Contractors Focus – Page 6
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FeaturesWhat clients want
A resurgent commercial market means contractors now more able to pick and choose their projects. But this is making clients keener than ever to develop relationships, build a team and engage earlier with specialists
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FeaturesContractors through the recession: Part 3
In the final installment of Building’s analysis of major contractor’s businesses pre and post recession, we look at which firms have seen the biggest turnover increases and falls
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FeaturesContractor research bundle
For an overview of the contracting sector download these free pdfs
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FeaturesInteview: Tony Burton
The Construction Industry Council’s new chairman wants the body to make a strong case on behalf of the industry’s professionals. He talks about skills shortages, improving the image of construction and stepping into the limelight
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FeaturesWhich contractors have remained profitable in the recession? (Part 2)
In the second part of Building’s analysis of the performance of the Top 20 UK contractors through the recession, we look into the reducing margins of UK firms - and find out who has bucked the trend
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FeaturesContractors: How have they fared in the recession?
Analysis of the financials of the top 20 major contractors showing who has weathered the recession - and who hasn’t
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FeaturesWhat next for Balfour Beatty?
The UK’s biggest contractor appears to have slipped into crisis with a profit warning, the departure of the chief executive and £400m wiped off the firm’s value. So, what is Balfour Beatty’s next move?
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FeaturesThe pressure of payment reform
The launch last week of a new payment charter adds to the legitmate pressure on contractors to pay their subbies promptly. But this pressure could also starve contractors of the cash they need to invest, push up prices, and even push some firms over the edge
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FeaturesInterview: Neil Martin
It’s been all change in Lend Lease’s European business, with recent years marked by management instability and falling profits. Can the managing director of its construction arm Neil Martin succeed where others have failed and turn the business around?
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FeaturesProcurement: Facing the consequences
For five years some clients have been taking advantage of the downturn by dumping risk on contractors and screwing them down on price. But now things are on the up, is the supply chain hitting back?
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FeaturesInterview: Brendan Kerr
In 2010, Keltbray, the company Brendan Kerr had bought and built into the UK’s biggest demolition contractor, was in a very tough place. Now it’s poised for its busiest year ever. So what went right and what’s Kerr got up his sleeve next? Joey Gardiner reports
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FeaturesCostain secures £750m of work for 2014
Chief executive Andrew Wyllie says focus on “blue chip” customers is yielding results
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FeaturesAutumn Statement preview: Five construction priorities
With debt still soaring, George Osborne is unlikely to be announcing much in the way of new spending. Here we look at the chancellor’s top five construction priorities
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FeaturesInterview: Cyrille Ragoucy, Lafarge Tarmac
The chief executive of Lafarge Tarmac has big plans for the newly merged materials giant. And he’s not going to let a little difference of opinion with the Competition Commission stand in his way
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FeaturesInterview: Andrew Ridley-Barker, Vinci
Vinci’s construction boss on why the firm is putting airports at the centre of its growth strategy
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FeaturesThe commercial sector: Ready, steady …
Optimism that the private commercial sector is bouncing back is growing - all we need now are some projects
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FeaturesModern methods of construction: Material change?
Will the surge in demand lead to a permanent shift towards modern methods of construction?
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FeaturesQatar's migrant construction workers: what can be done?
Pressure is on the Qatari authorities to do something about the working conditions of those building the World Cup 2022 infrastructure and venues, so what are the risks UK companies working there could face?
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FeaturesWhat's so scary about supply chain finance?
As more and more contractors consider adopting supply chain finance, fears are growing that it could be used to worsen suppliers’ payment terms
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FeaturesInterview: Mike Putnam, Skanska
The Skanska UK boss on prompt payment, where he aims to take the firm and his work at the Green Construction Board