News in brief: 10 January 2007 (p4)

ISG Jackson has secured an £8.5m contract with Essex County Council to build a new 120-pupil special needs school in Basildon. Work is due to commence in mid-January, with completion set for May 2008.

Linpave Building has secured a £7.8m contract at the East of England showground in Peterborough. The work will involve the construction of a clear-span exhibition centre and atrium.

Rosser & Russell Building Services, part of the Vinci stable, has secured a £6.5m deal for the installation of mechanical, electrical and public health services at Cheapside in London.

Local authority construction workers will be submitting their 2007 pay claim at the end of January. This is expected to be on similar lines to this year's claim by other council workers, who are looking for a one-year settlement with a pay increase of 5% or £1,000, whichever is greater.

Crispin & Borst has secured a £4.25m contract from Gateway Primary School in north London. Work will involve the construction of a new three-storey steel-framed classroom extension.

The British Constructional Steelwork Association has launched a new Safety in Steel Construction Health & Safety Service (SiSC). SiSC offers the competent-person role, a 24-hour telephone helpline advisory service and six factory/site visits.

Bob Davis, joint principal and executive director of Armstrong Davis Associates, has been elected chairman of the Adjudication Society.

The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of Corus by Tata Steel under the EU Merger Regulation.

Kier Building Maintenance (KBM) is rolling out hand-held technology for all its repair work in a drive to boost efficiencies. Currently, 300 KBM workers use the technology. This will rise to 500 by the end of the year.

CPCS has extended the Assessed Route of Entry for experienced Appointed Persons following ongoing reviews with the industry.

[Contract Journal, 10 January 2007, p4]