps – aware of the recently published product standard BS 8620: 2016. Designs for LLWPs had originally been developed in the absence of a formal specification, and …

The skills shortage in the construction industry has got worse and has now spread beyond bricklayers and carpenters to other key trades, according to the latest research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The FMB’s State of Trade Survey shows that: Almost half of construction SMEs are reporting difficulties hiring roofers (46%) Shortages of electricians and plasterers are at …

Prices have been announced for the all-new Volkswagen Crafter, with UK Van Centres now taking orders ahead of the van’s launch in April. The all-new Crafter, International Van of the Year for 2017 is powered by a new 2.0-litre TDI (EU6) engine, developed specifically for commercial vehicles, which is available with four power outputs: 102, 122, 140 and 177 PS. …

With a growing demand for building services and a lack of fresh talent coming in, the construction industry has a momentous few years ahead.

An asbestos analyst has been fined after he falsified an asbestos air clearance certificate, following licensed asbestos removal in Manchester. Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Manchester and Salford Court House, heard how, on 19th November 2015, Mr Barrie Lyons, a well-trained asbestos analyst with 29 years of experience, was contracted to carry out the final inspection and air testing, …

Following the unveiling of its new high-performing bagged product range, Hope Cement has developed a novel incentive scheme that rewards builders merchants and professional builders. Accessed through the Hope Cement smartphone App, the loyalty scheme is said to be the first of its kind, using a new approach to drive traffic into merchants’ stores and help to grow their business. …

Screwfix has released the latest edition of its catalogue, which features more ‘Trade Rated’ products than ever before – an independent accolade, showing they are rated highly by other trade customers. All products ordered via the catalogue are available for next day delivery seven days a week, or via its Click & Collect service, which allows goods to be picked-up …

A roofing contractor has been fined after putting the lives of two employees at risk while working at height without protection against falls. The employees of MW Roofing (NW) Ltd where removing a chimney on a two storey house, at the site on Bertha Road, Rochdale, when they were seen accessing the roof via a cat ladder. While waste material …

Skill Builder meets Kevin Byrne founder of  Checkatrade to find out what makes his organisation tick. The number of  initiatives introduced to curtail the activities of  rogue building trades over the years has been plentiful. It seems like the beast that will not die. Selsey based Checkatrade stands among the few that, have not only stayed the course, but, appear …

Waterproofing specialist, Kemper System, has provided the roofing solution for a hot and humid environment in the heart of leafy Cheshire at Chester Zoo’s £40m ‘Islands’ development. The company’s solvent-free Kemperol 2K-PUR cold liquid-applied waterproofing membrane has been used for the roof of the ‘Tree House’, which will form a covered walkway for visitors under a giant polymer dome – …

Sales in the UK construction products manufacturing market continued to climb for a consecutive fifteenth quarter in Q4 of 2016, according to figures published in the Construction Product Association’s latest State of Trade Survey. The construction products manufacturing industry has an annual turnover of £55 billion, directly providing jobs for 288,000 people across 22,000 companies. Products range from ‘heavy side’ …