News

New government-funded scheme aims to bring 500 construction workers back into work


The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has recently announced a new partnership with the London Enterprise Panel that aims to directly address the increasing shortage of construction skills in the Greater London Area.

Research and forecasts estimate that an average of just under 1,300 new skilled construction workers will be required in Greater London every year through to 2019. Around 6,450 new workers in total will be required over the five year period (2015 -2019).

Dramatic rise in stress-related sickness recorded across the East of England’s public sector


Stress-related absence has risen by 70 per cent across public sector workers in the East of England, recent analysis by the BBC was able to reveal.

After going through data from more than 100 FOI (Freedom of Information requests), days lost by East of England Ambulance medical staff to stress-related sickness absence has grown from 1,948 in 2009 to 6,106 in 2013, or a 213 per cent increase.

British firms hiring plans reach 16-year high, says BDO report


British companies in general and services firms in particular are planning to go on a hiring spree over the next three months, figures obtained from BDO’s latest jobs index were able to suggest.

The accountancy firm revealed that its jobs index for July, which measures hiring plans over the next three months, was at its highest level since 1998. Furthermore, an increase in the rate of job creation is expected for the rest of the year, the survey found.

Private sector housing leads strong growth in construction sector


Private sector building has managed to lead the way in the housing sector’s growth across the whole of the UK over the last quarter, the latest statistical figures supplied by the NHBC were able to point out.

The total number of new homes registered across both the private and public sectors in the UK for Q2 2014 totalled 36,858, the majority of which were in the private sector – a healthy 9% compared to same period last year.

Royal Albert Dock Project gets the green light


A major redevelopment project that will see the whole area north of the Royal Albert Dock turned into a modern new business and cultural zone has received planning permission from the Newham council, a recent media news report was able to reveal.

The hybrid application made by ABP (London) Investment Limited will see the delivery of a comprehensive business-led mixed used development of more than 370,000 sq. m, including up to 845 new homes.

45,000 new homes to be built in London by 2018


The Mayor of London has allocated more than 50 housing providers funding worth £404m for building more than 45,000 homes in London boroughs by 2018, a news report in the local business media was able to reveal.

Apprenticeships are vital for the future of the construction industry


Apprenticeships will play a very important role in the future of the building sector. In fact, they are "essential to the future wellbeing of the construction industry," the Government’s Chief Construction Advisor said at a reception hosted by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

UK construction industry faces significant skills shortage, market survey reveals


Advanced hardware and software employee management systems are starting to become mission-critical solutions for companies in the construction sector that struggle to manage their skilled employees in a proficient manner.

Managing one’s employees in a very clear, efficient and productive manner is particularly important nowadays, as the construction industry is facing significant skills shortages, according to the latest Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Construction Market Survey (Q2 2014).

British companies are world’s most upbeat about future profits


Advanced workforce management and time and attendance systems are becoming a “must-have” for more and more companies across the UK, as their level of confidence and optimism regarding future profits and investment opportunities is reaching unprecedented levels and they’re hiring new staff at a very rapid pace.

Supermarket giant to cut 1,360 management jobs


One of the UK’s largest supermarkets has revealed plans to significantly cut its workforce across its chain of stores in a bid to make the whole business more cost-effective and in-tune with the increased level of demand in online shopping.
 
ASDA has announced that its restructure plans will affect all of its 578 stores, with up to 1,360 workers in danger of being made redundant in the next few weeks.