Author Archives: Toni Sekinah

Construction activity rose at its fastest rate in 14 months during April, according to PMI data. Business activity in the sector increased for the second month in a row, with civil engineering activity increasing at its fastest rate for nine months, according to the latest S&P Global UK Construction PMI…

The construction industry needs to develop competence frameworks for retrofitting in five new super-specialisms, according to a report by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). The report, released today (7 May), laid out six core transferable competencies and seven overarching technical competencies for retrofit. In addition, it laid out key actions…

Morgan Sindall is increasing its investment in its housing division to £330m this year, it has announced. A trading announcement by the firm today (2 May) outlined an optimistic outlook, with the firm saying it was confident of delivering a full-year performance in line with expectations. It said its housing…

Willmott Dixon’s repairs and maintenance business Fortem has extended its partnership with Birmingham City Council by two years. The two-year extension will be worth £170m and takes the partnership length to 18 years in total. Fortem will continue to deliver repairs, maintenance and gas services to homes in the city.…

A new framework for the decarbonisation and retrofit of social housing and public sector buildings has opened for applications from contractors today (29 April). For the Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) framework, LHC Procurement Group is looking for consultants and specialists in energy efficiency, heating and ventilation, renewable energy, charging points and…

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers has been appointed as the new scheme administrator for NABERS UK – a standard for measuring operational carbon emissions from commercial buildings. The move comes seven months after the Building Research Establishment (BRE) stopped using the NABERS tool in favour of the more…

Construction firms will enjoy another nine months on a £1bn framework that had been due to expire next month. In 2020, Wates and 15 other firms, including 13 SMEs, were appointed to the North and Mid-Wales Residential Construction Framework, with a four-year lifespan. But the Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA) and…

Willmott Dixon has appointed James Mackenzie as its new chief financial officer. Mackenzie (pictured), who has previously held senior positions at Balfour Beatty, Berkeley Group and Kier, will also join Willmott Dixon’s main board. He previously held the CFO post at Willmott Dixon’s joint-venture partnership with EcoWorld London for six…

The construction sector needs to collaborate with training providers to help close the skills gap, according to an educator at MidKent College. Richard Wilde, project manager at MidKent College in Maidstone, said that contractors and subcontractors should assist training providers with the provision of materials and informing trainers about the…

A Welsh Government minister has criticised developer Watkin Jones for failing to sign a building remediation contract – and said she was considering a range of measures to ensure it does so. Last year the Welsh Government asked developers to sign a contract that commits them to address fire-safety issues…