There are still insufficient funds to pay creditors for Michael J Lonsdale, administrators for the collapsed mechanical and electrical (M&E) specialist said. In their third progress report since being appointed in October 2023, Jamie Taylor and Dominik Thiel-Czerwinke from Begbies Traynor said they had clawed back £672,578 from Lonsdale’s debtors…
Supply Chain
London named most expensive city for office fit-outs
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? London has topped a global ranking for high-specification office fit-out costs, driven by rising material prices, specialist skill shortages and growing demand for premium workspaces. According to Turner & Townsend’s Global Office Fit-Out Guide 2025, average costs in…
SIG chief executive to step down for Travis Perkins role
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? SIG chief executive Gavin Slark has announced plans to leave the company at the end of the year to take up a senior role at Travis Perkins. Slark will continue to lead the building materials distributor through a…
Warning over disposal costs in wake of landfill tax reform
The government has been warned that its plan to ditch the lower level of landfill tax for less-polluting materials risks hitting construction and demolition firms with an unsustainable increase in disposal costs. Treasury proposals to reform landfill tax would see the lower rate of £4.05 per tonne gradually increase until…
Van Elle offloads HGV fleet in £2.9m logistics deal
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? Van Elle Holdings has transferred its heavy goods vehicle (HGV) fleet to a specialist logistics partner in a move to cut overheads and redeploy capital to growth. The UK’s largest ground engineering contractor has entered into a five-year…
New procurement model aims to boost SME access to Scottish public sector work
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? Two open-access procurement routes launched by the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) in February 2025 are expected to widen access to public sector repair and energy efficiency contracts for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPSs) cover…
Tarmac expands Portland limestone cement supply following standards update
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? Tarmac has expanded the availability of its Portland limestone cement (PLC) across England and Wales, after recent changes to national concrete standards enabled wider use of the lower-carbon material. The move follows an update to the BS 8500…
Wessex Water appoints 45 firms to minor M&E works framework
This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? Wessex Water has named 45 contractors to a framework agreement covering mechanical and electrical (M&E) minor works across its operational region. The agreement supports the delivery of the company’s AMP8 capital investment programme and is split into three…
Scottish plumbing sector at ‘breaking point’ amid skills crisis
The plumbing and heating profession in Scotland is at “breaking point” due to skills shortages, according to a trade body. A survey by the Plumbing and Heating Federation has revealed that 69 per cent of businesses north of the border are experiencing low availability of skilled professionals. It found that…
The defence boom: a lifeline for UK construction?
Mark Leeson is operations director at consultancy McBains Will the government’s recent defence-spending boost provide ammunition to help spark construction’s recovery? To say recent construction industry forecasts have been downbeat would be an understatement, what with consultancy Arcadis’ market-view report predicting a painfully slow revival and market analysts S&P Global’s…