Technology

The UK government’s competition watchdog has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the “significant risk” of bid rigging. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) head Sarah Cardell said the body was trialling an advanced tool in an attempt to catch companies distorting contests for public sector work. Last month, the…

Contractors are being invited to bid for an acute hospital new build scheme in Jersey. The Government of Jersey has started the process for awarding the contract to build the new facility at Overdale, St Helier. Jersey has not revealed the cost for the scheme, but the Government of Jersey…

Taylor Woodrow has won a civils works package on the £4bn East Anglia 2 offshore windfarm. The client, Scottish Power Renewables, announced the award today (12 December). Vinci-owned Taylor Woodrow’s work on the scheme will include highway improvement works as well as landscaping and screening. The value of the contract…

Two newly published reports have called for more research into the fire-safety performance of volumetric modular construction. In a report commissioned by the government, researchers at Harlow Consulting and Edinburgh Napier University warn that there is no standard fire-test method that is directly applicable for volumetric construction. It says that…

The proportion of electric vans (EVs) used by the construction industry has barely increased in the past year, despite being a priority for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). The organisation revealed in a new report that take-up of EVs in construction has flatlined year-on-year, forming 5.2 per cent of the…

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has issued a sector directive on using data to drive better health and safety outcomes. The CLC said its Information Management Initiative (IMI), which it developed with Nima – formerly known as the UK BIM Alliance – will stimulate “sector-transforming capabilities in applying emerging digital…

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has revealed its staff's personal data may have been stolen after it was struck by a cyber attack last month.  The industry body said the “cyber incident” took place on 8 October but was only discovered on 23 October, with the CIC finally securing its…

Modular specialist Reds10 has increased profit and revenue for the fourth year in a row after landing a spate of government contracts. The London-based firm’s turnover soared by 70 per cent from £83.8m to £142.5m in the year ending 31 March 2024, while pre-tax profit jumped from £5.6m to £7m.…

Modular builder TopHat is to lay off staff and wind down its modular housing operations, it has announced. The latest blow to the modular housing sector comes a month after Construction News reported that the firm had seen off a winding-up petition lodged by one of its creditors. Top Hat,…

Greater use of technology in the construction sector could boost the UK economy by £417bn within two and a half decades, according to a study by Costain. The UK’s 16th biggest contractor found that extensive use of connected and autonomous plant (CAP) in the industry could bring £356bn worth of…