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Ian Thatcher is co-founder of Dangerfield & Fortune Community engagement or social value in the construction sector would seem to be synonymous with pictures of teams in high-vis PPE painting playgrounds or disposing of Christmas trees in a works van, if we take examples from social media. While these are…

Gareth Parkes is head of data & analytics at Sir Robert McAlpine It is no secret that construction is facing a number of challenges. Recent stats from the Office for National Statistics may show that monthly output is back above pre-pandemic levels, but our industry is still beset with skills…

Rob Hughes is head of  built environment at charging infrastructure provider Pod Point England’s building regulations will mandate electric-vehicle (EV) charging points in new-build properties from 15 June. The move is a world first, and forms part of the government's strategy to reduce emissions and act as a world leader…

Michelle Essen (left) is a managing associate and Sarah Wales-Canning is an associate in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Construction & Engineering Team Everybody knows that construction is a labour-intensive industry, involving dangerous work on muddy sites in the wind and rain, which is no place for a lady, right? Wrong. Views…

Andy Chamberlain is director of policy at self-employment association IPSE   Over the past year, there has been a forgotten crisis affecting self-employed workers in the construction sector: IR35. Introduced in 2000, the aim of IR35 is to prevent businesses from gaining a tax advantage by disguising employment as a…

Dr Amy Flynn is a design engineer at consultants Robert Bird Group Ground conditions are of vital importance for major construction projects. If assumptions made about the ground underfoot prove to be wrong, it can mean massive additional costs and risks for the contractor or developer. One particular ground condition…

Matt Cannon is chief executive of Clancy When it comes to addressing the climate crisis and the drive to net-zero, essential investment in critical infrastructure is one of the less talked-about issues. But for many in the UK, adapting energy and water networks will be some of the most visible…

Matt Ace is a director in the Wales office of engineering firm and regeneration specialist Hydrock The publication of the government’s levelling up white paper begs the question: is “levelling up” enough? In Wales, our issue has never been a lack of ambition, but instead one of distance. The long…

Paul Williams is health, safety and environment services manager for the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) No one is immune to the impact of poor mental health. It can ruin businesses, affect productivity and damage relationships. It also increases physical health and safety incidents. As an industry, construction continues to suffer…

Ruth Scarrott is head of careers at the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. When I started at the NFRC last year, it soon became clear to me why they created the position of head of careers – the roofing and cladding industry, like the wider construction industry, is crying out…