Civils frameworks are failing to deliver expected workloads and still favouring lowest bids over quality. That is the damning verdict of a year-long study by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association. Members told CECA that on their frameworks: 71 % frequently reported less than anticipated workloads. 64% indicated a regular lack of workload visibility. 56% reported…
read moreLocal authorities are losing their appetite for outsourcing and rethinking their relationship with the private sector, a new survey has revealed. The survey of local government leaders, chief executives and mayors, published by the New Local Government Network (NLGN), found that 39% say they will outsource less over the next two years. It also showed…
read moreA continuing focus on selective bidding and a construction management model has helped increase UK margins at Lendlease to 3.3%. Latest results for the year to June 30 2018 show construction margins up from 2.8% last time. The European division – which is dominated by the UK – saw pre-tax profits rise to £19m from…
read moreMore than half of the workforce on London’s construction sites is from the EU. The capital’s biggest house builder Berkeley flagged up the figure in its results today. Figures reported on the ground by the house builder are higher than government statistics. Yesterday the ONS published its findings that suggested that foreign workers represent just…
read moreThe number of councils tendering for fire safety work has shot up in the year since the Grenfell disaster, according to the latest figures. Local government buyers published twice as many fire safety tenders in the last 12 months compared to the previous year, according to public sector marketplace specialists Tussell. The company says there…
read moreCapita has struck a deal to sell Constructionline to private equity investor Warburg Pincus for £160m. Capita put the division up for sale in January as part of a transformation programme in the wake of Carillion’s collapse. Constructionline is part of the Supplier Assessment Services business which also includes Acclaim and Safety Climate Tool. The…
read moreContractors securing major Government projects will be forced to advertise all subcontract work not already signed-off at the time of winning a bid. The plan to make contractors advertise opportunities on the Government’s Contract Finder Service forms part of a fresh drive to level the playing field for smaller businesses. Main contractors will also be…
read moreThe council’s Procurement Strategy for 2018-23 promises hundreds of millions of pounds worth of work for local firms. City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Graham Chapman, said: “We want to support small and medium size firms which are the lifeblood of the local economy. “We have more scope to do this than councils which have been…
read moreThe recent financial travails of Carillion and Interserve have highlighted the dangers of buying shares in contractors. In November, Carillion issued its third profit warning of the year. One of the UK’s biggest and oldest contractors, Carillion cautioned it faced breaching lending agreements and investors have dumped the stock in swathes. Shares in Interserve dropped…
read moreThe annual Fast Track 100 published by the Sunday Times at the start of December is a handy gauge for the biggest growing companies in the country. Construction regularly features heavily and this year’s index is no different. A total of 15 of the UK’s 100 fastest growing companies are from the construction sector. With…
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