News

The growth spurt in house building activity enjoyed by much of the industry could be coming to an end. According to the latest Government figures housing starts climbed again last year rising by 10% to 137,010. This growth comes on the back of a 36% rise on 2012 and 59% jump from the trough in 2009. But the latest quarterly figures also suggest activity may have peaked before getting anywhere near the output levels required. Seasonally adjusted housing starts in England are estimated at 29,800 in the December quarter 2014, a 10% decrease compared to 33,250 starts in the September quarter, which itself was down 10% on Q2. Completion figures, which always lag behind starts, are running at only 118,760, well below the 245,000 homes a year target widely accepted by all political parties as …

Read more »

Supermarket group Asda has announced plans to inject £600m into its store investment programme this year. President of Asda, Andy Clarke, said that while the retail market was experiencing “one of its most challenging and changeable periods in history”, the business remained focused on delivering its long term plan, including expanding and improving the Asda store estate. He said: ”I’m pleased that we can announce our continued investment in the UK with £600m for new and improved stores in 2015. “With such a powerful force like Walmart behind us that fully supports our strategy, we’re in a unique position in a difficult market – a position of great strength.” During the year Asda will invest in 17 new store openings, including three supermarkets in London while 62 …

Read more »

Travelodge has revealed plans to build more than 150 new hotels over the next eight years. The  development programme will see 20 to 25 hotels opening every year. It is a step-up on the current construction programme which will see nearly £100m spent in 2015 opening 15 new hotels. Peter Gowers, Travelodge Chief Executive said: “We are well underway with our plans to build new Travelodge. “We’re investing more than £100m in modernising our hotels for our customers and we now have 87% of guest rooms upgraded to our new look. “In 2015 we are opening 15 new hotels, creating 400 new jobs and extending our network still further. “With our modernised hotels and unbeatable value, we are well placed to serve the rapidly growing demand for low-cost travel. “We see …

Read more »

Engineering construction workers are lobbying for a four-day week as the country’s new nuclear building programme is set to start. The call forms part of a pay and conditions claim put forward by the Unite and GMB unions under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). The latest NAECI claim for “2016 and beyond” calls for wide-reaching reforms of the sector following growing unrest among the workforce. The unions warn of “the threat to stable labour relations in this important industry in delivering the next generation of low-carbon energy projects on which the rest of the UK economy is dependent.” They are now demanding a “substantial” pay increase and a reduction in the current working week from 38 hours to 34 hours. The …

Read more »

An Oldham building firm has been fined £50,000 after a friend of a worker suffered life-changing injuries when he fell from the second floor of a partially built house. The 53-year-old, from Oldham, who has asked not to be named, suffered brain damage and spinal injuries in the fall, and will require care for the rest of his life. Global Constructions (Northwest) Ltd was prosecuted by the HSE following an investigation into the incident on Frederick Street in Oldham on 16 September 2013. Manchester Crown Court heard the company had been building twelve large houses when a friend of one of the workers came onto the site. He could not find anyone in the site cabin and so went over to a detached house where two workers …

Read more »

Work may not get underway on thousands of sites during the next five years as the construction skills shortage intensifies. That’s the alarmist message from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors who are warning that 27,000 projects a year could be hit by 2019. More than four fifths (85%) of surveyors questioned said that a lack of qualified candidates meant they had problems recruiting. That is leading to paid work being turned down by many companies. Around two in five (43%) surveying firms currently turn down new business opportunities due to a lack of skilled workers – with each of them passing up an average of five contracts per year. The problem looks set to peak in the next five years, with a further 11% of the …

Read more »

February, 2015 – Breyer Group has revealed how TomTom Telematics technology and its partnership with HDI-Gerling Insurance Company has led to fleet insurance savings of £60,000 in just 12 months. The building contractor made the savings across its 200-strong fleet by using driver behaviour monitoring tools to underpin a three-year risk management programme with HDI-Gerling. “By meeting targets to reduce the frequency and severity of motor claims in the last 12 months, we have benefitted from a 20 per cent premium reduction,” said Breyer Group finance manager Nigel Wood. “We’ll benefit from further savings again next year if we continue to hit our performance targets.” WEBFLEET, TomTom Telematics’ fleet management platform, allows Breyer to monitor and profile the performance of its van and car drivers with data …

Read more »

HSS Hire Group has become the first tool and equipment provider to register its depots with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, demonstrating their commitment to working to the very highest standards of best practice and to improving the image of construction. HSS Hire has registered an initial six depots with the Scheme which are located at Heathrow, Park Royal, Tottenham, Old Kent Road, Mitcham and Beckton. Historically, the Scheme has focussed on construction sites and construction companies but has widened its focus in recognition of the critical contribution made by those companies supplying goods and materials to construction sites across the UK. HSS has joined under this newly introduced ‘Supplier Registration’ initiative. All registered sites, companies and suppliers agree to abide by the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice …

Read more »

Over 33% of all workplace injuries in the UK are due to manual handling incidents. If an object is lifted, pushed, pulled or moved incorrectly then it can cause the user serious muscle or joint pain and mean that they are unable to work for extended periods of time. Manual handling accidents can also cause cuts, bruises and fractures as a result of a sudden movement or unexpected event. The most common types of injuries occur with the back and shoulder due to incorrect technique for lifting heavy objects. Keeping your workforce fit and healthy is vital to ensure the safety of your workers and their welfare as well as keeping your business running as smoothly as possible. In our latest post we take a look at …

Read more »

Pile drivers are used widely in construction and have been for many years, though no-one seems to know when they were actually invented, or who by. Inventors James Nasmyth, James Voule and Count Giovan Battista Gazzola and even Leonardo da Vinci have been credited with conceiving pile driver,  though the point is still argued among those who are passionate about these powerful pieces of piling machinery. It is agreed that the modern device stems from the 19th century steam powered pile driver designed by American Otis Tuft. For those less familiar with this equipment we will take a quick look at what pile drivers are, what they are used for, and then we can look at the best way to acquire such devices, if they …

Read more »