13 May 2011
Building
View all stories from this issue.
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£800m worth of academies to start hitting market in June
16 May 11
Government to release first of 71 schemes to contractors on academies framework
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Action plan for timber sustainability
13 May 2011
?The Timber Trade Federation is developing a sustainability action plan
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Administrators sell part of Metro Design
12 May 11
Firm was the third fit-out business to go into administration in the space of a few weeks
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Andrew Wolstenholme is new Crossrail CEO
18 May 11
Contractors welcome the appointment of the Balfour Beatty director
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Apprentices: Training is good for business
19 May 11
Today’s challenges mean that a wealth of young talent is vital to the industry
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April house prices fell 1.7%, says Halifax
9 May 11
Average house prices have fallen by 3.7% over last 12 months
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Athletes' Village builders eye halted P Elliott block
19 May 11
Work on N14 block stopped as Irish contractor placed into administration
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Battersea station powers on
13 May 2011
Gardiner & Theobald has been appointed to the £5.5bn Battersea Power Station redevelopment
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Boris Johnson pledges £60m for Thames promenade
16 May 11
Planning submitted for kilometre long floating river walk
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Breakneck planning changes won't lead to better quality homes
16 May 11
Recent changes to the planning system won’t necessarily deliver the high quality, low energy housing the UK desperately needs
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British Land announces first tenant in Cheesegrater tower
16 May 11
Insurance firm Aon to occupy ten floors of £340m City tower
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Broadway Malyan opens Mumbai office
18 May 11
Studio opening takes architect’s total number of international bases to 14
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Buro Happold partner leaves in major shake-up at the top
13 May 2011
Last remaining founding partner, Rod MacDonald, will retire in restructuring of senior management
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Businesses to make local development plans
13 May 2011
The South Bank of the Thames and the centre of Milton Keynes are front runners to pilot a scheme to allow local businesses to draw up official plans to intensify development in their areas.
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C&G Concrete falls into administration
17 May 11
Midlands firm goes under after over 50 years of trading
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Cabinet commits to large cuts in carbon emissions
16 May 11
’Green deal’ to set stringent targets for UK construction
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CAD images: Where have all the humans gone?
13 May 2011
There’s nothing so seductive as a CAD image of your dream project, computer-generated visualisations of how we want the world to be. Trouble is, they’re divorced from reality
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Capita appoints director of nuclear
20 Apr 11
Firm plans to expand its work in UK’s power market
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Cavity closer
13 May 2011
Cavity Trays has launched a cavity closer suitable for cavities up to 330mm wide.
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Chinese firm bidding for top Cheesegrater job
13 May 2011
Yuanda wants its first UK skyscraper job
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CityWatch: Aecom hit by Libya evacuation but still growing
13 May 2011
The firm’s results would have been better had it not been for costly Libya evacuation
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Companies contest feed-in tariff cut at High Court
20 Apr 11
Petition for judicial review lodged by companies hit by government solar subsidy cutback
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Construction growth strongest for three years
19 May 11
RICS Q1 survey is latest to contradict government figures
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Construction statistics: Is it really that bad ?
13 May 2011
Government statistics suggest construction contracted 5% last quarter, but it’s hard to find anyone who believes that is true. Joey Gardiner argues the reality is actually more positive and presents alternative data to back up his case
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Contractor rapped after cinema collapses onto carriageway
13 May 11
Demolition specialist fined £5,000 for collapse in rush hour
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Controlled set concrete
13 May 2011
Cemex has launched a rapid hardening, controlled set concrete
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Costain awarded nuclear patent
18 May 11
Contractor develops technique for immobilising radioactive nuclear waste
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CPA chief appeals to chancellor over disputed output figures
13 May 2011
Letter said: ’few in the industry any longer have any confidence in the ONS statistics’
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CRASH named as Sustainability Now charity partner
10 May 11
CPD-accredited online event for green building takes place on May 18-19
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Credit where it's due
13 May 2011
Planning remains a hot topic as the localism/environmental struggle continues, and Building sheds some light on the ONS figures
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Cyril Sweett forms JV company with Japanese partner
12 May 11
Meiho Sweett created in partnership with allied Japanese design and project manager
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Design Council Cabe provides £65,000 grants
13 May 2011
?The Design Council Cabe has announced that it will provide grants of £65,000 each to the eight affiliated design review panels across England for 2011-12.The funding will enable Creating Excellence, Kent Architecture Centre, Shape East, OPUN, MADE, NE Design Review Service, Integreat Plus and Places Matter to run 250 local design reviews, allowing them to provide advice to local authorities, community groups and client and design teams.
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Drop in schools work to hit regions
13 May 2011
Report forecasts that decline in public sector projects will hit regional output
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Embankment retaining solution
13 May 2011
Recycled plastic products specialist, i-plas, has launched an embankment retaining solution called Ecocrib
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Embassy Gardens submits planning application
13 May 2011
Ballymore has submitted a planning application for Terry Farrell & Partners’ masterplan for Embassy Gardens
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Employers step up to offer apprenticeships
16 May 11
CITB-ConstructionSkills reports a 47% increase in firms offering places
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F+G announces new chief executive
20 Apr 11
Former UK boss Donald Lawson replaces Richard Hall following retirement
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First housebuilders' meeting on Green Deal new homes
15 Apr 11
HBF consults housebuilders on how upfront funding for energy efficiency measure could work in practice
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First UK tunnelling academy to open later this year
16 May 11
The £12.5m facility will train 3,500 people to work on Crossrail
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Galliford Try bags £38m of health contracts
18 May 11
Contractor secures five contracts across England
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Galliford Try: 'contracts must be linked to material prices'
13 May 2011
Firm negotiates with clients to spread risk of rising material costs over long-term projects
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Gardiner & Theobald wins Battersea appointment
13 May 2011
Consultant has been appointed to the 3,400-home project
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Government department blocks DEC proposal
13 May 2011
Business department takes stand against mandatory energy certificates for private sector
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Grainger profits soar on rental growth
19 May 11
Residential landlord close to starting 2,500-home Newlands development
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Green Deal workshops set up for SMEs
13 May 2011
Move comes in response to concerns SMEs won’t be able to get involved in the Green Deal
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Green light for Gary Neville's flower house
18 May 11
Make Architects have designed the Manchester United footballer’s home
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HCA's Lunts to join Greater London Authority
16 May 11
HCA executive director for London to be Boris Johnson’s new housing boss
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Henry Boot blunder denies shareholders final dividend
12 May 11
Resolution to pay out 2.15p per share “unfortunately omitted” from AGM notice but will be replaced by second dividend
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Hey, big spender: Richard Pilkington
13 May 2011
The UK development market is about to receive some much-needed good news: Oxford Properties is over from Canada with £3.5bn to spend - and that’s just for starters. Meet your new best friend, development director Richard Pilkington
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High Speed 2: full speed ahead
13 May 2011
High Speed 2 is a project people love to hate. But it would reduce train overcrowding, boost business and pump billions into the construction industry
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Holder Mathias Architects wins luxury coastal development
13 May 2011
Properties will be based in Rottingdean, East Sussex
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Hopkins leads the pack at RIBA awards
19 May 11
Hopkins’ velodrome among the winners at the 2011 RIBA awards
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Ian Tyler is best value boss again with £1m pay
13 May 2011
Balfour Beatty boss steers his firm to £187m in pre-tax profits
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Ibstock rated 'very good'
13 May 2011
?Brickmaker Ibstock has been awarded a “very good” rating to the responsible sourcing standard BES 6001
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Inspector supports UK nuclear despite Japan disaster
18 May 11
Weightman report clears the way for nuclear new build program
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Integrated basement walls and slab
13 May 2011
Integrated insulation and structural foundation specialist, Insulslab SFRC, has developed a system that integrates basement walls with the slab
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Interserve lands contracts worth £400m since January
18 May 11
Firm says it expects total revenues of £1.8bn for 2011
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Jayne McGivern resigns as CEO of Northacre
17 May 11
McGivern stands down following dispute with executive chairman
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John Gummer kicks off second day of Sustainability Now
18 May 11
The construction industry’s green leaders open CPD-accredited virtual conference
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Jones Lang LaSalle and King Sturge in merger talks
17 May 11
£160m deal would end the independence of major UK surveyor
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Keller revenue up but profits down for 2011
12 May 11
Earnings before interest and taxes hit by Australian floods, Middle East unrest and low US margins
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Keltbray gets £500m Heron Plaza underway
19 May 11
Demolition contract awarded on second Heron skyscraper
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Kier lands £54m Isle of Sheppey Academy deal
19 May 11
Facility will be constructed at two sites on the island
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Kier targets infrastructure and power
18 May 11
Contractor expects it has put in bids for five Crossrail stations
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Kingspan sees growth in UK residential market
12 May 11
Manufacturer reports overall sales up a third
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Lambeth Accord gets green light
13 May 2011
Henley Halebrown Rorrison Architects has received planning consent for Lambeth Accord
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Land Secs to push on with speculative offices
18 May 11
Profit up 14% and so too is the value of the developer’s properties
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Latest construction appointments: 13 May
13 May 2011
This week, Morgan Sindall, Shepherd Construction, Daikin, Henry Riley and Beachcroft have all made new appointments
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Latest CPA figures show Q1 activity rise
16 May 11
Statisitcs conflict with reports of activity decline in official ONS data
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Lindner targets £170m of work in UK after Prater acquisition
13 May 2011
Now the largest building envelope contractor in the UK, the firm looks to expand further in Britain
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Liverpool council to build 'easy to convert' schools
13 May 2011
Following James Review recommendations council is looking at ’airport terminal-style schools’
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Malcolm McAlpine dies, aged 93
17 May 11
President of Sir Robert McAlpine passes away after a brief illness
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Mary Portas review to tackle 'clone towns'
17 May 11
Journalist and broadcaster to conduct government review into town centres
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McNulty report outlines £1bn rail savings
19 May 11
Report says growth is dependent on moderating rising costs
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Mears lands new contracts worth £120m
16 May 11
Contract wins since March increase firm’s order book to £2.7bn
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MJ Gleeson sees sales up 43%
19 May 11
But northern housebuilder says no great improvement in housing market
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Morrell: Five year plan to roll out BIM
17 May 11
Construction adviser signals projects down to £5m will require the system
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Multi-joint connector
13 May 2011
Ancon has added a shear load connector for expansion joints in large, ground bearing concrete floor slabs.
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Network Rail fined £3m for Potters Bar crash
13 May 11
Fine marks the end of ORR proceedings against Network Rail
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Novation: Let's innovate
13 May 2011
A client novates its design team in order to offload risk to the contractor, but in doing so it also loses access to consultants who can offer vital advice. So what’s the alternative?
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Olympic Village contractor faces winding up petitions
17 May 11
Legal action taken by a number of creditors in the Irish High Court
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ONS revises controversial output figures
13 May 11
Economists say upwards revision to construction output not enough
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Optimists get the biggest cheer at wired BCO
13 May 11
Last day of conference sees debates on the fragile state of the property sector and future-gazing from the editor of Wired
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Over 3,700 sign up to this week's Sustainability Now event
12 May 11
The industry’s biggest virtual conference for sustainable professionals goes live on 18-19 May
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Period drama: The Holburne Museum
13 May 2011
Bathonians were up in arms when Eric Parry Architects sought to add a modern extension to an 18th century, grade I-listed building. But the architect won out and the Holburne Museum shouldn’t have anyone reaching for the smelling salts
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Purbeck acquires Somerset quary
13 May 2011
Purbeck natural stone specialist Lovell Purbeck has acquired a quarry near Langport, Somerset from Ham and Doulting Stone.
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Q & A with AKII – Structurally sound
13 May 2011
The downturn, increasing materials prices and regulatory changes are all having an impact on structural engineers. Building asks Paul Scott, a director at structural engineering practice, AKT II, how the sector is holding up
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Quintain wins planning for £500m Wembley scheme
13 May 11
Make-designed masterplan is next phase of giant Wembley development
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Rich pickings
13 May 2011
Hard to know who to feel most sorry for this week – the boss barred from using his own phone, the manager terrified out of a pub – or the high-rollers who missed out on the Sunday Times rich list
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Righting wrongs
13 May 2011
This week readers take on iffy construction output data, poorly worded legislation, lawyers who overlook partnering and the rationale for building energy-from-waste facilities
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Schools win top honours in RIBA Awards
19 May 11
Over one in ten winners are schools or academies
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Semi-permanent buildings
13 May 2011
Temporary structures specialist, Neptunus, has launched what it says is the most energy efficient semi-permanent structure on the market.
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Severfield-Rowen orders holding up in choppy waters
18 May 11
Structures specialist forecasts a “very tough” 2011 with demand at relatively low levels
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Solar panels to halve carbon emissions at Blackfriars station
11 May 11
Huge array on Thameslink station roof will produce over 1MW of energy
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Steeplejack firm fined £100k after fatal fall
18 May 11
Central (High Rise) is also ordered to pay £32,00 costs after two accidents in 18 months
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T Clarke guards against cut-throat bidding
13 May 11
M&E specialist vows to maintain margins despite heated competition
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'Technical manual for cast stone' gets an update
13 May 2011
?The UK Cast Stone Association has updated its “technical manual for cast stone”.
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The leaning hotel of Copenhagen opens its doors
12 May 11
Viewed from different angles the hotel designed by 3XN appears to lean in two different directions
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The new Construction Act: The daft draft
13 May 2011
A lot of people say a clause in the new Construction Act approves the pre-dispute allocation of legal costs - the opposite of what was intended. Let’s get it sorted
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The tracker: A mixed bag
13 May 2011
Construction activity is still in decline, but the situation is better than last month. Experian Marketing Information Services reveals that some sectors and regions are even looking healthy
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Timber frame apartments
13 May 2011
Cygnum has supplied the timber frame for 12 apartment blocks on the former site of Oaklands College in St Albans.
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Tree support
13 May 2011
Greenleaf Urban Tree and Landscape Products has launched a soil structure module that is designed to encourage tree root growth and provide support for paved areas located above the roots
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Ucatt in numbers controversy
13 May 2011
The union has refused to confirm its membership numbers
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UK led joint venture awarded £190m Hong Kong contract
18 May 11
Laing O’Rourke, Kier and Kaden in deal with the MTR Corporation
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Unhealthy competition: Commercial property agreements and the Competition Act
13 May 2011
New restrictions for the property market came into play last month meaning that housebuilders, developers and even owners will have to watch out
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Unite buys 500-home Glasgow scheme
19 May 11
Student developer now has over 4,000 digs to build
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Urban inspiration: Swindon town centre
13 May 2011
Muse Developments is giving Swindon a multi-million pound makeover
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View from my office: Derek Roy
16 Jun 11
The EC Harris partner in Dubai looks over the world tallest building Burj Khalifa
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What are they up to?
13 May 2011
The puzzling situation seen here looks precarious to say the least …
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Working 9 to 5: The Agency Workers Regulations 2010
13 May 2011
The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 come into effect in October this year, improving working conditions for temporary workers. So what does this mean for you?
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Yorkon's green credentials
13 May 2011
Yorkon has announced it recycles 91% of the waste produced in manufacture
