Former boss of Speedy heads plant hire merger
Two hire firms are set to merge in a bid to create a national hire business, with the former chief executive of Speedy at the helm…
Ipswich-based firm Fork Rent and London-based One Call are set to merge under the lead of Steve Corcoran, the former chief executive of Speedy.
The...
Builders merchants see a rise in sales during Q2
Figures have revealed an increase in builders merchants sales during the second quarter of the year…
Data from the GfK’s Builders Merchants Panel showed sales were up during the second quarter of 2015.
Compared to Q1, sales were up by 12.8 per cent. Total sales-out reached £1.36bn. This was an increase...
Insurance Claims – The Moment of Truth
Many people see Insurance as an integral part of managing their business, whereas others see it as a necessary evil...
Public procurement must improve to meet construction targets
New research has revealed construction targets set by the government are under threat if public procurement does not improve...
A report by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has revealed the barriers facing the construction sector if public procurement does not improve.
In the study, 'Procurement landscape – wider, challenging,...
One in four contractors report a fall in profit margins
According to the latest Construction Trade Survey one in four contractors have reported profit margins, on balance, fell during the second quarter of this year...
The Construction Products Association has reported in its latest survey that 25 per cent of construction contractors have seen their profits fall.
The survey revealed that...
Brick shortage starts to ease
Brick producers have begun to replenish their stocks after demands for supplies left reserves depleted...
The construction sector was dealt a heavy blow during the recession. In a bid to stimulate growth and increase development the government implemented schemes such as the government's Help to Buy. While this helped to...
Construction machine workers to lose their jobs
Hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs at a construction machine factory in Desford...
Construction machine giant Caterpillar has announced hundreds of workers will lose their jobs at their Desford plant. The 260 agency workers, who had been contracted through Randstad, were let go due to lower production...
Large Hitachi order for UK plant hire firm
UK plant hire firm Keyway has purchased a number of new machines from Hitachi to expand its fleet to more than 400 units...
Plant hire firm Keyway has purchased 96 new machines from Hitachi Construction Machinery. This order will bring the total number of models in the fleet to more...
Plantworx 2015 – deemed a huge success!
Louise Murphy of The Construction Equipment Association provides highlights of this year’s Plantworx Construction Machinery Show…
The 2nd Plantworx Construction Machinery Show drew to a close on 4th June 2015 following a spectacular three-day action packed event. The show opened to gale force winds and driving rain – but this...
The Stars of our Future
Over 400 people attended the CPA ‘Stars of the Future’ ceremony at this year’s Plantworx, to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the young people who are the future of the industry. Will Mann reports…
The plant hire sector – not to mention the wider construction industry – has a bright...
Tackling plant and machinery theft
PC Mike Dawber of the Knutsford Rural NPU division of the Cheshire Constabulary, outlines the successes of tackling plant and machinery theft throughout the area by focussing resources through their Ruralwatch scheme…
It is estimated that millions of UK pounds worth of plant machinery is stolen nationally every year. The...
Engine emissions – 2020 vision
Malcolm Kent, Technical Consultant to the Construction Equipment Association gives an update on the progress towards new engine emissions legislation…
You might be thinking that you have heard enough of machinery salesmen telling you about European emissions legislation and why that means their Stage IV machines have to be more...
The ground you work on
Kevin Minton, Director of the Construction Plant Hire Association highlights the levels of risk involved in ground conditions for machinery and how it can be driven down…
All contractors on site don’t just need to think about what happens above ground – they need to know and understand the ground...
£220m funding deal for GAP Group
Tool and equipment hire company GAP Group aims to double business in the next five years after securing a funding deal...
The Glasgow-based company GAP Group has signed an asset-based lending (ABL) facility for £220m. It is hoped this will enable the firm to grow significantly over the next five...
