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Contractors Comment

Mark Robinson _Headshot_SCAPE

A year of change signalled national ambition, now we must think local to deliver success

2025-08-07T06:00:00+01:00By Mark Robinson

Devolving greater power, trust and transparency to local authorities is not just a matter of administrative convenience, it is vital for effective public good, says Mark Robinson

dave rogers 3

The industry needs Lendlease to stick around because Mace and Multiplex can’t build everything

2024-12-20T06:00:00+00:00By Dave Rogers

It is not good for anyone that some of the sector’s most high-profile projects are bid by just two firms, writes Dave Rogers

Chloe 2024 index pic

ISG’s collapse: a huge blow to construction that raises urgent and difficult questions

2024-09-20T11:28:00+01:00By Chloë McCulloch

This is the biggest collapse to hit the sector since Carillion – as we absorb the grim news, people will want some answers and fast

dave index

Uh-oh. Co-op Live’s woes leave industry with familiar sinking feeling

2024-05-09T06:00:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

When old men in their 90s have heard of the debacle, then things have gone really wrong. Problem is, people will think it’s the builders’ fault because that’s what people do, writes Dave Rogers

daveindex_251255-removebg-preview1

‘Get used to it.’ Can contractors’ hardening attitudes to risk be really much of a surprise?

2024-03-27T07:00:00+00:00By Dave Rogers

Last year’s business failures have hit a nerve. Firms finally seem fed up with construction’s rough and tumble, writes Dave Rogers

Rebecca Rees

Why are you still participating in the race to the bottom?

2023-06-12T05:00:00+01:00By Rebecca Rees3 comments

Procurement reform and clients who are prepared to use alternative price evaluation models are surely the way to improve the whole process and get the right bidder at the right price for a project, argues Rebecca Rees

Contractors and clients must work together to weather the inflationary storm

2022-09-05T06:00:00+01:00By Mark Robinson

With industry output slowing, contractors can help clients to mitigate the impact of rising prices, says Scape’s Mark Robinson

Benny_Kelly_

‘Benny’s enthusiasm for construction was completely infectious’

2022-07-27T10:57:00+01:00By Iain Withers

As a rookie reporter Iain Withers scooped an interview with the then-retired McAlpine director Benny Kelly - here he remembers “construction royalty”

Neil Mant Corporate Image low res

Bureaucratic procurement has been the norm, until now …

2022-07-13T06:00:00+01:00By Neil Mant

The Common Assessment Standard streamlines the construction pre-qualification process, Neil Mant suggests you give it a go

workers light

A contractor’s view on volatile prices

2022-01-21T07:00:00+00:00By Maurice Archer

Unpredictable labour and material costs are a huge risk to projects so you need effective mitigation plans

All Contractors Comment

 

 

 

Contractors News

seddon

Profits jump at Bolton contractor Seddon

2025-09-24T09:15:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Firm says better project selection behind increase

carillion royal liverpool 5

Creditors of dozens of Carillion companies told they won’t get any money back

2025-09-23T11:04:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

But others given hope in update from accountant nearly eight years after firm’s collapse

henry boot

Henry Boot sells construction business to management for £4m

2025-09-23T09:41:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Firm cuts ties with contracting roots after 140 years

permasteelisa

Permasteelisa chief operating officer set to leave under restructure

2025-09-22T12:12:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Lee Marks has been at cladding contractor since 2023

van

Piling contractor blames ongoing building safety delays for drag on trading

2025-09-22T10:38:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Van Elle says continuing delays will hit profitability

mcalpine

McAlpine rejig continues with new managing directors for business sector units

2025-09-18T12:31:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Firm now focussing on commercial, healthcare and industrial work

Isg

ISG subcontractors prepare class action against UK government over alleged project bank account failures

2025-09-18T11:19:00+01:00By Daniel Gayne

Co-ordinator of actions says reform needed to protect payments for work already completed

hospital

Winners on £37bn new hospital framework due by end of year

2025-09-17T11:06:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

A total of 16 firms were shortlisted in the summer

portmansquarehenninglarsen16_191054

Bovis set for £60m deal to redevelop 1920s office in middle of London

2025-09-17T10:03:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Work at Portman Square site latest in series of wins private equity-owned firm has won in past few months

liam

Permasteelisa boss Liam Cummins handed new role

2025-09-17T09:08:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

CEO becomes deputy chairman at cladding specialist

All Contractors News

Contractors Focus

rob 6

‘You still sparking? Aye…’ SES’s Rob Clifford on his journey from apprentice electrician to running a £550m business

2025-09-23T06:00:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

The M&E contractor’s boss tells Dave Rogers about rewiring a house, moving into new sectors and the wonder of Jimmy Glass

andrew_3997_397579

‘A man you can have a bit of faith in.’ How Andrew Davies turned around Kier

2025-07-22T11:33:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

The firm’s chief executive has today announced his retirement. He leaves the business in a vastly different shape to the one he joined, writes Dave Rogers

luton 2

The $4bn-turnover Turkish contractor building a new stadium for Luton Town

2025-07-21T06:00:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

Limak’s debut job in the UK won’t be its last, the firm tells Dave Rogers

Rachel Reeves Flickr Treasury April 25

PFI: Do the numbers add up?

2025-05-07T06:00:00+01:00By Joey Gardiner

With the government understood to be considering reinstating a form of private financing to pay for public infrastructure ahead of the launch of its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy next month, Joey Gardiner weighs up whether reigniting PFI would be a good idea

Katy Dowding hi res 1

‘You’re operating in the grey space, making decisions with a lot of unknowns’: Katy Dowding on two years at the top of Skanska UK

2025-04-28T06:00:00+01:00By Chloë McCulloch

The firm’s president and CEO took the helm at a turbulent time for the country and for contractors. She tells Chloe McCulloch about her leadership style, her rejigged executive team and how industry and government can deliver more with less if they work together.

RISE

Is a Swiss lift shaft-building robot the future of construction?

2025-04-04T06:00:00+01:00By Tom Lowe

In central London, a robot called Emma is being used to make the gruelling job of building lift shafts faster, safer and more precise. Tom Lowe visits the site of Skanska’s 105 Victoria Street to see if the device is all it’s cracked up to be

pete duff pic

‘We tried and we tried and we very nearly got there’: Osborne’s finance chief on the company’s collapse – and lessons the industry can learn

2025-03-31T06:10:00+01:00By Dave Rogers

A year ago, the contractor went into administration after nearly 60 years in business. Pete Duff tells Dave Rogers what happened and what needs to change

united

Manchester United wants to build a new stadium. Who would want to do the job?

2025-03-13T07:00:00+00:00By Dave Rogers1 comments

In these risk-free times, does a £2bn stadium and the glare of the media and ‘one billion fans’ really appeal to contractors? Dave Rogers reports

lendlease

Surprise and relief: why the Lendlease sale to private equity is seen as a vote of confidence in UK contractors

2025-01-10T07:00:00+00:00By Dave Rogers

Uncertainty about historic firm’s future is finally at an end – and the news has been welcomed by clients and rivals alike, writes Dave Rogers

cranes 1

Top 150 Contractors & Housebuilders 2024: Improving prospects or more of the same? Contractors keep eyes peeled for signs of optimism

2024-12-13T10:00:00+00:00By Dave Rogers

Contractors hope to see more work get off the ground, but familiar problems provide a nervous backdrop

All Contractors Focus

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