Author Archives: Will Ing

With the number of women in construction edging up, leaders are urged to keep chipping away to effect change More women are working in the construction industry than ever before. At 15.8 per cent of the construction workforce, according to the latest figures, it is the highest proportion on record…

Costain has hired two non-executive directors, including the former chief executive of Amey. Steve Mogford and Amanda Fisher are set to join Costain’s board on 1 November and 1 December respectively, and will serve as members of the contractor’s audit, nomination and remuneration committees. Fisher ran Amey from 2019 until…

Vistry has written to its subcontractors asking for a 10 per cent reduction on the prices agreed in current contracts, sparking anger in the sector. In an email sent to suppliers last month, the housebuilder said its exit from private housebuilding –  which it announced last month – to focus…

Eight groundworks firms that were last week appointed on a framework for preliminary works on the HS2 line from Birmingham to the North West look to have been left without any work to do after today's decision to scrap the leg. HS2 awarded £300m of ground investigation work for HS2…

Willmott Dixon has been appointed to replace Buckingham on the final stages of the £120m Swansea Central Phase One project. Most of the scheme has already opened, including the new Swansea Arena, the Copr Bay south car park, the coastal park, the Green Room Bar and Kitchen and a residential…

Michael J Lonsdale, one of the UK’s largest M&E contractors, has appointed administrators. The company, which has offices in London and Langley, Berkshire, was founded in 1986 and turned over more than £2.9bn in almost 40 years of trading, working on major project such as the 51-storey 8 Bishopsgate tower…

The Lighthouse Club charity has rebranded a Christmas fundraising lunch after its burlesque theme was criticised as “straight from the dark ages”. A digital flyer published by the construction-industry mental health charity advertised its £850-a-table East Midlands Christmas lunch as “burlesque” themed and featured an image of a female dancer…

A Manchester-based contractor owned by the Chinese state has reported a loss, after its revenue fell by 61 per cent. Beijing Construction Engineering Group UK (BCEGI) blamed “macroeconomic issues” for a pre-tax loss of £5.4m in the year to 31 December 2022, after its turnover tumbled from £62.9m to £24.4m.…

Buckingham Group imploded owing more than £108m, according to its administrators. The tier one contractor collapsed earlier this month after suffering “significant and increasing losses incurred on key sports and leisure contracts due to inflation pressures”, according to a statement of proposals document written by administrators from Grant Thornton. Buckingham,…

Mace is working on revised plans for HS2 Euston station that will “meet the budget”, according to its chief executive Mark Reynolds. Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme this morning (27 September), Reynolds said the government decision in March to postpone work on HS2’s only central London station “came out…