Articles by Date : December 02 2002 - December 08 2002

Culture change for retentions welcomed by CC
The Construction Confederation (CC) has given its seal of approval to a Parliamentary report which rules out using legislation to abolish.... more
(06 December 2002 16:10)

HSE and unions unite to try and cut falls from heights
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has joined forces with trade unions UCATT and Amicus-AEEU and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) in a.... more
(06 December 2002 15:47)

Translation problems delay talks on European procurement issues
The UK construction industry will be at loggerheads with Europe for at least another three years over procurement issues after the Construction.... more
(06 December 2002 15:37)

Civil engineering contractors costs leap 8% in 12 months
The average cost of items purchased by Britain's civil engineering contractors has risen by around 8% over the past year - three times the current.... more
(06 December 2002 11:58)

Management to buy Crest's construction division for £9.2m
Crest Nicholson has announced today (Friday) that it is to sell its construction division to its management for £9.2m. more
(06 December 2002 11:43)

Wales gets green light for studio project
A £350m studio development, dubbed Valleywood, in Llanilid has been given planning approval. more
(06 December 2002 10:54)

Extra safety regs for mobile equipment users
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is warning users of mobile work equipment, including forklift trucks and dumper trucks,.... more
(06 December 2002 10:38)

Amey to announce £60m in write-downs and provisions, claims FT
Support services group Amey is today (Friday) expected to announce a plan for sweeping write-downs and provisions, according to an unsourced article.... more
(06 December 2002 10:29)

McGinley continues rail worker safety drive
All inexperienced employees supplied by McGinley Recruitment Services to the various railway maintenance contractors it serves will wear blue hard.... more
(05 December 2002 16:37)

Commercial property construction lasting the pace
Commercial property construction continues to defy gravity, despite the fall in business investment and an uncertain economic outlook, according to.... more
(05 December 2002 15:11)

Influential construction figures join FBE
Three of the construction industry's most influential figures have been appointed as trustees to the governing Council of the Foundation for the.... more
(05 December 2002 13:25)

Amec pays £172m to complete Spie buy
Amec is today (Thursday) paying £172m for the 54% portion of French construction group Spie that it does not already own. more
(05 December 2002 11:21)

Touchstone magic
The skills shortage is one of the biggest dilemmas facing the construction industry, and looks set to remain that way for some time. In the Midlands,.... more
(05 December 2002 11:11)

Teen challenge
Despite recruitment initiatives such as graduate placement schemes and National Construction Week, youngsters are still reluctant to enter.... more
(05 December 2002 11:10)

Construction degrees set for radical revamp
The first steps have been taken towards reshaping university courses in construction. more
(05 December 2002 11:09)

Euro fire test harder
The European fire resistance test standard on fire doors is 10% to 15% harder to pass than the British equivalent, according to BM TRADA, the.... more
(05 December 2002 11:08)

Guide to help first-timers
Small and medium-sized contractors (SMEs) competing for government work should find it easier to get their foot in the door thanks to a new guide. more
(05 December 2002 11:08)

Onus on contractors to clarify CIS muddle
The Major Contractors Group (MCG) and the Construction Confederation (CC) have given a cautious welcome to the Inland Revenue's (IR) consultation.... more
(05 December 2002 11:07)

Brandon acquires Loadtite
Brandon Hire has purchased Loadtite, the lifting equipment business of crane hirer Baldwins Industrial Services, which is currently in the hands of.... more
(05 December 2002 11:07)

One-off clients must seek help
Use of an independent client advisor will result in projects finishing on time and to budget, according to research carried out in a joint project by.... more
(05 December 2002 11:06)

Jarvis pushes ahead
Jarvis will achieve operating margins of 7% to 8% in the full year, said chief executive Paris Moayedi last week. Announcing the group's interim.... more
(05 December 2002 11:05)

Cat updates wheeled excavator
Caterpillar has upgraded its range of wheeled excavators and introduced a new model with the launch of its C-series. more
(05 December 2002 11:05)

Belle Group restructures to streamline facilities
The Belle Group, manufacturer of light construction equipment, has announced a major restructuring programme in a bid to streamline its production.... more
(05 December 2002 11:04)

CPA positive over tax
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has said the Inland Revenue (IR) has responded positively to concerns raised by plant hirers at being.... more
(05 December 2002 11:03)

SkyKing is relocated
King Vehicle Engineering has relocated its SkyKing Equipment and Trailroad Vehicle Equipment divisions into a new, shared facility in Corby,.... more
(05 December 2002 11:03)

Set-off in adjudication
Ordinarily, the decision of an adjudicator will give rise to a contractual entitlement to immediate payment without deduction, set-off, withholding,.... more
(05 December 2002 11:02)

Gleeson bid costs hit £1.5m for pathfinder
Gleeson's bid costs for the £75m Plymouth Grove social housing PFI scheme in Manchester have reached £1.5m - but the firm is confident of closing the.... more
(05 December 2002 11:01)

New chief at Interserve
Interserve has announced that its next chief executive will be Adrian Ringrose, who will take over on 1 January. more
(05 December 2002 11:00)

Crackdown on illegal working
Tony Merricks, chairman of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, has been appointed to a top-level Home Office working group which has been.... more
(05 December 2002 11:00)

BPB to appeal against fine
Plasterboard manufacturer BPB is to appeal against the European Commission's £88.8m fine for allegedly participating in a cartel, claiming the.... more
(05 December 2002 10:57)

M&E skills council to go ahead
SummitSkills is the name chosen for a new sector skills council covering the mechanical and electrical services sector which has just been given the.... more
(05 December 2002 10:57)

Army for Amey
Amey Rail is to start recruiting army leavers to tackle the shortage of skilled signals and telecomms engineers in the rail sector. more
(05 December 2002 10:56)

Six eye up £30m MoD project
Six of the industry's biggest guns are fighting for a £30m-plus Ministry of Defence task in Northumberland. more
(05 December 2002 10:55)

Travis tops 600 stores
Builders merchant Travis Perkins has exceeded its target of owning 600 branches by year end, with its latest acquisition taking the total number of.... more
(05 December 2002 10:55)

Five chase £23m-plus Durham school work
Five firms are hoping to make the grade on a £23m-plus further education scheme in County Durham. The deal centres on a range of new-build projects.... more
(05 December 2002 10:54)

Mitie pulls out of £600m MoD job
A consortium headed by Carillion and services provider Mitie has pulled out of bidding for a £600m-plus Ministry of Defence prime contract. more
(05 December 2002 10:53)

HA rejects joint ventures for £80m East Midlands A46 road scheme
None of the four joint venture teams hoping to net an £80m road scheme in the East Midlands has made the final shortlist. more
(05 December 2002 10:53)

Balfour Beatty and Barr take the high road
A Balfour Beatty/Barr jv has hit the highway for one of Scotland's biggest road deals - the £130m privately financed Malletsheugh to Fenwick.... more
(05 December 2002 10:52)

Web for warehouses
Ten warehouse specialists have joined together to create a website devoted to siting, designing, building and equipping distribution centres. more
(05 December 2002 10:52)

Steel firms targeting sustainability
The steel construction sector has today launched a 12-point action plan to promote a more sustainable future for steel construction. more
(05 December 2002 10:51)

HA unveils South East frameworks
The Highways Agency (HA) is calling on contractors to express their interest in two framework deals for highways and structures in the South East for.... more
(05 December 2002 10:50)

Costain steps up for reserve place in £15bn London Underground PPP
Costain has jumped to the front of the queue of contractors who would be keen to step into the £15bn London Underground PPP should any member of the.... more
(05 December 2002 10:49)

'Best practice ups profit'
Companies engaging in best practice have increased profitability by £56m in 2002, an average of £15,000 per company, while at site level companies.... more
(05 December 2002 10:48)

Chancellor's report misses main issues
The Chancellor of the Exchequer failed to include the reduction of VAT on domestic repair and maintenance to 5% in his pre-Budget statement, but did.... more
(05 December 2002 10:48)

Atkins aims to cut glow-worm fatality figures
Glow-worms in Wakerley, Northamptonshire, are now safe after Atkins agreed to change grass verge cutting methods on its £20m-a-year contract with the.... more
(05 December 2002 10:46)

Carillion to benefit from client focus
Former Confederation of Construction Clients (CCC) chief executive Zara Lamont has promised added value and enhanced client relationships following.... more
(05 December 2002 10:45)

Heijmans plans UK growth
Dutch construction group Heijmans plans to use the acquisition of Leadbitter, the £110m-a-year turnover construction group, as a "bridgehead" to a.... more
(05 December 2002 10:44)

Council seeks CM bidders
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is calling for expressions of interest in its construction management (CM) deal for housing, valued at.... more
(05 December 2002 10:43)

JCB excavates Brunel's lead in CJ's survey
Isambard Kingdom Brunel leads CJ's poll to find the Greatest Briton in Construction as the contest enters its final day, despite a co-ordinated.... more
(05 December 2002 10:41)

Walsgrave claims fastest PFI
The groundbreaking project, Walsgrave Coventry New Hospital's PFI, reached financial close last week to become the first PFI hospital scheme to adopt.... more
(05 December 2002 10:41)