NEWSBRIEF

Seventy-four construction firms fold

Figures released by chartered accountant Deloitte and Touche show that there were 74 corporate failures in the construction industry in the UK during the first six months of 1999. The figure is five more than during the same period a year ago.

Dates set for National Construction Week

Next year's National Construction Week will take place between 3-9 April 2000. Chairman Geoff Wright said: "We were very pleased with the impact of the Week this year and hope that this early announcement of dates for 2000 will help all the event organisers to start planning for an even bigger impact next year."

solution offered to Smith sacking dispute

Ucatt has put forward a proposal which it hopes will end the dispute between the dismissed safety representative Dave Smith, Schal and Cinnamond. The proposal calls for Schal/Tarmac to make a payment to a safety charity such as London Hazards Centre. Ron McCay, Ucatt regional officer, said: "This is a matter of principle not money, and we do not believe Dave Smith will now be reinstated because the job is coming to an end. Smith is happy to goahead with the proposals, but we have had no response from Schal. This is the only simple way of ending the loggerheads in a battle that could last for weeks. Schal, Tarmac and Dave Smith can all come away feeling they have achieved something."

On the move

Mike Sharples has joined the board of E Thomas Construction, part of John Mowlem and Company, after three years as commercial director in the South Wales office of Ernest Ireland. The British Cement Association has appointed Mike Gilbert as chief executive. Amec has appointed Anthony Williams as its first director of corporate affairs. Quibell, the building and civil engineering group, has made Derrick Barnes managing director while Barry Foster, Mike Bastiman and Phil O'Brien have been appointed to the board of the Group's main operating company Quibell and Son (Hull). John Matthews has replaced Alan Lawson as managing director of How Engineering Services.

Guilty pleas to death fall

Watson Steel and FLB Construction have both pleaded guilty to breaches under the Health and Safety regulations after a worker fell 39 metres to his death during the construction of the Citibank offices in Canary Wharf. Stephen Hayhurst, 32, of Lancashire, died instantly of severe head injuries after plunging down a pipe and electrical wiring shaft from the tenth to the second floor last year. He had been working as a steel erector for FLB, which had been doing work for Watson Steel, which in turn was subcontracted to Canary Wharf Contractors. The two companies face sentencing at the end of a two-day trial in November.

Property group acquires FM

Capita Property Services is continuing its acquisition strategy with the purchase of Liverpool-based surveyor KDP Richmond. The new business will be called KDP Capita and provide building surveying, project management, quantity surveying services, and facilities management consultancy.

an Estimating solution for £18 a week

Following Masterbill's appointment as a Gateway 2000 reseller in March, the two companies have now joined forces to launch 'Estimator Bundle' which combines Gateway hardware with the latest estimating and project management software to produce a complete estimating solution for £18 a week.