Government

Ahead of what could prove to be a defining period in its history, Ian Weinfass speaks to the head of the government’s centre for infrastructure expertise on adapting technology to boost construction’s productivity and post-pandemic recovery

At the tail end of April this year, industry body Build UK included in its daily update the news that business secretary Alok Sharma had hosted a meeting of key “outdoor” industries to discuss next steps in the coronavirus crisis. Build UK said the construction industry was represented by its…

Mark Lawrence is a TClarke lifer, having joined the company as an apprentice in 1985. Fast-forward 35 years, he sits in the chief executive’s chair preparing to navigate the 130-year-old M&E specialist through the unprecedented situation that is the coronavirus pandemic. “In the M&E world there are always some distressed…

We are living in a crisis that has produced no shortage of surprises, but a couple of recent developments struck me as particular curve balls that I didn’t see coming. Firstly, when we surveyed CN readers at the start of this month, I was mightily surprised to see how far…

Yesterday the government drew the nation’s attention to the impact of coronavirus-related migrant worker shortages on British agriculture. Today Zak Garner-Purkis asks what will be done about the similar challenges facing construction? Minister misses the mark Agriculture minister George Eustice used his moment in the coronavirus press briefing spotlight to call…

Mace chief executive Mark Reynolds is keen to spot silver linings in the dark coronavirus cloud. In a 40-minute call with Construction News, he manages to set out a surprisingly long list of reasons for optimism.

Yesterday’s coronavirus briefing from housing secretary Robert Jenrick promised to “reopen and renew the housing market and our construction industry”. Here’s our analysis of what was and wasn’t in the housing minister’s address. ‘Restart?’ We never stopped “I am keen to get construction up and running,” Jenrick told the cameras…

It’s fair to say I’ve received a varied postbag of feedback in the weeks since the coronavirus lockdown began. Some people have got in touch to offer thanks for coverage they’ve found helpful, or to praise CN’s efforts to promote safety amid social distancing on site and the looming lack…

Safely carrying out building work amid social distancing restrictions is not easy. Doing it while delivering a project one year early is another challenge altogether. Ian Weinfass speaks to people involved in building a vaccine-production facility described by ministers as a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19

A month ago, Construction News launched a coronavirus survey, designed to assess our sector’s response to the lockdown announced days earlier by prime minister Boris Johnson. A lot has happened since – not least the PM’s own spell in an intensive care bed. The government has rejigged its emergency funding…