Opinion

It has been heartening to hear renewed commitment to the Construction Sector Deal from government ministers since December’s general election. But what might this support mean over the course of this parliament? A lot has changed since the sector deal was launched in July 2018, and the related Transforming Construction…

The more you examine construction industry payment practices, the worse they look. Building and construction companies not only face the possibility of payment delays and ‘pay-less notices’ when completing work, they also have to deal with an environment of rising material costs, project delays and skill shortages. "Payment disputes are…

When it comes to gender equality in the workplace, the construction industry has taken some big leaps forward. Gender diversity is a topic that’s gathered momentum in the boardroom and on construction sites. Our regular Women in Construction research (which has been running since 2005) allows us to plot exactly…

It’s less than a week since chancellor Rishi Sunak set out uplifting plans for significant investment in infrastructure and housing. For the first time in a long time, things were looking up for the construction industry. Fast-forward just six days and we teeter on the edge of catastrophe.  Harold Wilson…

Canals and navigable rivers are ideal for the transportation of bulk cargo, including construction materials and waste. Despite this, the Thames is currently the only inland waterway in the UK carrying significant quantities of such material. With ever-rising fuel costs, gridlock on London’s roads and growing concern about air quality,…

As cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) increase throughout Europe and the UK, the adverse impacts on the construction industry are becoming a reality. Industry clients and contractors need to consider both employment guidance and the impact delays may have on project completions. Employment issues While it is important to discourage unauthorised…

With ever-increasing demand to build new homes and transport infrastructure while cutting the UK’s environmental impact, there’s never been a more important time for the construction sector. But with average profit margins at the industry’s largest firms hovering around just 2.5 per cent, construction businesses spending twice as much on…

Mentoring has become a hot topic in the construction industry and it seems there isn’t an event that goes by where it isn’t mentioned. Some go so far as making it the theme of the event. But the question I’ve been considering lately is: what exactly is a mentor and…

Willmott Dixon is once again partnering with Open Doors and opening some of its live sites for people to see what’s being built in their communities, with 28 projects across England and Wales ready to welcome hundreds of visitors. We’re also opening our office in Dartford to show the many…

The government has indicated that it will commit £100bn in infrastructure over a five-year period; it has pledged to ‘level up’ economic performance in struggling towns through a national infrastructure strategy; and it has also committed to a legally-binding net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. If confirmed in the Budget…