Contract Journal articles from November 2007

Contract Journal archives from November 2007

Quick hitch blast for CPCS.(06 Plant)(Construction Plant Competence Scheme)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Training provider says CPCS training must be changed to cover use of quick hitches. colin.sowman@rbi.co.uk Following a death involving a bucket becoming detached from a quick hitch at Drax Power Station, Selby, last month, training...

Profit boost for Hydrex.(06 Plant)(Financial report)
November 14, 2007... Operated plant hirer Hydrex has reported a pro-forma rise in both profit and turnover for the year to the end of December 2006 - the period covering its refinancing and changes to the company's structure. The figures show turnover rose 10%...

06 Plant.(Pochin Concrete Pumping )(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... PUMP ACTION Pochin Concrete Pumping has added a new Putzmeister M63 truck-mounted concrete pump to its fleet. The machine can pump up to 160m3 of concrete per hour at pressure of up to 130bar and comes equipped with a boom capable of reaching a...

Diamond Zone is SED's latest attraction.(06 Plant)(SED 2008 )(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... The Diamond Zone is the latest innovation to be unveiled for SED 2008 (13-15 May, Rockingham Speedway, Corby), following the addition of Builders Box Live. Working with the Drilling and Sawing Association (DSA), SED has introduced a...

Youngman offers new platform.(06 Plant)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Youngman's latest work platform offers 11 access solutions with safe working heights up to 5.1m. Configurations include a double-height platform or two single-height units, two extension ladders, two step ladders and four single ladders....

Climbing the ladder: Geoff Phillips.(13 People)(RR Richardson Group )(Interview)
November 14, 2007... Why did you go into construction? When I was about six years old I lived in a little town in south Shropshire. A new housing development was being constructed opposite where I lived, and I was fascinated to see the fields I used to play in...

LEAVERS & JOINERS.(13 People)(Hurleypalmerflatt appoints Ian Munro)(Wates Group appoints Andy Wall)(White Young Green appoints Tim Denton)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Hurleypalmerflatt The multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Hurleypalmerflatt has appointed Ian Munro as director within the Building Services Engineering Division. He joins from Arup. DGT Steel & Cladding DGT has made a...

10 Legal.
November 14, 2007... What are the main provisions of the Homes for the Future: More Affordable, More Sustainable Green Paper that was published in July? The green paper is a significant attempt by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to illustrate his commitment to the...

Commonwealth boost for Scottish firms.(01 News)(Glasgow contracts with Commonwealth games)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... The construction industry in Scotland received a major boost last week after Glasgow won its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The [pounds sterling]288m games will see the construction of four new venues: the [pounds sterling]112m...

Edinburgh work boom leads to labour shortage.(01 News)
November 14, 2007... Council forced to readvertise work as buoyant market leaves city short of contractors. neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk The construction market in Edinburgh is so buoyant that clients are struggling to find contractors, according to a senior...

Dyball slams government on investment.(01 News)(Dean and Dyball Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... A lack of commitment to long-term investment in the UK's infrastructure is a "millstone around our country's neck", according to Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Southern) chairman Adrian Dyball. Dyball, who is also chief...

Regeneration must mean quality as well as quantity.(08 CJ2)
November 14, 2007... Less than six months after Gordon Brown crossed the threshold of 10 Downing Street, the UK faces a revised set of ambitious housing targets. Peter Murray, area director West Midlands at English Partnerships, argues for the need to deliver...

Apollo Education out of race for Tower Hamlets BSF deal.(01 News)
November 14, 2007... Firm pulls out following the withdrawal of IT provider Dell from consortium. carol.millett@rbi.co.uk Apollo Education is out of the running for the [pounds sterling]180m Tower Hamlets Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project...

Laing O'Rourke plans to scrap staff bonus scheme.(01 News)(Top Laing O'Rourke )
November 14, 2007... Reports suggest the global firm will end scheme that allows its top staff to significantly bump up basic salaries. john.leitch@rbi.co.uk Top Laing O'Rourke staff are angry that the group's attractive bonus scheme will reportedly be...

Birse heads for bypass project in Cheshire.(04 Contracts)(Cheshire County Council contracts with Birse Group PLC)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... As tipped in CJ last month, Cheshire County Council has settled on Birse to tackle a [pounds sterling]25m bypass deal. The news signals the end of the road for rivals for the A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley bypass. The hopefuls were...

Wates favourite for Chelsea Academy.(04 Contracts)(Wates Building Group Ltd )(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Sources say that Wates is looking good for a [pounds sterling]29m academy project in west London. Geoffrey Osborne and ISG InteriorExterior also attended interviews for the two-stage Chelsea Academy project. But a source disclosed:...

Browns secures a tall order in Manchester.(04 Contracts)(Browns Construction )(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Regional contractor Browns Construction has scooped its biggest deal to date - an [pounds sterling]82m project to build one of the tallest buildings in Manchester. The firm beat off three rivals, including Laing O'Rourke, for the 'Gravity'...

HA picks four for Midlands roads scheme.(04 Contracts)
November 14, 2007... Four groups have won at least [pounds sterling]50m-worth of maintenance work in the Midlands. The Highways Agency (HA) originally eyed five outfits in the run-in for the framework scheme, but in the final analysis dropped one of them - a...

HBG closes in on Great Ormond Street upgrade.(04 Contracts)(HBG Construction)
November 14, 2007... HBG set to see off rivals in bid to build [pounds sterling]65m clinical building at children's hospital. brian.warner@rbi.co.uk A preferred bidder is emerging for the centrepiece of a [pounds sterling]314m project to upgrade London's...

Editor's blog: Is Scotland the place to be?(01 News)
November 14, 2007... Scotland has always been somehow rather separate from the construction industry south of the Border, and now, while many firms in the south worry about a potential downturn in workloads, Scottish contractors have more work than they can...

14 Back Page.
November 14, 2007... An unknown quantity Project manager, quantity surveyor, consultant does anyone know what they're supposed to be called these days? Well, it seems Rider Levett Bucknall - a firm of, er, QSs, still cares about such details. I received an...

Construction GCSE likely to be scrapped.(01 News)(Construction & Built Environment)(General Certificate of Secondary Education )(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... The Construction & Built Environment GCSE is expected to be scrapped next week as it comes to the end of a two-year pilot, CJ understands. The move would leave the pilot Construction & Built Environment Specialised Diploma for...

01 News.(Ingram Design and Build )(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Main contractor Ingram Design and Build has gone bust, leaving a trail of unpaid subcontractors in its wake. The [pounds sterling]4m-turnover Essex firm was working for developers Rom Capital on a scheme in Harlow town centre, involving the...

Redrow to contest brickie pay decision.(01 News)(Redrow Homes)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Redrow Homes will appeal against an Employment Tribunal decision which found that two bricklayers engaged by the company's Yorkshire division were entitled to [pounds sterling]2,300 each in holiday pay. The dispute centred on whether the...

ECA merger talks to include Scots and plumbers.(01 News)
November 14, 2007... Employer organisation merger talks between electrical contractors and heating and ventilating firms are being expanded to include their Scottish counterparts and the plumbing sector. David Pollock, group chief executive at the Electrical...

4Projects notches up 45% margin.(02 Business)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... 4Projects, the IT group that offers construction project collaboration software via the extranet, achieved a 45% profit margin last year. 4Projects' latest annual results, covering the 12 months to 31 March 2007, show turnover 40% higher...

Clancy Docwra takes [pounds sterling]6m hit from Tube Lines dispute.(01 News)
November 14, 2007... Latest pre-tax profit just [pounds sterling]440,000 group says no further provision will be needed. john.leitch@rbi.co.uk Clancy Docwra has taken a [pounds sterling]6m hit as part of an ongoing row with Tube Lines on a refurbishment...

Osborne profit skips up a level to [pounds sterling]4.6m.(02 Business)(Geoffrey Osborne Ltd.)(Financial report)
November 14, 2007... Expansion planned as profit and turnover see healthy rises in three major sectors. john.leitch@rbi.co.uk Geoffrey Osborne's latest annual accounts, covering 12 months to 31 March 2007, show an increase in turnover at [pounds...

Profit nosedive for C Spencer.(02 Business)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Construction and M&E group C Spencer made a pre-tax profit of just [pounds sterling]460,000 on its latest turnover of [pounds sterling]74m. The figure is well down on the [pounds sterling]3.1m profit in the previous year when turnover was...

The independence of experts.(10 Legal)
November 14, 2007... Unless expert witnesses tell the truth, are objective and can justify the reasons for their opinions, their reputation can be undermined in court. Expert witnesses play an important role in legal proceedings by sharing their expert...

Regeneration champion.(16 Profile)(Galliford Try Ltd.)(Dave Wood)
November 14, 2007... Dave Wood heads up Galliford Try's regeneration division, with a remit to improve collaboration across the group on regeneration projects and make the most of the huge potential of this sector. Helen McCormick meets him. Yours is a new...

Skanska called to crisis talks over schools fiasco.(01 News)
November 14, 2007... The wrong kind of screed and a shortage of builders has led to a series of delays to Skanska's [pounds sterling]70m Midlothian Schools Public Private Partnership contract, prompting Midlothian Council to call for crisis talks with the firm last...

Alfred McAlpine sues Surrey council over bridge dispute.(01 News)(Brief article)
November 14, 2007... Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects has taken Surrey County Council to court in a claim for over [pounds sterling]300,000 in costs it incurred when a [pounds sterling]1.5m bridge construction job in Knaphill went sour. The writ, filed at the...

15 CJ50.(Skanska Construction UK Ltd.)(Company overview)
November 21, 2007... Skanska shot to the top of the chart in October from comparatively lowly 17th place thanks to an enormous commercial haul of nearly [pounds sterling]444m, nearly a third of what is the largest commercial total - over [pounds sterling]1.5bn -...

Bobcat plans UK expansion.(06 Plant)
November 21, 2007... Bobcat wants to expand its dealer network in Southern England. It is already in negotiations with a number of companies and is inviting approaches from dealers interested in representing its brand. Any new dealers will market Bobcat's...

Flip Screen bucket adds versatility.(06 Plant)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Flip Screen is a new style of screening bucket from Australia that can be fitted to machines varying from skid steer loaders to 35t excavators. The system uses a U-shape attachment to the machine in which the bucket rotates. While the base...

LDV unveils its new 7.5t truck.(06 Plant)(MX100LDV truck )(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Van builder LDV unveiled its 7.5t Maxus MX100LDV truck at the Rai show in Amsterdam. It is based on a Russian vehicle and was shown as a chassis-cab with drop-side body. It is part of Gaz Group's (LDV parent) plan to extend the range beyond the...

Truck registrations up 73% in October.(06 Plant)(Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Truck registrations in October were 73% higher than a year ago, when the introduction of Euro 4 emission standards and the compulsory fitment of digital tachographs decimated sales. The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers...

13 People.(Faber Maunsell appoints Peter Housley)(Pennine Group appoints Stephanie Pegg)(Galliford Try LTD. appoints Nick Bremridge)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Faber Maunsell Peter Housley has recently joined Faber Maunsell's Altrincham office as an associate director. He was previously employed at Network Rail, where he was programme manager in high output track renewals. Killby & Gayford...

13 People.
November 21, 2007... How many days annual leave? Standard is 25 days with the option to buy or sell up to five days. Can you take them when you want? Yes, although employees may be asked to take up to three and a half days at Christmas. ...

Forms of project security.(10 Legal)
November 21, 2007... What should an employer bear in mind when considering forms of security offered by a contractor against its failure to complete a project either through default or insolvency? What are the common forms of security? Performance bonds...

UK opts out of tougher EU labour laws.(10 Legal)
November 21, 2007... The UK government says it will simplify rules for foreign workers to come into the UK. The government is to opt out of proposed European Union laws that would strengthen the criminal penalties for employing anyone who is not eligible to...

Clients snub conference on using project bank accounts.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Postponement casts doubts over readiness of clients to adopt new system in January. neil.gerrard@rbi.co.uk Public sector clients have snubbed a conference designed to teach them how to use project banks accounts just weeks before they...

Timms: shop public sector late payers.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Construction Minister Stephen Timms is asking contractors to shop any public sector clients who don't pay their bills on time. In a speech at Constructing Excellence's Strategic Leadership in Construction conference in London last week,...

George Wimpey fined [pounds sterling]300k for worker death.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Housebuilder George Wimpey (North East) and groundworks contractor AW Cowan have been fined a total of [pounds sterling]320,000 for their role in an accident that left one worker dead and another seriously injured. Neil Dunstan, 41, from...

New chairman for English Partnerships.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Robert Napier will take over as chairman of English Partnerships in the New Year. The Department for Communities and Local Government has revealed the appointment of Napier who is a former president of the National Council of Building...

Payment periods longer than in previous quarter.(01 News)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Payment problems are getting worse in the industry, with more than one-fifth of specialist contractors being forced to wait up to 90 days for their money. Latest figures from the National Specialist Contractors Council show the proportion...

Thames Gateway 'lacks leadership'.(01 News)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... The Civil Engineering Contractors Association is calling for a more streamlined approach to delivering infrastructure in the Thames Gateway after MPs slammed the government's progress on the project. Association director Rosemary Beales...

08 CJ2.(Contract Journal)
November 21, 2007... Being known as Britain's second city (after London) has done nothing for Birmingham's self esteem, according to the locals. The city is dogged by a lack of confidence and an inability to sell itself. Its media image is too often linked to...

Cost-cutting continues at 2012 Aquatics centre.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Architect Zaha Hadid's plans altered for third time in bid to drive down spiralling cost of London Olympics. By Grant Prior Two temporary grandstands will be bolted on to the 2012 Olympic Aquatics centre following the latest revisions...

Three lined up for M25 tunnel refurb work.(04 Contracts)(Balfour Beatty PLC)(Costain Group PLC)(Skanska Construction UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... At least three firms are due to pick up the tender paperwork by the end of this month for a [pounds sterling]91.3m refurb job on the M25. Insiders say the Highways Agency has earmarked Costain, Balfour Beatty and Skanska for the Bell Common...

Carillion eyes [pounds sterling]25m Leeds uni scheme.(04 Contracts)(Carillion Construction contracts with University of Leeds )(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Sources say Carillion is emerging as the favourite to register a [pounds sterling]25m university deal in Yorkshire. The word is that the firm has edged ahead of its only remaining rival, Allenbuild, and will be in a position to work up...

Accord JV tipped in race for HA's Area 3 roads deal.(04 Contracts)
November 21, 2007... MAC maintenance scheme could be worth as much as [pounds sterling]469m to the eventual winner. brian.warner@rbi.co.uk Industry insiders say that a lead bidder is coming to the fore on a roads maintenance deal in the south of England,...

04 Contracts.
November 21, 2007... SCHOOL RUN Willmott Dixon has secured a [pounds sterling]21m deal to build a school in Crewe as part of its framework deal with Cheshire County Council. Work on the Sir William Stanier Community School is due to begin later this month, with...

Caterpillar replaces its E-series soil compactors.(06 Plant)(Caterpillar (U.K.) Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... CS range of single drum vibrating soil compactors takes place of current models. colin.sowman@rbi.co.uk Caterpillar has replaced its E-series of soil compactors, added a T variant to its D6 dozer range and introduced a new wheeled...

DH brings down the axe on seven clinics worth [pounds sterling]600m.(01 News)(Department of Health)
November 21, 2007... Independent Sector Treatment Centres scrapped 10 further schemes under threat. carol.millett@rbi.co.uk Seven Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) clinics worth more than [pounds sterling]600m have been cut by the Department of...

Carillion boss calls for more apprentices.(01 News)(Carillion Construction)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... A Carillion director is urging other contractors to follow his company's lead and train more apprentices. Robin Herzberg, managing director of Carillion Private Finance, revealed that the firm trains 2,000 apprentices per year. He said:...

PFI bid process needs shortening.(01 News)(private finance initiative )(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Bidding for privately financed projects is taking too long and costing too much under the new Competitive Dialogue (CD) procurement procedure, according to Partnerships UK chief executive James Stewart. He warned that PFI specialists could...

Clients accused of excluding SMEs.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Public sector clients came under fire from MPs this week for excluding smaller contractors by using large framework contracts and not paying firms on time. The influential Trade and Industry Select Committee hit out at the government's...

What price fair payment?(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Think about this. You sell someone your car. They agree to buy it, but once they've got it, they tell you they can't actually pay you until next month. Or the next month. Or even the month after that. In the meantime, they're going to use the...

Drylining tests the water.(09 Focus)
November 21, 2007... As construction continues to move away from wet trades, the drylining sector is taking the initiative, offering the opportunity to increase speed of construction and improve the technical performance of buildings. James Stagg reports. We...

A McAlpine job loss fears subside.(01 News)(Alfred McAlpine PLC)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Fears of mass redundancies at Alfred McAlpine are subsiding following initial discussions with Carillion chiefs during their current takeover bid. Carillion has offered [pounds sterling]600 million for the firm and its financial team is...

Credit crunch hits commercial property market.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Property professionals are the gloomiest they have been for more than four years as the ongoing credit crunch continues to strangle demand for new commercial buildings. The latest RICS Commercial Property Survey revealed that demand for...

Agencies stifling the flow of trainee electricians.(01 News)
November 21, 2007... Unite calls for a central pool of qualified workers as an alternative to agencies. john.darcy@rbi.co.uk Union leaders are accusing labour agencies in the electrical contracting industry of killing off apprenticeships, with only 2,800...

02 Business.
November 21, 2007... Remo, you only formed the company in 1996. Now with an annual turnover of [pounds sterling]660m you're alongside Crest Nicholson and Miller. You must have a keen eye for acquisitions? Yes. What was Gladedale's first step-change? ...

02 Business.
November 21, 2007... john.leitch@rbi.co.uk Milbury Systems, a producer of pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete products, has been bought by Eleco for [pounds sterling]7m. The deal will allow Eleco to accelerate the expansion of Bell & Webster Concrete, its...

Miller in talks with potential buyers.(01 News)(Miller Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Family members holding around 60% of Miller Group's shares are in talks with a handful of potential buyers for the Scottish hybrid's housebuilding and contracting operations. Talks have involved trade rivals and financial buyers, with less...

02 Business.(Northern Bear)(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Northern Bear, the north of England construction player formed recently as a result of an amalgamation of a large number of relatively small players in the region, has snapped up another company - it has paid [pounds sterling]5m for Jennings...

02 Business.(Travis Perkins )(Brief article)
November 21, 2007... Travis Perkins is paying [pounds sterling]12m for Tile Giant, a retailer with 29 outlets. Tile Giant is based predominantly in the north of England and the Midlands. Its latest figures show a pre-tax profit of [pounds sterling]300,000 on...

Concrete associations move closer to consolidationConcrete society eyes institute status.(05 Products and Materials)
November 21, 2007... Major players hope single body will improve the industry's influence in Westminster. james.stagg@rbi.co.uk The possibility of one body representing the concrete and cement sectors has moved a step closer following the second...

Making an impact.(08 CJ2)(drywalling)
November 21, 2007... John Jordan, divisional bid manager at fit-out specialist ISG, details the variables influencing the specification of drywalling. The drywall market has been relatively stable over the past eight months after the initial steelwork price...

Recognition for NFRC fixing method.(05 Products and Materials)
November 21, 2007... The National House Building Council (NHBC) is set to formally recognise the zonal fixing method launched last year by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) in the spring edition of its Technical Standards. The new fixing...

The issue of payment.(10 Legal)
November 21, 2007... A company's failure to issue a payment notice is, in effect, a breach of contract. This case concerns an application by Ringway Infrastructure Services Limited ('Ringway') to the Technology and Construction Court for summary judgement to...

Many happy returns.(16 Profile)(Interview)
November 21, 2007... This week, the B&CE benefits scheme celebrates its 65th anniversary. For hundreds of thousands of site workers it guarantees holiday pay, accident and death cover, and pensions. John D'Arcy talks to chief executive Brian Griffiths about the...

09 Focus.(Drywall systems )(Company overview)
November 21, 2007... Seeing is believing Drywall systems are now an integral part of most modern buildings, and at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre traditional gypsum products have been blended with steel and glass to bring a fascinating building design to...

01 News.(contracts of real estate developers)
November 21, 2007... A bird in the hand is worth two dead ones in the bush This week I bring you news of NBC Bird and Pest Solutions. Despite the frankly ridiculous-sounding name, NBC has to be the most terrifying firm in construction. If you're a bird, at any...

Dunelm bags [pounds sterling]40m housing work in N East.(04 Contracts)
November 21, 2007... Dunelm Property Services has homed in on a [pounds sterling]40m housing deal in the North East. This means that the client, Dale and Valley Homes, has closed the door on a rival pitch from Frank Haslam Milan, which also made it through to...