Category

Considerate Constructors Scheme reaches major 100,000 milestone   Mulalley celebrates as Network Homes’ housebuilding project is named as 100,000th Scheme-registered site Government praises Scheme’s invaluable role in improving the image of construction The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the national Scheme to improve the image of the construction industry – has reached a major milestone in UK construction history by registering its 100,000th site. The Infrastructure and Project Authority’s Head of Construction, Dr David Hancock, welcomed this achievement and the Scheme’s role in helping to improve the image of the industry. The site registration was made by one of the leading UK’s contractors – Mulalley – for the Chauncey Residential Development in Ware, Hertfordshire. Mulalley are working with housing association Network Homes – a Client Partner of the Considerate …

Read more »

The idea of trying to improve the value of your home can be so overwhelming, especially if you watch television shows where the hosts are always doing big, grand projects. But increasing your overall home value doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. You don’t need to add another room or do a complete renovation. By following just a few simple steps, you can dramatically improve the worth of your home and attract potential buyers. Even if you’re not planning on selling your home, these steps can significantly increase your quality of life. Clean The Clutter Cleaning your home can have an exponential effect on its value to buyers. Few things turn a buyer off like a dirty house, while a clean house significantly attracts potential purchasers. …

Read more »

Civils Expo, the UK’s leading event dedicated to civil engineering and infrastructure, will once again bring together leading suppliers of the latest technologies, systems and products for the sector when it returns to Birmingham NEC from 10-12 October 2017. Exhibitors already signed up to launch new products, showcase software and provide technical advice include HS2, CEMEX, Breedon Group, Creagh Concrete and Bluebeam. Leading figures from across the industry will also attend the show, such as Crossrail, Heathrow, BAM Nuttall, Kier, Transport for the North and Highways England, where they will debate the industry’s most pressing topics and discuss the challenges and opportunities currently facing the sector. The seminar programme for Civils Expo has been designed to inform and educate visitors about the planning and implementation of significant projects, as …

Read more »

Health and safety on a construction site is most closely associated with the use of heavy equipment and hazardous materials. But each year in the UK, there are 1000 slips or trips on worksites that cause fractured bones and dislocated joints. And many of these accidents are caused by a messy and disorganised work environment. So here are four tips for a clean construction site that keeps your staff safe. Safe storage Clients, contractors and suppliers should all be clear about where certain types of materials and equipment are stored onsite and any materials that are flammable or hazardous should be separated and labelled clearly. Large pieces of valuable kit can be kept safely overnight in vandal-safe storage containers but secure portable cases for smaller tools are …

Read more »

All 85,000 Construction Related Occupation (CRO) skills cards currently in circulation will expire by the end of this month. The deadline is part of the industry’s drive towards full qualification. The CRO cards cover a host of ancillary construction roles but crucially you don’t need industry related qualifications to hold one. Construction Skills Certification Scheme Head of Communications Alan O’Neile said: “In early 2015, the Construction Leadership Council announced that skills certification card schemes carrying the CSCS logo must only certify those occupations with nationally recognised construction related qualifications, i.e. NVQs or approved equivalents. “The CRO card was issued without the requirement to demonstrate the applicant has achieved an appropriate qualification and as such does not meet the expectations of the CLC.” Many CRO card holders will…

Read more »

A raft of building companies are among the latest list of 233 firms named and shamed by the Government for not paying the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage. More than 13,000 of the UK’s lowest paid workers will get around £2m in back pay as part of the government’s scheme to name offenders. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published the latest list of 233 businesses that underpaid workers. Employers on the list have also been fined a record £1.9m by the government. Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders. Since 2013, the scheme has identified £6m in back pay for 40,000 workers, with 1,200 employers fined £4m. Business Minister Margot James said: “It is against the law to pay workers…

Read more »

Internet giant Google has been given the green light by planners to build its new £1bn headquarters at King’s Cross in London. Camden Council’s planning committee approved the deal last night. Main contractor Lendlease will start on site next year on a contract believed to be worth around £350m. The 11-storey building will be more than one million square feet of which Google will occupy 650,000 sq ft. The Google HQ building, designed by Heatherwick Studios and BIG, in collaboration with BDP, will be home to 4,000 Googlers on completion. Thomas Heatherwick said: “Strong support for an ambitious building in an important part of the city is more proof that London is not afraid of its future. “We’re excited to start building.” Neil Martin, Manging Director…

Read more »

ISG has started the contract to fit-out a 135,000 sq ft office on London’s Gresham Street. Client Investec currently occupies two floors of the building at 30 Gresham Street, and the new fit-out will see it move into the fourth, fifth and sixth floors, as well as the lower ground. The project involves the full strip-out and fit-out of the existing floors, which includes installing an atrium staircase from levels four to eight. ISG used 3D digital modelling to identify the logistics required to install the feature staircase. Matt Blowers, managing director of UK Fit Out, ISG, said: “This latest win reflects the strength of ISG in the London office fit out market. Demand for premium office space remains at a high level across London…

Read more »

The first cladding system using PIR solid foam insulation has passed the Government’s stringent fire tests in the wake of London’s Grenfell disaster. Aluminium cladding using a limited combustibility filler (A2) and PIR foam insulation boards passes BRE large-scale fire test It is the second cladding system to pass the large-scale fire test giving the industry a clear insight into which systems meet Building Regulation performance guidance. The latest test results now suggest that PIR insulation can be fitted to a high-rise building, but only when used with aluminium composite material cladding using a ‘limited combustibility’ (stone) filler. So far no high-rise buildings have been registered with the Government as having this particular combination of materials. The Government’s testing body is carrying…

Read more »

The Construction Industry Training Board has forked out £1.2m to buy 16 plant simulators to help train the next generation of operators. Trainee operators can test drive excavators to cranes in all weather conditions It is the first large-scale investment in a dedicated virtual training centre as the industry faces the challenge of finding 5,000 new plant operators over the next five years. The simulators from Sweden and Canada have been installed at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Norfolk. They will be used to train apprentices and trainees in a wide-range of plant machinery, including excavators, cranes, crawler dozers, telehandlers, tractors and dumper trucks. CITB plans to use this technology to train people for an even wider range of jobs in the future. The…

Read more »