John Carter, managing director for commercial real estate at Aldermore, explores how construction SMEs should be considering how they can best capitalise on the easing of restrictions and the bounce in business confidence The UK construction sector has been one of the more fortunate industries. Although the pandemic caused supply chain disruption and knocked business confidence, building sites only had to close for a limited time during the first lockdown last year. As we ent

An interiors specialist has been told to leave an Engie student accommodation job just days after filing a complaint about site management. Madison Decor has been a supplier to Engie for eight years enjoying a successful relationship with the main contractor. But that suddenly turned sour on the site where Madison was working on a £600,000 interiors package. Madison managing director Phil Williams claimed his firm was asked to leave the job after filing an official complaint

The government’s £5bn cladding remediation fund ‘won’t scratch the surface’ for what is required to make every high-rise development EWS1 A1 compliant, says Colmore Tang Construction Colmore Tang Construction has priced remedial projects on over 20 high-rise developments in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and The Midlands in the last few months and their analysis suggests a total figure closer to £50bn. The company found the average cost of cladding remediation works to be circa

Underground tunnelling has started on the surface water drain through Chester city centre, the new drain will run south along St. Martin’s Way, Nicholas Street, Grosvenor Road and Castle Drive. The tunnel is being installed by VINCI Construction UK on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council. The tunnel will be almost 1km in length, 1.2m in diameter and require 9 access shafts spaced along the route, each 7m wide and 12m deep. The new drain will result in significant envir

Infrastructure giant nmcn is vowing to speed up payments to suppliers once a new financing deal is sorted for the business. Subcontractors have contacted the Enquirer about unpaid bill claims and one specialist staged a recent demonstration at an nmcn office. Photos posted on social media show a poster hung on the railings of an nmcn office accusing the company of not paying subcontractors. A cladding contractor told the Enquirer that it was owed £350,000 for a job completed

Bristol University has delayed for a second time main construction of its major £300m campus development in the Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh areas. The University blamed both Covid and Brexit’s impact on the supply chain as well revisiting designs to introduce greater flexibility and future-proofing spaces to be more adaptable. As a result of recalibrating the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus programme, main construction of the Cattle Market Road site will start in th

Procure Partnerships has begun the hunt for contractors to help shape the structure of the second iteration of the North West Contractor Framework Procure Partnerships has successfully been operating and delivering a successful framework across the North West of England for the past three years, supporting the procurement and delivery of over 100 construction projects. The North West contractor framework aims to push the boundaries of how procurement can support public sector

Contractors will be required to determine the employment status of former IR35 freelance workers from today. Previously off-payroll freelance construction professionals operated through personal service companies which determined whether IR35 tax rules should apply. But responsibility for determining employment status of freelancers has now shifted to the employing contractor. Freelance workers fear losing out through higher tax payments while contractors could also face bigg

A French plant hire company is set to take delivery of the first all-electric Renault truck designed for construction use. Following the launch of a range of electric trucks for distribution, Renault Trucks has begun production of electric trucks designed for construction applications. French plant hire specialist Noblet Group is waiting for delivery of the first D Wide ZE fitted with Jocquin tipper body and Hiab X HiPro 142-E loader crane. It will be put to work in the Great