Supply Chain

Material and product manufacturers are grappling with the effects of COVID-19 just as much as the contractors undertaking construction work on site. The laws of supply and demand have not been tested to the current extent for generations, with other essential construction services such as providers of labour and IT…

Materials firm Marshalls is donating 100 tonnes of screed to the new coronavirus hospital project in central Manchester. The West Yorkshire-based company is a supplier to the project, which will see the Manchester Conference Centre transformed into a field hospital by the armed forces and firms including local infrastructure contractor…

Materials firms and suppliers have suspended deliveries to sites as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Breedon issued a trading update this morning stating it has temporarily suspended production on its UK sites, with the exception of one cement plant in Derbyshire and other operations it said "serve critical supply needs".…

A number of major builders' merchants have restarted some services a day after making nationwide closures. Travis Perkins and Jewson are now operating services for trade customers following a 24-hour shutdown yesterday. The turnaround followed discussions between the Builders Merchants Federation and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)…

Some of the UK’s largest builders merchants have shut down amid confusion over the government’s coronavirus guidance. Travis Perkins closed all of its operations – including Wickes – last night following the prime minister’s instruction that only essential businesses should remain open. The £7bn-turnover materials group said it would continue…

Travis Perkins has cancelled its full-year dividend for shareholders and suspended its demerging of Wickes, as it looks to hoard cash amid the coronavirus outbreak. In a market announcement this morning, titled 'COVID-19 Update', the materials supplier said it was cancelling its final dividend payment of 33p per share. Goodbody…

Network Rail has launched a survey of its suppliers over fears of material shortages due to the coronavirus, Construction News can reveal. In an email sent to its supply chain on Thursday, seen by CN, the operator said it was stepping up preparations for the “significant impact this virus could…

Tarmac has been named partner for a new construction-materials terminal at London’s Port of Tilbury, which will use the River Thames to deliver construction materials into London. The facilities will form part of the new £200m terminal, which is being delivered by contractor Graham. The construction processing hub will include an…

Construction inflation has eased off after rising by 4 per cent earlier in the year, according to Bovis. Despite this, the housebuilder is still working to keep its costs down to offset the recent rise in construction-material prices, it said in its half-year trading update this morning. Rival builder Taylor…

Atkins president Nick Roberts has been lined up to take over from John Carter as CEO of Travis Perkins.

Mr Roberts, who is currently in charge of Atkins running the engineering, design and project management business for parent company SNC-Lavalin, will take over at Travis Perkins on 5 August. He has been…