Expertise and Opinion on UK Construction Industry | Construction News

Should you bail out your own business?

CN Contributor — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:30:04 +0000

Vijay Merchant is a partner at consultancy BTG Advisory When construction firms face tough times, the founders or families that own them often deliberate on whether they should use their own funds to prop the business up. But before investing, they must consider what strategic…

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Why subsidence jobs keep ending up the same way

CN Contributor — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:04:43 +0000

Sarah Dodd is the founder and chief executive of legal firm Tree Law Subsidence work rarely arrives clean. By the time a contractor is involved, the argument has usually been half-fought already. The insurer has accepted liability; the tree is staying; and a substructure solution…

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The importance of third party agreements in construction projects

CN Contributor — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:26:11 +0000

Hayley Steel (above left) is a partner and head of non-contentious construction, and Simone Protheroe is managing associate in the projects, infrastructure and construction team at law firm Foot Anstey Construction projects often include parties with differing interests entering into agreements with a developer. Examples…

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National Apprenticeship Week: A celebration of construction apprentices

CN Contributor — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:52:07 +0000

Tim Balcon is chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board This National Apprenticeship Week, let’s make an effort as an industry to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships and skills make to individuals, construction employers and the wider construction industry. “As…

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The major shake-up tackling the rising skills gap across the UK

CN Contributor — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:18:34 +0000

Tom O’Brien is director at O’Brien Contractors Fittingly announced during National Apprenticeship Week 2026, the government has unveiled new plans to help tackle the rising construction skills gap across the UK. As part of the new Education Estates Strategy, the plans are set to create…

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Apprenticeships: Why the dropout rate is so high and how we can reduce it

CN Contributor — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:46:28 +0000

Ryan Paterson is managing director at Dart Tool Group The British trade sector is facing a crisis. On one hand, demand for skilled labour is at an all-time high, driven by a national push for new homes and a massive transition towards green infrastructure. On…

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How one careless form dismantled an adjudication award

CN Contributor — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:20:10 +0000

Lawrence Pearce is a partner at law firm Holmes & Hills Adjudication has long been the construction industry’s financial safety net. It is quick, relatively cheap and, most of the time, reliably enforceable. But a recent Technology and Construction Court ruling shows how easily that…

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How the construction sector can influence the settlement consultation

CN Contributor — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:14:54 +0000

James Lamont is an associate at Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law Organisations and individuals have until 12 February to respond to the government’s consultation on overhauling UK settlement. For the construction industry this isn’t a niche immigration issue: proposals directly impact recruitment, retention, employment costs and…

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Why contractors should take a fresh look at PPP

CN Contributor — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:34:23 +0000

Paul Deverill is head of PFI and PPP strategic advice at consultancy Ridge Deserved or not, public-private partnerships (PPP) often get a bad rap, particularly when they are assumed to be private finance initiatives (PFI) under a new name. “This is the first time in…

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The times are a-changing

Matthew Davies — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:22:37 +0000

The line “All this must change” in American writer Henry Longfellow’s poem Kéramos is certainly apt for the future of regulation and oversight in construction. This year is a time of transition for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). By the end of January 2027, it…

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