Supply Chain

More than two thirds of ISG’s former staff are pursuing legal claims against over the way they were made redundant, according to administrators. In their latest update on the administration of eight ISG firms (see box below), published on Wednesday (30 April), EY’s Timothy Graham and Alan Hudson said they…

West London-based mechanical and electrical (M&E) specialist Lorne Stewart has narrowed its pre-tax loss from £2.4m in 2023 to £1.6m last year, its latest financial results show.  However, the firm posted lower turnover of £101.6m in its latest accounts for the year to 31 December 2024, compared with £118.7m in…

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…

A UK construction product manufacturer has lost its right to display a key quality Kitemark on a range of products after using an unaudited overseas foundry for production. In a statement posted on its website, Thomas Dudley Ltd said that 14 products were produced in a foundry in Howrah, India,…

A specialist contractor body has called for the creation of a national electrification taskforce to boost the UK’s transition to renewable energy. The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) said a cross-government panel could coordinate efforts across different areas including transport, housing and skills. This was one of 10 recommendations published this…

Contractors working in the public sector will face spot checks as the government attempts to clamp down on late payment in the supply chain. All construction projects worth more than £5m could be examined by public sector bodies in an attempt to uphold 30-day payment times. Documents published by the…

This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? Donald Trump’s tariffs could lead to substandard steel from China being diverted into the UK market, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has warned. In a joint statement, Builders Merchants Federation chief executive John Newcomb and Construction Products Association…

This story was written with AI assistance from Harmsworth Who is Harmsworth? Technology innovation body Digital Catapult has selected ten AI startups to tackle inefficiencies in construction through a government-backed accelerator aimed at scaling digital solutions into real-world project delivery. The initiative forms part of the BridgeAI programme, a national…

Severfield will reduce its staff pool by 6 per cent to “mitigate the effects of the trading pressures” it is facing. The contractor – ranked 42nd in the latest edition of the CN100 and CN's top structural steel specialist – carried out a headcount review last year. It now expects to…

The High Court has ruled that a contract for demolition work made through WhatsApp messages was valid. Property developer Jaevee Homes, based in Norwich, had taken demolition contractor Steve Fincham to London’s Construction and Technology Court, claiming that a £256,000 deal made over WhatsApp was not valid. However, deputy district…