Articles by Date : April 10 2006 - April 16 2006

Feature: Get rich - quick! (rich media advertising)
With the huge escalation of broadband access across the UK and Western Europe, rich media advertising is set to skyrocket over the coming years. John.... more
(13 April 2006 13:14)

Editor's comment: Offsite to claim its share?
The offsite industry – or modern methods of construction as John Prescott insists on referring to it – looks set to take off this year. Whatever your.... more
(13 April 2006 12:19)

Macob submits plan for Cardiff Bay's Coal Exchange
Developer/contractor Macob has submitted a planning application to Cardiff Council for a £20m mixed-use scheme at The Coal Exchange in Cardiff Bay. more
(13 April 2006 10:00)

Laing O'Rourke bypass scheme receives more cash
The construction of Laing O’Rourke’s £35m A590 High and Low Newton bypass scheme in Cumbria will start this summer after the government agreed to.... more
(13 April 2006 09:50)

Birmingham Hospital PFI given green light
Balfour Beatty's £559m University of Birmingham Hospital PFI scheme has been given the green light by the Treasury. more
(13 April 2006 09:00)

In brief
The line up of Mitsubishi’s new L200 pick-up at the CV Show will include a tipper concept vehicle. The company will be gathering visitor feedback on.... more
(12 April 2006 17:00)

Pellikaan poised to scoop £37m Yorks leisure PFI
Dutch specialist contractor Pellikaan, which has built around 800 sports and leisure centres across Europe, has surfaced as preferred bidder for a.... more
(12 April 2006 16:00)

ODA board members revealed
The identities of the dozen people who make up the board of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) have been revealed. more
(12 April 2006 16:00)

Two share £60m Lincoln revamp
Two firms have unlocked £60m worth of housing revamp work for Lincoln County Council. Kier and Suffolk-based Aaron Services will tackle work on more.... more
(12 April 2006 15:00)

Bovis to manage £500m Stockport centre revamp
Bovis Lend Lease is to manage the construction of a £500m revamp of the run-down centre of Stockport, Greater Manchester. more
(12 April 2006 15:00)

Stone work heads north
A nationwide shortage of specialist skills ended in the mountain going to Mohammed on a project on the Chelsea flower show. more
(12 April 2006 14:00)

Non-compliant companies face EC clampdown
Companies using non CE- marked construction equipment could face increased scrutiny. This follows moves by the European Commission to encourage.... more
(12 April 2006 14:00)

Hyde and Catalyst vie for Brent housing PFI
Brent Council in north London has lined up two groups to pitch for a £90m-plus PFI housing deal. more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

Atkins ousts Ringway from Cambs highways hotseat
Atkins has toppled Ringway from its perch on a highways maintenance deal for Camb-ridgeshire County Council, potentially worth £200m. more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

Government guidance on holidays due
The government is expected to issue a consultation paper shortly on how and when it intends to implement its pledge to extend to all workers the.... more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

West Lothian re-advertises PPP schools scheme in bid for best value
West Lothian Council has thrown open a PPP schools deal again, about 16 months after appointing a preferred bidder. more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

One Call Hire extends fleet with Hitachis
Enfield-based One Call Hire has bought 135 new Hitachi machines as part of its expansion plan. more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

Panel beaters
Offsite construction methods invariably mean using unfamiliar products – but how do you find out if those products will work for you? Answer: by.... more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

Galliford gears up for growth
Integrating a £400m construction business into another that turns over £550m is no small task, but that’s what Galliford Try’s construction boss Andy.... more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

Bellway half-year turnover breaks the £500m barrier
Bellway has pushed the value of its half-year turnover beyond the £500m barrier for the first time. more
(12 April 2006 13:00)

Severfield-Rowen sees profit leap during ‘stunning’ 2005
Severfield-Rowen, the structural steel specialist, had a “stunning” year in 2005, said chairman Peter Levine. more
(12 April 2006 12:00)

MEWP technology will get bigger - and smaller
New technology in mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) is likely to be either exceptionally large, or small and lightweight, according to research.... more
(12 April 2006 12:00)

Two chase £25m capital refurb
Two contractors have locked horns in the final run-in for a £25m office refurb deal in the City of London. more
(12 April 2006 12:00)

Arab Emirates workers unionised
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reported to be drafting a law that will, for the first time, allow construction workers to form trade unions and.... more
(12 April 2006 12:00)

Hyde and Catalyst vie for Brent housing PFI
Brent Council in north London has lined up two groups to pitch for a £90m-plus PFI housing deal. more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Caledonian sold to Champion in bid to sustain growth rate
Caledonian Building Systems, the modular building contractor, has been sold to Champion Enterprises. more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Three to share £680m Welsh Health contract
HBG, Interserve and Laing O’Rourke have beaten off Kier and Integrated Health Projects to clinch the £680m Welsh Health Estates (WHE) capital works.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

O’Rourke ‘obstruction’ fuels site walkout fear
Increasingly strained relations between Laing O’Rourke and the main construction unions has led to fears of unannounced walkouts on the contractor’s.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Vinci enjoys £42m boost in net cash
Vinci’s UK construction activities triggered an “excellent” cash flow last year, generating £42m of additional money. As a result, Vinci’s net cash.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

B&CE recommends pension incentives from government
Smaller firms need some form of government incentive to encourage them to participate in the industry’s own stakeholder pension scheme, according to.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

City slickers
It has been a long time coming, but right now, the construction industry is bubbling vigorously. In the City, the sector is considered a healthy.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Castle blames planners for £100k pollution fine
■ Castle Cement says EA and Welsh Assembly are culpable for delays at Padeswood site. more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Deals done
Crusher manufacturer Extec has signed a £20m deal with Caterpillar. Extec said the contract is initially for the supply of engines and sees it as the.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Plant operators should not be lost in translation
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has launched a technical translation service to counter the linguistic confusion and safety risks.... more
(12 April 2006 11:00)

Atkins upbeat trading statement
Atkins has issued an upbeat trading statement, revealing that its financial results – covering both turnover and profit – will be “at the upper end.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Plant operators should not be lost in translation
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has launched a technical translation service to counter the linguistic confusion and safety risks.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Heat is on for academies framework deal
Leading schools contractors gave an enthusiastic welcome to a Partnerships for Schools (PfS) £1.6bn academy schools framework deal, but warned that.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Nine firms to share Nene housing work
Nine contractors are to share out £80m to £100m worth of housing work for Peterborough-based Nene Housing Society. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Almost 350 jobs lost at PWG as firm goes bust
Nearly 350 jobs have been lost after Edinburgh-based contractor Peter Walker Group (PWG) went into receivership last week. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Multiplex and Hollandia plan steelwork surge
Multiplex and Hollandia have agreed on a massive surge of resources to get the remaining steelwork on the £757m Wembley Stadium project finished by.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Otis hit with £400k fine following two lift deaths
Lift specialist Otis was fined £400,000 in total last week following an incident in which two men died. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

The heat is on for academy deals
Leading schools contractors gave an enthusiastic welcome to a Partnerships for Schools (PfS) £1.6bn academy schools framework deal, but warned that.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Ineffective kit putting roads workers at risk
Gadgets and “useless” personal protective equipment are contributing to problems for those working on the road network, according to speakers at the.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Contractors given £5m green technology help
Contractors and designers were this month targeted with a £5m fund for advice on green technologies. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Materials sector workers will get 3% pay increase
Workers in the building materials sector are set for pay increases of around 3% this year. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Power4 launches four-hour power response service
Generator sales and hire specialist Power4 has launched an emergency power response service that guarantees to restore power within four hours of a.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Kanga sells UK direct sales arm to Red Band
Australian mini skid-steer manufacturer Kanga Loaders has sold its UK direct sales arm to Red Band UK. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Facelift goes online with MEWP safety guidelines
Access hire specialist Facelift has placed an electronic version of the Operators Safety Guide on its website: www.facelift.co.uk. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Falls from height drop 15%
The Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) campaign to reduce falls from height has seen a 15% reduction in major accidents over the past two and a half.... more
(12 April 2006 10:00)

Inpsace sees 2005 turnover rocket 50%
Inspace, the support services business, has unveiled a sharp rise in annual turnover to £150m (£100m) during 2005. more
(12 April 2006 10:00)