Supply Chain

Materials giant Breedon has acquired US firm Lionmark in a deal worth £187m as it continues to strengthen its presence in the US market. The group, which operates in Britain, Ireland and the US, said its latest acquisition would more than double its revenue in the States while paving the…

The delivery of building materials rallied at the start of this year on the back of new housing starts although levels remain subdued compared with recent years, according to the latest analysis. Official figures showed brick deliveries increased by 8.5 per cent in January compared with the same month in…

Councils across the UK have abandoned projects involving modern methods of construction (MMC) amid issues around cost and quality, a UK parliamentary committee has heard. Many councils now have a “pretty negative view” of MMC projects and have done away with them entirely, Anna Clarke, director of policy and public…

Keller Group ended its latest financial year with a record £1.6bn order book and double-digit profit growth, aided by higher demand for geotechnical services in North America. For the year ending 31 December 2024, revenue at the London-headquartered specialist contractor reached £3.1bn, up 5 per cent from £2.95bn in 2023.…

Steel giant Severfield has issued a profit warning, blaming a delayed “large project” and hits to client confidence. In a trading update published on Monday (3 March), the firm said the UK’s market conditions “have shown no signs of improvement” in recent months, as pricing remained tight and project opportunities…

Hundreds of construction firms have signed up to take part in a legal claim against firms involved in a trucking cartel - with others being encouraged to get involved, according to the action's organiser. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) – which represents coach, van and haulage firms in the UK…

A formwork specialist has been cleared of breaking the law by making payments to a labour agency whose supply chain had been involved in tax fraud. First Tier Tax tribunal judge Michael Blackwell and tribunal member Gill Hunter overturned an unspecified financial penalty issued in 2022 by HMRC to Cheema…

Construction industry figures have welcomed plans for a new national steel strategy, but have called for the government to back up its warm words with action. At the weekend, the Department for Business and Trade opened a consultation on devising a strategy for the UK steel sector, with mooted options…

The government must take “urgent action” to ensure there are enough workers to deliver the UK’s green transition, its own infrastructure watchdog has said. In a report published this morning (21 February), the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) said skills shortages “pose a significant challenge for the deliverability of the energy…

Ministers have ordered public bodies to increase their procurement spending on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A national procurement policy statement published by the Cabinet Office last week said in-scope contracting authorities should “maximise” the proportion of their budgets directed to SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs). Public…