1. HSE rethinks plan to drop Approved Code of Practice for CDM 2015 launch
The HSE is planning a partial reversal of its plan to abandon the Approved Code of Practice when it implements the CDM Regulations 2015, and now intends to publish a slimline version to accompany the new regs. Read more…
2. 95 finalists delivering world-class construction take centre stage at CMYA 2014
The individuals who masterminded the construction of some of the most iconic buildings of recent years will compete for the prestigious gold and silver Construction Manager of the Year Awards at this year’s grand final in October. Read more…
3. Heather Bryant quits the HSE for Balfour Beatty
The HSE’s chief inspector of construction is leaving the organisation after a 26-year career and just 15 months in the top construction role, to take up a new role as director of health, safety and environment at Balfour Beatty. Read more…
4. Industry hunts for subcontractors and supplies as housing enters ‘overdrive’
The availability of subcontractors is coming under severe strain as output across the board continues to pick up and the housing sector in particular enters “overdrive”, commentators have said. Read more…
5. Laing O’Rourke highlights DfMA in search for high margins over volume
Laing O’Rourke’s Annual Review 2013 highlighted the group’s search for “high-quality profitable work rather than volume”, its positive cash balance and its growing faith in the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) model. Read more…
6. Balfour Beatty outlines ‘The Road Ahead’
Balfour Beatty has firmly turned down Carillion’s second merger overture, outlining instead its future strategy of simplifying its business, recruiting a “top flight” chief executive, and restoring value for shareholders. Read more…
7. Contractor warns over fake bank account requests
West Midlands contractor Speller Metcalfe is urging the rest of the industry to be on the alert for fraudsters setting up fake bank accounts to divert thousands of pounds of legitimate payments, after it was targeted in two recent scams. Read more…
8. Construction loses seat at No 10 as Boles takes on portfolio from Hancock
The construction portfolio awarded in the July reshuffle to minister of state Matthew Hancock has now been re-assigned to Department of Business, Innovation and Skills minister of state Nick Boles. Read more…
9. Solar concentrators quadruple PV power
Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University have developed a solar concentrator technology for glazing that connects to solar photovoltaic cells and is able to generate up to four times the power of conventional solar PVs. Read more…
10. MP questions Tate Modern extension delays
Labour MP and shadow minister for culture, media and sport Helen Goodman has questioned culture secretary Ed Vaizey about progress on the £215m Tate Modern after it was rated “amber-red” in the latest review by the government’s Major Projects Authority. Read more…
Top in Management
What’s new in ‘New Models of Construction Procurement’?
Trevor Drury FCIOB, managing director of Morecraft Drury, tries to read between the lines on three new piloted procurement methods. Read more…
Top in International
Why China can build high-speed rail so cheaply
In under a decade, China has built a high-speed rail network totalling more than 10,000km. It eclipses every other country’s high-speed network and even that of the entire European Union. Not only that, to build it China spent two-thirds or less what other countries have spent. Read more…
Top in Comment
Vox pop: What would a Balfour and Carillion deal mean for the industry?
Readers give their opinions. Read more…
New CPD portal
The CPD Portal:- the text on the training slides, particulary the screen shots of the magazine articles is small and very difficult to read?
Hi Robert
Please use the magnifying glass icon to increase the page view to the required size.