FMB launches updated Developers’ Guide for small builders
Half of SME builders say planning is the biggest barrier to housebuilding as FMB updates its guide
AUDIO NEWS: Plumbers turn down £133m of work due skills crisis and industry rejects 8-month apprentice plan
Plumbers set to reject £133 million of work over winter period, industry bodies pour cold water on to 8-month apprenticeship plan and tradespeople warned about tool theft
NICEIC to deliver The Tools to Talk in partnership with the EIC
NICEIC has also donated £10,000 to help the EIC continue to provide support across the electrical sector, including counselling, wellbeing resources and more
Health cash plan claims in construction up by over 6% in the past year
Findings highlight the growing financial pressure on employers and strengthen the case for investing in preventative workforce health to reduce long-term costs
Landscapers among the UK’s fittest trade: study
Nearly 75% of tradespeople surveyed described themselves as ‘fit’, while 88% say they find their job to be physically demanding
Authorities warn against tool theft season
Police data shows that tool theft across the UK jumped by 13% in October 2024 compared with the previous month
AUDIO NEWS: Branded vans are a bigger target for tool thieves and fear of AI pushes people towards the trades
Branded vans are a bigger target for tool thieves, growing fear of AI pushes people to consider a career in the trades and a plumber gives away a bathroom
A fifth of people consider retraining in skilled trades: study
The threat of AI and 44% of workers reporting career dissatisfaction are pushing the working population to choose a career in the trades
New data reveals the UK’s most targeted areas for tool theft
The Metropolitan police force topped the list, with 6.96 tool thefts from vehicles per 10,000 population
AUDIO NEWS: Government abandons plan for forensic marking for power tools
The Home Office abandons plan for mandatory forensic marking for power tools, government outlines initiative to add 400,000 green energy jobs and construction workers worry about AI
How to offer good guidance to apprentices
Danny Maddan chats with Hugo Helms on the unique course he runs which trains apprentices in site etiquette
AUDIO NEWS: Tool theft hotspots named and data centres could heat up to 500,000 homes
London reports nearly 7,000 incidents of tool theft per 10,000 people, FMB renews call for a builder's license and data centres could heat half a million homes
CITB launches free inclusive recruitment training for SMEs
The training is hosted on the SME Community Hub, an online platform from the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS)
Aussie spark crowned SJIB Apprentice of the Year 2025
Callan White, from Livingston, took home this year’s top title after impressing judges with his technical ability and professionalism
AUDIO NEWS: Construction output falls in August, police recover tools and a film crew repairs potholes
Construction output falls in August, police in North Wales recover stolen tools and Harry Potter TV crew repair potholes
Baxi pledges support for Band of Builders
The heating and hot water brand will support the national charity in providing practical, financial and well-being services to those in need in the UK construction industry
Planning Bill amendments will tackle blockers and boost growth: NFB
The Bill, announced as part of the King’s Speech in July 2024, is designed to fast-track major infrastructure projects deemed to be of national significance
AUDIO NEWS: 75% of builders worry about extreme weather and tradesman is refused entry due to workwear
75% of builders concerned about impact of extreme weather on site safety, government makes last minutes changes to planning bill and an electrician is refused entry because of his workwear
Licensing builders must happen following ECO debacle, says FMB
FMB warns that poor oversight in the ECO scheme shows an urgent need for builder licensing to protect consumers and restore trust in retrofit work
Climate change causes construction site safety concerns
As many as 75% of those working in construction are worried about the implications of climate change on site safety over the next five years
AUDIO NEWS: Audit office slams failed government insulation scheme and plumbers fix problems with AI
Energy Company Obligation fiasco leaves 98% of houses needing remediation work, construction firms waste 5,500 productivity hours a year and plumbers in USA use ChatGPT to fix problems
Jewson, JPS and MBS host the largest Big Brew mental health event
With 70 branches participating, it was Jewson’s largest Big Brew event yet
AUDIO NEWS: Construction workers report high levels of discrimination and Select blasts short courses
Nearly half of construction workers say they've experienced discrimination or witnessed it at work, Select attacks short courses and former electrician Josh Padley returns to the ring
Skill shortage forcing homeowners to take on DIY repairs
Survey shows that nearly 30% of homeowners admitted to trying DIY fixes, which only made the problem worse
Inefficiencies are costing construction businesses employees
Small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) with 50 workers are losing 30 minutes per person daily, effectively surrendering 5,500 hours annually
AUDIO NEWS: Bricklayers and carpenters to get temporary work visas and builders make grim discovery
Brickies and carpenters to get temporary work visas, builders find human remains in a plastic bag and electrician claims divine intervention after winning £750,000
SELECT repeats warning about dangers of short training courses in electrical skills
The association has repeated its alert about the rising trend of “six-week wonders” – and expressed dismay that some courses now appear to offer even shorter training periods
FMB calls for action on construction mental health
FMB urges builders to prioritise mental health this World Mental Health Day, promoting wellbeing, open conversations, and construction support
AUDIO NEWS: Tradespeople pick up £119m worth of parking fines and builders urged to sign up for Open Doors
Tradespeople pick up over 2 million parking tickets and get fined £119 million in last year, planning applications jump by 68%, and firms urged to sign up for Open Doors 2026
Skills legacy scheme off to 'flying start': BESA
The scheme will recruit trainers and assessors qualified to support the delivery of trade apprenticeships and building safety auditors
AUDIO NEWS: 1 million tradespeople needed to deliver government plans and building costs rise by 15% by 2023
More than a million tradespeople potentially needed to meet the government's building ambitions, building costs rise by 15% by 2030, and builders take care not to disturb the penguins
Why and how today’s planning system is failing
Chartered architect Julian Owen shares his ideas on design and why he feels there's a lack of ideas in the industry
Construction firms urged to help set fresh Open Doors record
Open Doors 2026 —run by Build UK in partnership with CITB and CSCS—will take place between Monday, March 23, and Saturday, March 28
AUDIO NEWS: 25% of tradespeople planning to retire in five years and van drivers could face tougher penalties
25% of tradespeople are planning to retire in five years, van drives could face fines and bans under new sentencing rules and millionaire forklift driver gets admitted into hospital
Almost 60% of UK installers warming to heat pumps
A survey by Baxi has found that a lack of consumer demand remains the number one barrier to heat pump uptake
A quarter of tradespeople plan to retire in the next five years: report
Less than half of young people surveyed expressed interest in pursuing a career in the trades
AUDIO NEWS: 59% of installers get trained in heat pumps and hydrogen-powered digger starts on site
59% of heating engineers are developing their heat pump skills, Ford Turneo Custom comes bottom on Van Repair Index, expensive van to repair, and hydrogen-powered excavator arrives on site
Entries for Heating Installer Awards 2025 are open
Installers can enter several categories, including one for each region of the UK, Best HVAC Installer, Best Renewables Installer, and Rising Star
Despite no change in the cost of oil, fuel prices rise
Fuel prices have increased in eight of the past 12 months, but are still well below the highs seen in late February
AUDIO NEWS: CLC starts talking about mental health and landscapes vow to bounce back after van theft
The Construction Leadership Council starts consultation on industry's mental health crisis, fuel prices rise in September and landscapers lose £11,000k worth of tools
SELECT and SJIB encourage school leavers to consider apprenticeships
Demand for skilled electricians is high and apprenticeships remain one of the most effective ways to develop talent
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