A competition watchdog commissioned by the Government has drawn up plans to prevent cement companies from sending out blanket price rise letters across the construction industry. During a review of competition in the sector, the watchdog found cause to push for greater competition in the sector, which has long been subject to high cement prices […]
“For too long we’ve trained too many hairdressers and not enough bricklayers” is the current gripe of the Local Council Association (LCA), which this month published fresh analysis of the levels of trades training taking place in the UK. According to the LCA, the UK is facing a serious skills shortage, with too few trainees […]
A legal change designed to prevent UK contractors from using cheap migrant labour has been slipped into a new directive launched to help enforce the EU posted workers directive. The original EU posted workers directive has been in place for a number of years, introduced to stop posted workers being paid less than native workers, […]
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced plans to build 12,000 new homes in four new housing zones in London. The newly unveiled plans will see huge swathes of the city transformed and give London a much-needed housing boost. The latest zones to be announced will be located in Enfield, Tower Hamlets, Havering and Redbridge. […]
In a historic vote for “joined up thinking” in the construction industry 28 major firms have joined Build UK, giving the formation of the new trade body the go ahead. Build UK will be a new name and a new direction for an amalgamation of the former UK Contractors’ Group (UKCG) and the National Specialist […]
Construction growth appears to be bouncing back following an uncertain period in March and April 2015, most likely the result of pre-election jitters. The after effects of May 2015’s General Election have seen construction getting back on track, with confidence high amongst construction buyers. Despite low figures compared to February 2015, which saw the Markit/CIPS […]
The collapse of GB Building has left subcontractors £39 million out of pocket, according to the administrator’s report published two months after the company’s crash in March 2015. Administrators BDO have also suggested that affected subcontractors are extremely unlikely to ever see a penny of their money paid back. Domino debts Following the collapse of GB Buildings, subcontractors […]
A RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) survey has revealed that labour shortages could be the biggest roadblock standing between the construction sector and continuing growth. Over the first quarter of 2015, close to two thirds of polled firms claimed that a skilled labour shortage is worsening in the UK. Skill Specialists in High Demand With growth […]
Something big is coming to London’s Dockland’s very soon. Over the coming 4 years, building will begin on the UK’s tallest ever residential tower on the South Quay Plaza site on the Isle of Dogs. Standing at 220 metres, the new construction will dwarf Britain’s other residential towers, climbing to encompass 68 stories. The completed structure will come […]
Construction and development solutions provider GB Building is poised to enter administration after a select set of staff were informed that the company has filed a notice of intention to go into administration. Top and mid-level staff, alongside the company’s securities teams were told of the impending issue on Wednesday 4th March. Security staff began securing a number of […]
There may be renewed cause for optimism in the construction sector this month as the UK’s second largest house builder, Taylor Wimpey, claims that the difficult building cost rises, which saw costs burgeon by 5% last year, may have finally hit their peak. This week, Taylor Wimpey chief executive Pete Redfern announced impressive annual profits […]
