Author Archives: James Wilmore

With a mountain of cladding remediation work to get through, CN asks how contractors can ensure their work avoids contributing to fire risks A fire at an East London residential block last August was a grim echo of the Grenfell Tower blaze, which killed 72 people seven years earlier. Thankfully,…

Three directors of an Essex-based contractor that has gone into administration have launched a new company that has acquired the failed business and its assets. Groundwork specialist Colwin Construction appointed administrators from Leeds-based Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency on 19 March. However, the firm and its assets were acquired by…

Construction News research reveals a 30 per cent hike in the average annual package for the 20 best-paid contractor plc executives Amid the continuing cost-of-living crisis, executive pay remains a contentious issue for the general public. In August, the High Pay Centre (HPC) revealed in its annual survey that average…

As construction professionals and legal experts digest the real-world implications of the Building Safety Act, what are the big unanswered questions? Nobody needs reminding that ongoing building safety reforms are aimed at avoiding a repeat of the dreadful events of June 2017, when 72 people died in a devastating fire…

With many subcontractors bitterly regretting the fixed-price contracts they signed before inflation spiralled, James Wilmore asks whether fluctuation clauses and advance payments will become the norm “Collaborative risk-sharing will be key to preserving industry resilience and capacity moving forward.” These were the words of the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) product…

The government’s deadline for developers to commit to fixing unsafe towers could lead to “conflict and costs” as pressures are passed down the construction supply chain, a trade body has warned. In a letter to developers, levelling up secretary Michael Gove has given a six-week ultimatum to sign up to…

Eight firms, including some of the industry’s biggest names, have won places on a £1.5bn framework covering public-sector projects across the North West of England. Kier, Sir Robert McAlpine, ISG, Vinci and Morgan Sindall are among those named on the four-year framework, which kicks off this month. The work includes…

The industry’s highest earners have once again seen their pay rocket, after COVID lockdowns brought a year of restraint. James Wilmore examines how the rises sit within a context of rising worries over the cost of living for those further down the foodchain. Recent events in Westminster have demonstrated that…

With demand for data-centre capacity set to increase tenfold between 2018 and 2025, opportunities abound for contractors – whether it’s building new sites or upgrading existing facilities. James Wilmore looks at the potential and the challenges

Construction News reveals the payment performance of the largest contractors in the UK, and James Wilmore examines how well payment reporting rules are working