Articles by Date : August 28 2006 - September 03 2006

Construction output improved 1% in Q2
Construction output was up just 1% in volume terms in Q2 compared with Q1, according to the latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry. more
(01 September 2006 12:00)

Amec's exceptional costs of £80m take group into £58m loss
Amec’s inability to present a “clean” set of financial results rolls on yet again. This time a one-off hit of almost £80m left the group in the red.... more
(31 August 2006 10:00)

Atkins tops the student hit list
Balfour Beatty is the construction organisation most students have heard of, but Atkins receives the most job applications, according to the GTI.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Editor's comment: Build a better image
James Atkinson, deputy editor of Contract Journal, comments on the latest GTI Employer of Choice Graduate Survey, which questioned over 500 students.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Industry seeks to fill vacancies
Almost a third of construction businesses were looking to hire new recruits last year, according to a new report from Jobcentre Plus. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Willmott Dixon designs online leavers' form
Willmott Dixon has developed an online exit interview questionnaire for those who leave the company. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

News in brief: 30 August 2006
News in brief from the Contract Journal issue dated 30 August 2006 more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Terminal float: JCT SBC05 and NEC3 compared
The case: The Royal Brompton Hospital NHS Trust -vs- Frederick Alexander Hammond and Others (No 11) [2002]. The issue: Whether a contaractor is.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

John Laing eyes PFI opportunities abroad
Despite a 'buoyant' UK market, the complexity of modern PFIs makes John Laing focus on overseas growth. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

McNicholas wins £61m gas contract
McNicholas Construction has been selected for a £61m deal to develop the existing natural gas network in Northern Ireland. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Highways Agency encourages Early Contractor Involvement schemes
Super early contractor involvement introduced following transport select committee call for agency to get its budgets in order. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Fears over academy links to BSF funding
LGA seeks assurance from DfES after councils complain they must build academies to obtain BSF funding. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Laing's rail claim put at £30m
Chiltern Railways subsidiary goes into the red, but group still hits an interim pre-tax profit of £12m as roads division speeds up. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Steel price rises impact across sector
More sectors of the construction industry are set to feel the impact of rising steel prices after Corus announced £25 per tonne increases for.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Briggs & Forrester bounces back
Briggs & Forrester (B&F), the M&E specialist contractor, anticipates a speedy profit bounce-back after £1.5m of exceptions charges trimmed the.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Five shortlisted for £16m Leicester college
Five contractors have graduated onto the shortlist for a £16m new-build college project in Leicester. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Cemex cements top spot in Europe
Materials giant Cemex has been confirmed as the largest player in the European aggregates sector, according to a report from BDS marketing. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Four pose for £13m Notts arts centre
Four contractors are in the frame for a £13m city council arts project in Nottingham. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Three compete for £16m London housing scheme
Three contractors are in the hunt for a £16m housing deal in west London. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Three battle for Hereford Learning Village scheme
Three firms are on the register for a £15m education-sector deal in Hereford. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Two teams vie for £40m schools PFI
Doncaster Council shortlists Vinci/Norwest Holst and Yorkshire Education Solutions. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Plant theft may be funding terrorists
The founder of the Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre (OPERC) has issued a stark warning to the construction industry that it could be.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Plant deals done: 30 August 2006
Plant deals done from the Contract Journal issue dated 30 August 2006. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Interview with Birse Civils Business Improvement Director Gary Wright
Nearly a year after unveiling his master plan to give Birse Civils the leading edge over its rivals, business improvement director Gary Wright.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

CPA stands firm on particulate filters
The CPA has said that it will continue to oppose the introduction of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in London, despite a new study into the.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Persimmon trims debt to build profit
Persimmon, the housebuilder, enjoyed a pre-tax profit of £260m in the first six months of 2006. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

SME Profile: Concrete Repairs goes it alone
Gleeson's concrete repairs contractor CRL bought itself out of the parent group for £3m earlier this month. As Will Mann finds out, managing director.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

GE Equipment's trailer is ready to get loaded
GE Equipment Services is set to launch a new plant trailer that aims to address customers concerns that standard trailers are too easy to overload. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Terex Pegson appoints Blue Machinery as dealer
Terex Pegson has selected Blue Machinery to act as dealer for its range of crushing equipment, in a move that sees the manufacturer align itself with.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Mek-Tek develops compact MBP
Volumetric concrete mixer manufacturer Mek-Tek has introduced a compact version of its mobile batching plant (MBP) that it said will allow manual.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Human vibration detector launched
Bruel and Kjaer has introduced a hand-held system to measure, analyse and evaluate human vibration on handtools, compact equipment and heavy.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Environment Agency trials lone worker alarm
A new lone-worker alarm that uses satellite technology is being trialled by the Environment Agency, which is testing it against existing mobile.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

JCB sets diesel speed record
JCB's Dieselmax provided the perfect showcase for the JCB444 engine as it smashed the land-speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle twice in one.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Connaught plans step up to official Stock Exchange list
Connaught, a property services provider in the social housing sector, intends to transfer its shares onto the London Stock Exchange's official list. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Plant news in brief: 30 August 2006
Plant news in brief from the Contract Journal issue dated 30 August 2006 more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Analysis: NAECI - A return to the dark old days?
The quarter-century anniversary of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry ought to be a cause for celebration - but it will.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

B&CE calls on construction to take pensions seriously
The B&CE benefits company has issued a new "wake-up" call on pensions following the publication of research that shows 2.5 million workers still.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Welsh planning authorities to address health
The Welsh Assembly has published its planning, health and well-being draft planning policy to help deliver tougher public health assessments for new.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Commercial property value threatened
Impending legislation to grade the energy efficiencies of buildings will cause a dramatic fall in the capital value of commercial property in the UK,.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Local authorities share contractor data online
A new website is enabling local authorities and businesses to tap into information on contractors and contracts across Yorkshire and Humberside. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Products and materials news in brief: 30 August 2006
Products and materials news in brief from the Contract Journal issue dated 30 August 2006. more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Scottish dwelling inflates the market for used tyres
An unlikely use for the growing mountain of used tyres is being developed in the Highlands of Scotland with the construction of what's claimed to be.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

JCB digs deep to set speed record
JCB's Dieselmax became the fastest diesel-powered vehicle on earth, smashing the world land-speed record with an average speed of almost 329mph.... more
(31 August 2006 00:00)

Olympic delivery partner role goes to Laing O'Rourke's CLM consortium
The CLM consortium, featuring Laing O'Rourke, has been named by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) as its official delivery partner for the 2012.... more
(30 August 2006 15:24)

SMC Group doubles interim turnover to over £11m
SMC, the architect and design group, has seen turnover rocket by more than 100% in the first six months of 2006, according to its interim results.... more
(30 August 2006 12:00)

Shape the future of www.ContractJournal.com and you could win £100!
Tell us what you think about www.ContractJournal.com and you could win £100! more
(30 August 2006 11:51)

Costain's interim results show pre-tax loss of £21m
Costain’s recovery from its huge financial problems of the past had been sure-footed but now the group’s progress has taken something of a wobble..... more
(30 August 2006 09:00)

60 seconds on safety: John Impey, integrated management systems manager, Combisafe International
60-second interview with John Impey focusing on health and safety issues. more
(30 August 2006 00:00)

Mansell trims back pension deficit by £5m
Mansell Construction Services’ pension fund deficit was trimmed back from £57m to £52m last year, thanks in part to a £4m contribution from the.... more
(30 August 2006 00:00)

Redesign will slow Gerrards Cross progress
Construction work to finish the tunnel at Gerrards Cross following its partial collapse 14 months ago isn’t likely to start until next year,.... more
(30 August 2006 00:00)