News

HMRC has criticised the behaviour of two insolvency practitioners who oversaw an aborted attempt to save Squibb Group in the run-up to its demise. Louise Baxter and Dominik Thiel-Czerwinke, from insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor, had been nominated to implement a proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA) that would have created a…

Dame Judith Hackitt has been appointed as interim chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK’s independent nuclear safety and security regulator. From 1 Janauary 2024, she will take over responsibility for overseeing nuclear safety, security, safeguards, site health and safety and safety of transport of nuclear and…

Clancy Group posted record revenue in its latest financial year, its new annual report shows. The infrastructure-focused contractor turned over £334.5m in the year to 2 April 2023, up from £293m, making it the firm’s fifth consecutive year of growth. The 14 per cent jump came amid strong performance in…

Construction businesses have reacted in dismay to government proposals to make it harder for foreign workers to come to the UK. Home secretary James Cleverly this week announced plans to make legal migration to the UK tougher, with changes he claimed would have stopped 300,000 people crossing the border last…

Two big prison jobs took Wates to the top of the contractor league table in November. The Surrey-headquartered firm secured the £300m deal for a 1,700-inmate jail in Leicestershire after communities secretary Michael Gove approved the scheme last month. Wates also picked up a £93m job to construct a houseblock…

Construction starts have hit their lowest level for at least a year, according to new research. Industry analyst Glenigan reported that the volume of projects breaking ground on site in the three months from September to November was down 12 per cent from the previous three-month period. It was also…

Three schools built by collapsed modular builder Caledonian Modular are to be demolished and rebuilt due to safety fears. In August, Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Essex, Haygrove School in Somerset, and Buckton Fields Primary School in Northamptonshire were told they could not open their main buildings for the new…

Major construction clients including Manchester Airports Group and developer CBRE have joined with other industry bodies to create a vision for economic enhancement. The Inclusive Growth Commission aims to produce practical plans for fairer and more inclusive wealth generation across the UK. It has set out a four-pronged focus on…

HMRC is chasing £16.5m from demolition firm Squibb Group after its fraud unit found the firm’s directors had made improper payments over 12 years, including the use of funds for personal expenses. Yesterday, the High Court granted a winding-up order against the firm, bringing in the official receiver to handle…

A man in his 40s has died from his injuries after falling from height while working at Laing O’Rourke’s Oxford North innovation district. Police and ambulance services were called to the site yesterday (4 December) at 10.15am, but the man died at the scene. Work on the site has stopped…