Author Archives: Contributor

Stephen Tomkins is Balfour Beatty’s project director at Hinkley Point C The UK’s energy market stands at a critical juncture. As the country accelerates its transition towards renewables, the demand for skilled professionals has never been greater. However, the industry faces an undeniable challenge: a widening skills gap that threatens…

James Farr, director at post-16 skills and training consultancy Think  In the construction industry, facing complex challenges is part of the daily routine, whether it’s managing budgets, navigating supply chains or ensuring a project is built to the highest standard. But there’s another pressing puzzle that must be solved to…

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…

Firestopping on a construction project is often left until late on, with solutions installed after other trades have finished. But treating it as an afterthought is a risky prospect. Pre-planning firestopping is essential. It is no longer fit for purpose for pipes, wires or cables to be installed without a…

Richard Stanford is chief executive of the Forestry Commission          The urgency of the climate crisis and the increasing demand for sustainable building practices make it clear that we must move beyond commonly used materials and embrace renewable alternatives. Timber is the most promising solution – and it’s time to prioritise…

Liam McKeevor (pictured), corporate tax partner at accountancy firm Buzzacott, stresses the importance of businesses expanding overseas being fully informed about their foreign tax exposures to avoid potential penalties. “Working abroad can offer many opportunities,” McKeevor says. “You’re entering a new market with an untapped area of growth which can…

George Downing is the founder and chairman of Downing Group I understand the importance of ensuring safer buildings, particularly considering the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The government has demanded stronger regulations to prevent future disasters. However, the current implementation of the gateway system is creating unnecessary delays that are hindering progress, stifling innovation, and…

Richard Cook is head of economics at Pegasus The government is faced with many significant challenges, and one of the most pressing is significantly increasing the construction of new homes. Following the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and its commitment to building 1.5 million homes over the next five…

Writing in Construction News, Paul Morrell, the government’s former construction adviser, offers a blunt assessment: “Policy and government communications are profoundly influenced by how they will play in the press and on the street.” His critique of the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Construction Products Reform…

Chloe Derrick is a partner at law firm Stewarts The construction sector has been subject to a significant liability shift, following a wholesale review of building regulation and practice after the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017. Legal claims for cladding and fire safety losses continue to rise following Grenfell,…