Interviews

As the latest phase of the post-Grenfell building safety regime kicks in, CN talks to two of its designers about how the new regulator is taking to its role In April, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), which sits under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), took over full responsibility for…

Homes England chief executive Peter Denton has defended a doomed £60m investment into failed modular builder Ilke Homes, saying it is his agency’s job to take financial risks. Speaking to Construction News after a government-commissioned review encouraged Homes England to act more ambitiously, Denton said he thought his organisation’s risk…

Costain’s chief executive has called for the next UK government to appoint a cabinet-level minister to get a grip of infrastructure delivery. In an interview with Construction News, Costain chief executive Alex Vaughan outlined a set of priorities for the upcoming general election, aimed at delivering improved performance in the…

Former rugby union professional Matt Cannon is celebrating five years in charge of engineering contractor Clancy, a period marked by continuous growth Pulling off a quiet country lane and through the entrance gates of Clancy’s Middlesex headquarters feels a little like entering the grounds of a grand country estate. The…

The new system for registering building-control inspectors comes into force in April. Earlier this month, CN revealed worries that there will not be enough qualified staff to deal with applications. Today, CN talks to two apprentices and an experienced inspector about how they’re preparing for the change.   Ezra McKenzie,…

Earlier this month, Construction News revealed emerging plans for a new initiative for contractors to collaborate on promoting the sector through schools outreach. Specialist firm the School Outreach Company is working with senior sector figures on plans to raise £100,000 with the aim of creating a network of five regional…

Homes England didn’t know what it was doing when it invested in collapsed housebuilders Ilke and House by Urban Splash, Conservative peer Lord Daniel Moylan has suggested in an interview with Construction News. Moylan was speaking after the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, which he chairs, concluded its inquiry…

Laing O’Rourke’s chief financial officer has denied there are any further skeletons in the company's closet after a legacy Australian job cost the contractor £193m last year. This week, the UK’s largest private contractor reported a £288m loss before tax, driven by provisions, legal costs and a write-off relating to…

Avoiding conflict with the supply chain over cladding remediation, decarbonisation and implementing lean management sit at the top of the priority list for Wates’ chief executive In 1994, Eoghan O’Lionaird was posted to work in the US by the firm he'd joined four years earlier as a graduate trainee. He’d…

Many contractors might cast a jealous glance at a pre-tax profit around the £10m mark. Since the end of July, John Sisk & Son, Morrisroe and Erith have all declared losses. Six other CN100 firms have reported falling margins: McAleer & Rushe, Winvic, RJ McLeod, TSL, O’Halloran & O’Brien, and…