News

S&P Global/CIPS UK Construction PMI data for December 2023 has once again shown a fall in UK construction output. However, with the latest figures indicating that the rate of decline is easing, there is renewed positivity that 2024 may see some improvement in conditions, stated the Federation of Master Builders …

Mannok has announced its appointment of Dara O’Reilly, 51, as its next CEO, he will succeed Liam McCaffrey, 61, who is set to retire as CEO during 2024. McCaffrey will continue to be involved in the business as a non-executive director. Ms Brenda Rennick, 47, Mannok’s finance director, has been …

One of the UK’s best know construction names has rebranded from the beginning of this year. Artex, part of the Saint Gobain group, distributor of a range of well-known brands including Artex, Gyproc, Thistle and Weber, is now Okarno. The Okarno brand better reflects what the company does as an …

Selco Builders Warehouse has launched a partnership with HSS Hire, opening its first two satellite operations in Selco’s branches in Slough and Milton Keynes. The Tottenham and Ashton-under-Lyne branches of Selco will also benefit from the hire service before the end of the year with a significant expansion to the …

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged the UK government to help accelerate growth in the number of whole building retrofit projects carried out during 2024. The Association believes only “a holistic approach to building performance” will unlock the full potential of the building services industry to cut carbon …

Travis Perkins Hire, which is part of Travis Perkins plc, has announced a series of measures to help improve the safety of its products for customers. Alongside this, it has also launched its “Staying Safe On Site in Winter” guide. The product guide includes a range of heating, lighting, electric …

The Encon Group has achieved bronze membership of The 5% Club, the Club’s 2023/24 Employer Audit confirmed that almost 2.5% of Encon’s workforce is now made up of ‘earn and learn’ schemes such as apprenticeships. The 5% Club represents a movement of Employers who are inspired to take positive action …

Leyland SDM honoured its top-performing colleagues at its annual awards ceremony; over 33 of its stores, support centre and warehouse attended its event at The Brewery in Moorgate. It presented 12 awards to its employees who made a special contribution over the last year, with the winners including Siobhan Kaminski …

UK door distributor JB Kind Doors has raised £6,300 for Burton & District Mind, after two years of charity fundraising. JB Kind’s team of 45 employees, always nominate their preferred choice of charity and back in January 2022, it was clear that they wished to support a charity which helped …

Solar panels on the roofs of all new homes will add millions to the cost of housing developments, warns the National Federation of Builders. The trade body is unhappy with a proposal that they could become mandatory under the Future Homes and Building Standards consultation. NFB head of policy and …