Opinion

Will Hunnam is managing director of Forza Doors The construction industry is undergoing its most significant environmental transformation in decades.  “For teams managing thousands of products, EPDs make identifying low-carbon options faster and more reliable” As regulatory pressure and client demand for low-carbon buildings rise, embodied carbon is expected to…

Caroline Roodhouse is a writer, speaker and communications consultant specialising in suicide prevention, postvention and compassionate workplace culture. She is the author of the best-selling book, Daddy Blackbird: the true story of a family surviving and thriving after loss by suicide It’s World Suicide Prevention Day today (10 September), an…

Steve Willis is a manager at SunDemolition Mental health is one of the biggest hidden challenges in construction and demolition, especially for men. Blokes often leave home at 5am, spend all day knee-deep in high-pressure work, then come back through the door at 7pm or 8pm. They're expected to be…

Daniel Singh is a director at Clancy Consulting The government’s announcement that it plans to build up to 40,000 homes on surplus railway land is a bold, welcome move. Platform4, a new government-backed development company, is championing local regeneration in areas including Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Cambridge. Across the UK,…

Catrice Gayer and James Doe are partners at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer The outcome of a construction dispute often turns on expert evidence. It follows that finding and selecting the right expert has become one of the most important decisions parties can make in a dispute. And as…

Will Cavendish is a global digital services leader at consultancy Arup Spending on artificial intelligence development is setting records, and new AI models are being released almost daily. These are powerful tools – but are they the tools we need? “Governments, take note: if we want to meet climate targets…

Jonathan Parker is development director at framework provider Pagabo  This year’s fiscal events and ongoing policy updates highlight that the government is pushing for the progression of development, which is a welcome move. However, issues surrounding regeneration and how to effectively deliver on development goals remain hot topics – and…

Emma Bowles is a tax partner at accountancy and advisory firm JS In the construction industry, where succession planning and long-term continuity can often be difficult to achieve, employee-ownership trusts (EOTs) have emerged as a potential alternative to traditional exit strategies. While EOTs offer significant tax and legacy benefits, construction…

Avril Coleman, business administration director at SafeSite Facilities Our industry is facing a pivotal moment. The government has an ambitious five-year goal for 1.5 million homes to be built, to address the housing crisis. But there aren’t enough skilled workers available to achieve that target. There have been many discussions…

Martin Smith is chief executive of metal fabrication company The HEX Group For decades, the construction industry has had a people problem. And now the workforce is ageing, it’s only getting worse. More people are leaving the industry than joining it and businesses are feeling the brunt of this trend.…