News

The Government’s new apprenticeship levy will come into force next Spring when firms with a wage bill of more than £3m will have to contribute 0.5% of the annual wage bill. Large companies will still have to make levy payments to the CITB as well with at least 900 firms facing a double whammy. But CITB bosses are working on plans to hand back around £38m in duplicated payments in the form of rebates. Today’s Government guidance said: “Some industries already operate levy systems, or other collective training arrangements. If you already contribute to one of these, you will still be required to pay the apprenticeship levy. “The Industry Training Boards for the construction, engineering construction and film industries will consult their members on potential changes…

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Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has started the hunt for a contractor and consultants to deliver highways maintenance services in the borough. The five-year main maintenance framework, which has options to renew for two further years, is expected to be worth around £50m. The council is also looking for a consultant to develop and promote innovation in delivering highways services to the community, expected to be worth around £3.6m over the term. It is also seeking to appoint a contractor to better manage levels of congestion in the town centres and reduce levels of pollution caused by visitors to Legoland, Windsor Castle, Wentworth Golf Course and Windsor and Ascot Racecourses. Visitor numbers are increasing with the vast majority arriving by road. Car and coach parks…

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A plumbing boss and his subcontractors have been jailed for charging elderly and vulnerable victims rates of up to £672 per hour. Victims contacted the Birmingham-based companies over a two year period via Yellow Pages, where Duane Linton, 34, of Handsworth, advertised as an emergency local plumber offerering OAP discounts. Linton – company director of both Plumb-Tech Plumbing and Heating Ltd of Great Barr, Birmingham, and Plumb-Tech Plumbing and Heating 1 Ltd of Handsworth – was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court last week along with three subcontractors. An investigation by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards and local police found that once a call had been made Linton sent out subcontracted plumbers from Birmingham. Under Linton’s direction subcontractors were ordered to charge rates of hundreds of pounds…

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Construction industry welcomes e-learning to help increase best practice in being a considerate constructor Over 3600 courses undertaken so far by construction sites, companies and suppliers registered with Considerate Constructors Scheme The Best Practice Hub – the construction industry’s online platform for sharing best practice – has launched a series of free e-learning courses designed to help raise standards across the industry. Considerate Constructors Scheme-registered construction sites, companies and suppliers of all sizes can undertake the e-learning courses, designed to improve their knowledge of the Scheme, in order to meet and exceed the expectations of the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice. The e-learning courses, which are eligible for CPD, were launched to all Best Practice Hub registered users during May, and have since …

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Sales of aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, mortar and asphalt rose during the second quarter of the year. The increases reported by members of the Mineral Products Association cast doubt on the official ONS output figures which showed a decline during the same period. The MPA said: “The overall positive trend in these markets indicates an improvement in general construction activity, as these materials are used across all major construction sectors, particularly in the earlier stages of projects. “Our information, based on actual sales volumes of materials, therefore conflicts with the official ONS data on construction output for 2016 Q2, which we would have anticipated to be positive.” The MPA survey shows aggregates sales volumes increased by 1.5% in the second quarter. Aurelie Delannoy, Chief Economist at MPA…

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Hereford MP Jesse Norman has been confirmed as the new construction minister. Responsibility for construction and infrastructure is just part of Norman’s wide ranging portfolio as Minister for Industry and Energy at the the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, His responsibilities include: industrial policy (supporting the Minister for Climate Change and Industry) technology infrastructure/construction aerospace professional services rail supply chain energy policy (supporting the Minister for Energy and Intellectual Property) nuclear oil and gas, including shale gas

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Parts of a bridge have collapsed near Loughborough causing travel chaos on trains between the East Midlands and London. The bridge at Barrow Upon Soar collapsed during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Trains between Loughborough  and Leicester have been unable to run. Network Rail engineering teams have been working through the night and today to clear the debris but lines are not expected to reopen until tomorrow.

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Former footballer turned developer Gary Neville has revealed designs for twin towers in Manchester at the heart of the St Michael’s development. The 1.8 acre site between Jackson’s Row, Bootle Street and Southmill Street will be transformed to contain 21 and 31 storey mixed-use towers surrounded by public spaces. A planning application has been submitted, and approval is expected by the end of the year, with a start on site in spring 2017 on the £200m scheme. Neville’s Jackson’s Row Developments company has joined forces with Singapore’s Rowsley, Beijing Construction and Engineering Group International and Manchester City Council on the proposals designed by Make Architects. Neville said: “Our vision is to deliver the biggest statement in architecture and development that Manchester has seen in modern times. “Our wish is…

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Former Trade Association Forum Ltd Chairman and Company Director with a wealth of experience in strategic development and senior management takes-up new role of Executive Chairman The Considerate Constructors Scheme is pleased to announce the appointment of Isabel Martinson as Executive Chairman, with effect from 12 July 2016. The new role of the Executive Chairman will be to further develop strategies to enhance the Scheme, by taking it ‘to the next level’. The Scheme’s vision is to make registration essential for every construction site, company and supplier, large or small, to ensure continual improvement in performance leading to a step change in the image and attractiveness of construction as a sector. Isabel has had a hugely successful career that has included senior positions in the trade association sector …

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Carillion is remaining upbeat about prospects for the year after Brexit with revenue and margins up in the first six months. In an upbeat half-year trading statement this morning, Carillion chief executive Richard Howson said the group was on track to deliver growth this year with 97% of targeted revenue in place for 2016. Howson said Brexit was unlikely to impact on Carillion in the short term although the longer term effect was more uncertain. “The referendum vote in favour of the UK leaving the European Union has obviously created uncertainty for the UK economy as a whole and therefore for businesses generally, including Carillion, and it is clearly too early to predict the extent to which businesses will be impacted by this result.  “However, Carillion has no significant…

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