Supply Chain

HS2 helped construction activity rise in March, while materials availability massively improved, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data. The rail megaproject was cited for the boost in civil engineering work – the fastest-rising category in the sector for the month, according to the survey compiled by S&P…

Keith Cooper asks how scaffolding specialists have managed to protect their profits, despite the headwinds of recent years From the outside, scaffolding firms seem as susceptible as any other construction specialist to the many challenges of recent years. The pandemic, huge hikes in the cost of materials and the chronic…

Materials chiefs have said construction costs will rise further without an overhaul of the rules governing suppliers. The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has demanded that the government act on 18 measures to develop the regulatory environment it insists the sector requires. Its report, Smart Regulation in the Mineral Products Sector,…

A County Durham-based structural steel supplier and installer is set to be liquidated next week, Construction News can reveal. Intelligent Steel Solutions Ltd, which operates from a three-hectare site in Peterlee, provides cold-formed structural steel to construction projects. Its website says its services include light gauge cold form structural steel,…

With a tight, city-centre location and listed status to deal with, scaffolding Manchester Town Hall has thrown up some unique challenges Scheme: Our Town Hall (Manchester Town Hall restoration and refurbishment) Client: Manchester City Council Main contractor: Lendlease Construction (Europe) Ltd Scaffolding contractor: Lyndon SGB Hoist contractor: Taylor’s Hoists Overall…

Three major construction materials companies have reported substantial increases in revenue and profit in 2022, after hiking prices to cover rising input costs. Breedon Group saw its revenue rise by 13 per cent to £1.39bn, while pre-tax profit increased by 19 per cent to £136m. This was despite sales in…

With many subcontractors bitterly regretting the fixed-price contracts they signed before inflation spiralled, James Wilmore asks whether fluctuation clauses and advance payments will become the norm “Collaborative risk-sharing will be key to preserving industry resilience and capacity moving forward.” These were the words of the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) product…

Travis Perkins has predicted that price inflation will carry on throughout what it says will be a “challenging” 2023. In its financial results for the year to 31 December 2022, the UK’s largest builders merchant said that, although inflation was moderating, it did not anticipate any “notable deflation” in manufactured…

Rampant construction commodity prices show little sign of easing, according to a new analysis. Construction consultancy Linesight says in a new report that although the across-the-board hyperinflation experienced last year is now over, prices are set to remain high, driven by the cost of energy and a lack of required…

Major gaps remain despite small steps on diversity and inclusion in the built environment workforce, according to the results of a new employee survey. The survey from the Sustainability Tool and the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme covered 339,912 employees working in 270 companies in…