Articles by Date : March 26 2007 - April 01 2007

£5.5m pre-tax profit for North Midland Construction
North Midland Construction pushed turnover higher to £180m, representing a rise of more than £20m, during 2006. more
(30 March 2007 11:00)

Newspaper roundup: 30 March
Energy Performance of Buildings The Daily Telegraph reported on yesterday's publication of the Energy Performance of Buildings regulations, which.... more
(30 March 2007 10:48)

Bryn Thomas crane involved in fatal accident
A man has been killed after a mobile crane toppled over in Liverpool today, it has emerged. more
(30 March 2007 10:30)

Scottish Water wins Most Considerate Constructor 2007
Scottish Water won the coveted Most Considerate Site Award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) National Awards yesterday (Thursday 29 March). more
(30 March 2007 09:30)

Trade and Industry Committee launches major inquiry into construction
The Trade and Industry Committee has launched a major inquiry into the construction industry. more
(30 March 2007 09:00)

MJ Gleeson emerges from 'mother of all hybrid' muddle thanks to Wallwork's sort-out
MJ Gleeson Group’s massive transformation has pushed on past the mid-point and will be complete by June, said chief executive Paul Wallwork this.... more
(30 March 2007 09:00)

Firm pays out £20,000 after surveyor injured in roof fall
A building services firm has been ordered to pay nearly £20,000 by Basingstoke Magistrates Court after one of its surveyors fractured his left wrist,.... more
(29 March 2007 15:40)

Candidates emerge in race for Olympic Delivery Authority chair
More names have emerged in the contest to replace Sir Roy McNulty, acting chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). Contract.... more
(29 March 2007 14:52)

Editor's comment: Why the CDM regulations must not fail
Emma Penny, editor of Contract Journal, bemoans clients' hostile reaction to the Construction (Design and Management) regulations, which come into.... more
(29 March 2007 12:34)

Newspaper round-up: 29 March 2007
What the papers are saying about construction on 29 March 2007. more
(29 March 2007 12:00)

Reducing the element of risk: legal commentary
For an industry that's male dominated and resolute in its gung-ho attitude, UK construction is surprisingly risk-averse. But as the Olympics puts.... more
(29 March 2007 11:53)

Ibex Interiors lifts turnover 14% to £80m
Ibex Interiors, a subsidiary of the John Doyle Group, lifted turnover by 14% to £80m during 2006. The forward orderbook currently stands at £55m. more
(29 March 2007 11:00)

Housing Corporation adopts 2012 Construction Commitments
The Housing Corporation will expect all bidders to its 2008 National Affordable Housing Programme to sign up to a set of 2012 Construction.... more
(29 March 2007 10:27)

Clugston Group appoints new chief
Stephen Martin has taken over as chief executive of Clugston Group. He succeeds Roy Butcher who had held the post for 16 years. more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

R McAlpine and O'Rourke contest £300m Oxford job
Two rivals are hoping to bag a £300m shopping centre revamp deal in Oxford. more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

Innovative formwork and falsework solution: The inside line
Contract Journal talks to Mike Keebles, site manager for John Doyle, about the merits of Alshor Plus, a new aluminium shoring system. more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

William Verry sued for £600k by developer
Riverview Holdings claims contractor failed to meet the terms of service agreement. more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

New CIS - Employment status
The new Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) comes into force on 6 April 2007. There are some key changes taking place which affect all construction.... more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

So are you ready for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)?
The biggest change in the construction industry's tax scheme will come into effect next Friday. Emma Penny looks at what you'll need to do - and how.... more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

Contractors may face flood of hand arm vibration claims
Contractors are bracing themselves for a possible flood of claims from current and former employees suffering from Hand Arm Vibration syndrome.... more
(29 March 2007 00:00)

Gee Construction makes £2.4m pre-tax profit
Gee Construction has unveiled its latest annual results which show a lift in pre-tax profit to £2.4m, up from £1.8m in the previous year. more
(28 March 2007 16:00)

No slip-up for James Halstead as interim pre-tax profit rises to £11m
James Halstead, the manufacturer and distributor of commercial floor coverings, has lifted its interim pre-tax profit to £11m, a rise of £3m on the.... more
(28 March 2007 15:00)

UCATT rally demands changes from government
UCATT will set out five key demands of government in a rally at Parliament today. more
(28 March 2007 11:07)

PFI deals to go on balance sheet
All PFI deals are to go on the government’s balance sheet. The move has been triggered by the Treasury’s decision to adopt International Reporting.... more
(28 March 2007 09:00)

Contractors finances to be scrutinised under PFI
The financial robustness of contractors bidding for PFI contracts will come under much greater scrutiny, following changes to the Treasury’s.... more
(28 March 2007 09:00)

Defence cuts jeopardise contractors confidence
Defence Estates’ five Regional Prime Contracts are improving the way the MoD’s estate is maintained, but cuts in spending are putting at risk.... more
(28 March 2007 09:00)

The Foreman - 28 March 2007
Keeps his ear to the ground for the juiciest gossip. Heard any? Email cj.foreman@rbi.co.uk more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Rant - 28 March 2007
Have your say! Do you want to get something off your chest? If the answer's yes, email james.atkinson@rbi.co.uk with your view. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Letters - 28 March 2007
Employers must act on recruitment Sir , I am responding to Ray O’Rourke’s comments on the difficulties of attracting graduates to industry .... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Keltbray brings Drapers' Gardens back down to earth
Drapers’ Gardens is the tallest building ever to be demolished in the UK. Helen McCormick finds out how Keltbray overcame the challenges of bringing.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Styles & Wood floats to an all-time high in 2006
The fit-out specialist enjoys turnover lift to £270m, with pre-tax profit up 75%. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Communities England top job up for grabs
Jon Rouse has thrown the competition to head Communities England wide open, after announcing that he will leave his post as chief executive of.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Chancellor acts to block MSCs' efforts to avoid taxation
Chancellor Gordon Brown tightened the rope around composite and managed service companies’ (MSCs) necks by making changes to draft legislation that.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Engineering unions happy with pay deal
Engineering construction workers are set to agree a new national three-year pay deal worth some 15% in total. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

News round-up - 28 March 2007
The other news from across the week in the construction industry. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

N Ireland unveils £3.6bn schools investment
Northern Ireland is looking for eight framework contractors to kickstart its £3.6bn schools modernisation programme. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Wolseley cements major supplier status
After the rationalisation of its supply chain, Rok has awarded Wolseley preferred supplier status for the second year running. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Government underspends in three key areas
The government has underspent on planned capital investment this year (2006/07) in three key areas more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Taylor Wimpey HQs face job cuts
Taylor woodrow's and Wimpey's head offices will bear the brunt of the 700 job cuts resulting from the planned merger of the two firms to become the.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

£100m academy framework split between 11 firms
Academy school provider, The Harris Federation of South London Schools, has selected 11 contractors for a four-year framework deal worth up to £100m.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Good Week : Bad Week - 28 March 2007
This weeks winner and losers in the construction industry more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Cowlin's turnover leaps 25%
Cowlin's turnover surged by 25% to £190m last year and the Bristol-based group's 2007 budgeted turnover figure of £225m is reported to be "on target". more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

News in brief - 28 March 2007
Other assorted new stories throughout the week in the construction industry. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Report says BSF schemes may be unfit for the future
Building Schools for the Future is in danger of delivering schools that will fail to adapt over time to changes in teaching and learning, a report.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Councils must give bidders better access to schools
Councils must allow bidders greater engagement with schools earlier in their Building Schools for the Future (BSF) procurement process. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Parternships for Schools (PfS) launches advisory group for BSF projects
A Chief Executives Advisory Group (CEAG) has been set up by Partnerships for Schools (PfS) to help streamline the procurement and delivery of the.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Building Schools for the Future (BSF) feedback reveals complexity concerns
Patnerships for Schools (PfS) conference also highlights enthusiasm and councils' need for more resources. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Erith's Olympian effort (Specialist Focus: Demolition)
Winning work in the Olympic Park has lit the torch of Erith's growth ambitions. Will Mann finds out more from managing director David Darsey. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

AccordMP invests in electric fleet
AccordMP claims that it is the first firm to use zero-emission electric vehicles on a highways maintenance contract in the UK. more
(28 March 2007 00:00)

Letters of intent explained: legal Q&A
It is well known that letters of intent are widely used in the construction industry at the inception of a project to enable work to start without.... more
(28 March 2007 00:00)