Weekly News Bulletin – 10th August 2018

This week we shared an exciting piece from Building UK that discussed the construction plans for the 2022 Commonwealth Games which Birmingham will host. According to Simon Marks, Arcadis’ city executive for Birmingham, there is a staggering amount of work that has to be done in a relatively short time. New sports facilities will be built and others will undergo a massive overhaul. We believe it is worth reading this piece for an insight into the exciting future plans there are for Birmingham.

Construction Enquirer looked at the aftermath of Carillion’s collapse as the last 278 contracts have been transferred to new service providers. Dave Chapman, official receiver, puts emphasis on how patient Carillion staff have been, and is thankful for everyone’s support while they were on the search for new suppliers. We would recommend reading the article for further inside from Chapman.

Earlier this week we saw another article from Construction Enquirer speaking about a positive reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, due to a new research program. The Edinburgh-based technology firm Artemis Intelligent Power is developing new generation hydraulic pumps and motors which will be crucial for tackling the issue. The project is lengthy and can take up to 42 months, but the emission reduction will be significant.

In further positive news, The Construction Index reported that sales of construction equipment in the UK is on the rise, compared to 2017. Crawler excavators have shown the strongest growth, followed by telehandlers and mini/midi excavators. The exact value of the sales is not known; however, this growth is boosting the market value and bodes well for the future of the industry.

Finally, PBC Today gave us the top five tips on how to attract young millennials to the construction industry and retain their talent. Rob Precious of Gyproc Tools says actively looking into how to approach and find young talent is vital, given that attracting new customers is just as important as attracting new employees. Here at Metsec, we are committed to doing the same and we value the nurturing of young, bright minds.

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Ready, set, go! The race to Birmingham 2022
Birmingham is hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games and it hasn’t got long to prepare.
https://www.building.co.uk/focus/ready-set-go-the-race-to-birmingham-2022/5094945.article

Last of Carillion’s 278 contracts handed over
Seven months after Carillion’s collapse, liquidators have completed the transfer of the last of its 278 contracts to new service providers.
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/08/06/last-of-carillions-278-contracts-transfered/

New tech to slash emissions from site diggers
Excavators and loaders could see energy consumption cut in half thanks to a new research programme now under way.
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/08/06/new-tech-to-slash-emissions-from-site-diggers/

Construction equipment sales keep rising
The number of construction and earthmoving machine sold in the UK grew by 3.8% in the second quarter of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017.
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/construction-equipment-sales-keep-rising

Bridging the skills gap: Five ways to attract millennials into construction
Rob Precious of Gyproc Tools discusses the importance of attracting future talent into the construction industry and offers five tips for success
https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/hr-skills-news/attract-millennials-into-construction/44278/