1. Carillion turns to Ancient Greek solution for Durham project’s hydropower
A riverside office development being built and developed by Carillion in Durham has turned to a 2000-year-old technology to generate renewable electricity to supply 76% of the building’s energy needs – an Archimedes’ screw. Read more…
2. New CIC chairman floats plan for cut-price degree to combat skills shortages
Gardiner & Theobald senior partner Tony Burton, the incoming chairman of the Construction Industry Council, proposed a new form of construction degree that would slash fees for undergraduates and create “job ready” recruits for the industry. Read more…
3. CLOCS ticking to eliminate cyclist fatalities linked to construction vehicles
Contractors are being urged to pool data on road accidents and near misses involving construction vehicles in a new online database as part of a three-pronged campaign to eliminate cyclist and pedestrian fatalities involving construction vehicles. Read more…
4. ‘Provisional’ and ‘apprentice’ cards to stem concerns over Green card shake up
CSCS is allaying industry concerns that the shake up to its Green card scheme would adversely impact on new entrants and other key groups with plans for a new CSCS provisional card and apprentice card. Read more…
5. CIOB signs two key memoranda in Qatar and welcomes new president
The CIOB’s Members’ Forum, which took place in Doha, Qatar, was marked by the signing of two key memorandums of understanding with local organisations, an address by the UK Ambassador to Qatar and the inauguration of the CIOB’s new president, Professor Ghassan Aouad. Read more…
6. Balfour Beatty targets property and nuclear deals with new hires
Paul Gandy FCIOB, operations director at Lend Lease responsible for the £1.2bn Elephant & Castle regeneration, is to join Balfour Beatty in a newly-created role to capitalise on the booming south-east property market. The appointment is one of four senior hires announced by Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK. Read more…
7. Drones to help Welsh in zero waste to landfill drive
A pioneering trial set up to help the Welsh government to identify ways of meeting its target of zero waste to landfill by 2025 will utilise a drone to capture images of sites and BIM models to analyse how design changes can affect reductions in waste. Read more…
8. NHBC targets CIOB members for 100 technical jobs
The NHBC is targeting CIOB members to fill up to 100 front line technical jobs up as part of a major recruitment drive to support house building. Read more…
9. CSCS cards shake-up: full details of new NVQ and ‘academic’ card
The CSCS card scheme revealed details of a new shake-up that seeks to set a higher competence standard for holders of the operative’s Green card by linking it to a new Level 1 NVQ from July this year. Read more…
10. CIOB launches global search for ‘hidden heroes’
A global competition to discover the “hidden heroes” responsible for bringing new thinking and better outcomes to construction projects around the world was launched by the CIOB. Read more…
Top in Comment
Everyday sexism and women in construction
The CITB’s Kate Lloyd points out that barriers to women’s careers in construction form all around us – popping up in site signage, Lego and even Snickers ads. Read more…
Top in Management
CSCS: why we’re changing the Green card
CSCS chief executive Graham Wren explains more about the new qualification and card for labourers. Read more…
Top in agenda
Our mad, frantic construction diaries
Tension, tough negotiations and travel – our three diarists share a typical week in the fast-moving construction industry. QS Greg Marshall, project manager Lucy East and hearing-impaired design manager Eoin Burns spoke to Roxanne McMeeken. Read more…
Top in International
The ‘worst countries in the world to work in’
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has published a report that ranks countries according to how well they protect the rights of workers. The Global Rights Index gives each country a score out of five, with zero designating a country in which labour rights are sacrosanct and five a country with no protections at all. Read more…
