Is HS2 holding up the UK’s construction industry? Output up but housebuilding continues to fall April 6, 2023 Civil engineering rose at its highest level since 2009 in March, according to a leading global index which measures the monthly construction output of the UK economy. At 50.7 in March, the headline seasonally adjusted S&P Global /CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – which measures month-on-month changes in total industry activity – was [...]
Michael Gove: Four more firms signed up to Grenfell safety contracts after being named and shamed March 24, 2023 Michael Gove said four more companies have signed up to post-Grenfell building safety contracts after he named and shamed some of the firms earlier this month that had not signed up to the agreement. The Communities Secretary had given companies until March 13 to sign up to the agreement aimed at addressing cladding issues following [...]
10 construction firms fined £60m for ‘illegally colluding’ to rig contracts including for Selfridges and 135 Bishopsgate March 23, 2023 The UK competition watchdog has fined 10 construction firms a total of almost £60 million for “illegally colluding” to rig bids for contracts. The construction firms have been punished over cartel agreements related to 19 contracts worth over £150 million on both public and private sector contracts. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the [...]
Marshalls boss defends £535m Marley takeover despite tumbling share price and falling profits March 15, 2023 Marshalls boss Martyn Coffey has defended the company’s £535m acquisition of Marley last year despite a hit to profits and share prices.
Travis Perkins: Toolstation owner slashed 400 jobs and 19 branches as slowdown hit construction sector February 28, 2023 Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has revealed it axed 400 jobs and shut 19 branches at the end of last year as a slowdown in the construction sector hit its bottom line. The group, which owns the Toolstation chain, said it was forced to take some “difficult decisions” to slash costs by £25 million this year. [...]
Affordable homes: London targets not being met despite 50 per cent rise in construction projects, claim Tories February 14, 2023 London mayor Sadiq Khan has been criticised for being behind on building targets for affordable homes, despite new construction projects increasing on last year. City Hall says 900 more affordable homes were completed in the financial year to December 2022 than in the same period last year, a rise of 50 per cent. But Tory [...]
Pensions: Specialist insurer PIC strikes £400m Amey deal after £600m House of Fraser buy-in January 16, 2023 The specialist insurer that bought out House of Fraser’s pensions fund for £600m last year has completed a £400m deal to take over UK engineering firm Amey’s retirement scheme. Pension Insurance Corporation’s (PIC’s) deal will see the firm take responsibility for paying out 3,473 pensions, covering £400m worth of liabilities. Bulk purchase annuity (BPA) deals [...]
Long-serving Wates Group chairman Sir James Wates steps down – with his cousin Tim taking over January 4, 2023 Sir James Wates has announced he will be stepping down as chairman of family-owned construction giant Wates Group.
East London construction firm fined over collapsed floor that left builder injured December 22, 2022 The UK’s health and safety regulator has fined a London construction firm £66,667 over its failure to prevent a builder falling through the floor of a half-built building in Croydon. East London construction firm Lusson Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations after an overloaded floor collapsed at a building site on Croydon’s [...]
Marshalls’ shares plummet as firm warns of slowdown in sales October 7, 2022 Shares in building materials manufacturer Marshalls fell almost 20 per cent today after the firm warned of a slowdown in sales due to faltering demand. The West Yorkshire firm said its outturn will be “slightly below the bottom end of the current range of market expectations” as its sales start to slow. The warning comes [...]