Demand for building work bucks Brexit

Demand for building work

Consumer demand for building work remained resilient in the three months following the vote for Brexit, new figures from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have revealed. Commenting on the results of the first UK-wide survey of the SME construction sector post-referendum, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Ongoing workloads for construction SMEs remained remarkably resilient in the …

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Win a free pallet of Trimaco Floorshell at The Build Show

trimaco floorshell

Trimaco will be showing its range of heavy-duty surface protection and dust containment products at The Build Show, taking place this week from 17th-20th October at Birmingham’s NEC where visitors to the company’s stand will have the chance to win a whole pallet of Floorshell.  These include: From the Heavy Duty E-Z Up Dust Containment Poles to the X•Board Surface …

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Blaklader workwear review

blaklader workwear review

Roger Bisby takes a look at Blaklader’s head-to-toe workwear offering which even includes footwear for wider feet. Blaklader is a well established Swedish workwear company that has a growing range of workwear for builders. It is important to try the garments on because there are different weights for different times of the year and also for different kinds of work. …

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Travis Perkins Innovation Awards winners announced

Travis Perkins Innovation Awards

A nationwide search for ground-breaking products designed to solve problems in the construction industry has resulted in the naming of six innovation champions to watch in 2017. The Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA), pioneered by the Travis Perkins – the UK distributor of building materials – is said to be the first of its kind for industry. The successful winners …

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Building contractor in court after worker killed by falling load

Construction boss jailed

A building contractor has been fined after a worker was killed when a load fell from a tower crane during a lifting operation in Colchester. Urban Summit Construction Ltd was the Principal Contractor on a construction site at King Edward Quay, Haven Road, Colchester, where 780 student accommodation apartments were being built. On 8 January 2014, during a lifting operation …

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T-rex tape review

Tyrannosaurus tape review

‘Ferociously Strong Tape’ is the strap line on the American made Tyrannosaurus tape or T-rex tape. Roger Bisby took some out and about to try it in a variety of locations and applications. Internet searches throw up some funny connections T-Rex tape may take you to this builders tape or it may take you to a story of someone who has …

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HSS launch at £2.5bn Wood Wharf site

hss canary wharf

HSS Hire, the tool and equipment hire company, has launched two new ‘pop-up’ shops at the new £2.5bn Canary Wharf district development site, giving the 470 construction workers on the site instant access to a huge range of tools and equipment. The multibillion pound complex in the Isle of Dogs, has been designed to provide a new residential led, mixed …

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Apprenticeship scholarship competition winners announced

UK construction industry

Two construction firms have benefited from a national scholarship scheme which enables them to take on an apprentice who is entirely funded to work for them for 12 months. The initiative was launched by construction audit, contract and payroll provider, Hudson Contract, to celebrate its 20th anniversary and also provide opportunities for two young apprentices hoping to take their first …

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Brace yourself for bad weather

Winter Weatherwear

With winter approaching, Arco, the UK safety company is urging workers to keep warm and safe with its range of Winter Weatherwear, online Selection Tool and Expert advice sheet. The online Weatherwear selection tool is designed to help workers build a layering system suitable for their working conditions so that they remain warm, dry and comfortable in extreme weather conditions. Arco recommends …

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Torbay Plumber Sentenced After Illegal Gas Work

Construction boss jailed

An illegal gas work fitter has been prosecuted after he installed a gas boiler and left it in a potentially dangerous state because he did not commission it.

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Play it where it lays: Karndean flooring review

Karndean flooring review

Roger Bisby has a go at laying some Karndean flooring under the watchful eye of Karndean laying master Richard Daniels. It seems to me that once you have seen Karndean flooring and recognised its unique look, you just never stop seeing it. For those that don’t know Karndean is a vinyl flooring product made primarily from calcium carbonate (limestone), polyvinyl …

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Roofing firm fined after worker falls through roof

Construction boss jailed

A roofing company has been fined after a worker fell five metres through a roof sustaining severe injuries. St Albans Crown Court heard how a 32 year old labourer was working for Richardson Roofing Company Limited (RRCL) on a construction site at Kingsley Green, Radlett, Hertfordshire on 8 August 2013. The worker was fitting battens on the roof around holes …

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Button-fix hidden fixings product test

button-fix

Roger Bisby tries out the Button-fix system. Button-fix is an ingenious secret fixing system for panels of all descriptions. It can be used to secure bath panels, WC panels, wall panelling and even shower panels. It is also used on fitted furniture. Of course you could just get yourself a tube of panel adhesive but the difference is that Button-fix …

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Make new funding accessible to small firms, urges FMB

UK housing market

The creation of a dedicated fund aimed at lending to SME house builders will help to tackle the housing crisis but it must be easily accesible to small firms, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said in response to an announcement by Philip Hammond and Sajid Javid at the Conservative Party Conference. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, …

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Bolton night club owner fined over asbestos exposure

Construction boss jailed

A Bolton night club owner has been sentenced after admitting a failure to carry out a survey for asbestos before starting on the refurbishment of a local night club. Manchester Magistrates’ court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its sole director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the management of a refurbishment project between 1 August and 12 August 2015 on …

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Contractor seriously injured in fragile skylight fall

Construction boss jailed

London exhibition venue firm, The Business Design Centre Ltd, and a building contractor have been fined for safety failings after a specialist contractor fell through a fragile skylight. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the Business Design Centre allowed workers to cross an unsafe roof, which contained three fragile skylights and open edges, and failed to prevent contractors crossing the same …

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Roofing firm fined after worker’s ladder fall

Construction boss jailed

A King’s Lynn roofing company has been prosecuted after a worker fell seven metres from a scaffold access ladder while assisting with chimney repairs. Kings Lynn Magistrates Court heard how the worker was subcontracted by J Webber Roofing Limited to assist with removing waste, mixing cement and bringing tools up to colleagues who were working on the chimney at a domestic …

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