Don't be fooled up by UKCE delay warns ECA

Posted: Tuesday, January 11th, 2022  

Although the replacement of CE branding with mandatory UKCA marking has been delayed until January 2023, ECA’s director of legal and business, Rob Driscoll urges contractors to start preparing for the challenges ahead as soon as possible 

7 great ideas for the industry in 2022

Posted: Tuesday, January 4th, 2022  

With COVID variants rampant, record high material prices and a widening skills gap, we can expect another wild year in 2022. Here are 7 ways to provide succour for the industry next year 

Diversity holds the key to solving construction’s skills dilemma

Posted: Thursday, December 30th, 2021  

A combination of Brexit and the pandemic has driven skilled workers from the industry in droves. With the number of apprentices entering the trades also dropping, the sector badly needs to find new blood 

Just because a customer asks you about price, doesn’t make them difficult… does it?

Posted: Tuesday, December 21st, 2021  

We all love the idea of saying no to a difficult customer and walking away. But if a customer asks you for a cost breakdown, are they being difficult? 

Bosch Professional go cordless for Christmas giveaways

Posted: Friday, December 10th, 2021  

The power tool company are showing off the most powerful tools in their range as part of a one-off livestream ahead of the festive season - and there's plenty of swag for the trade to get their hands on. 

8 things we learnt during Anti-Tool Theft Week

Posted: Wednesday, December 8th, 2021  

There are no immediate solutions to the country’s tool theft epidemic, so tradespeople need to plan for the worst, and hope for the best 

Insulate Britain’s motorway protests push the government’s green building strategy into the spotlight

Posted: Monday, October 4th, 2021  

Insulate Britain has pushed its eco-agenda onto centre stage, and annoyed thousands of people in the process, but how realistic is to insulate 29 million ageing homes, and what is the government's plan? 

GMB Union blasts government for skilled-worker shortages

Posted: Saturday, October 2nd, 2021  

Union secretary urges government to act to address shortage of skilled labour in the trades 

Tory MP vows to continue campaign for tougher tool theft laws

Posted: Tuesday, September 28th, 2021  

Last year over 32,000 powered hand tools were reported stolen in London – just 1% of those tools were ever recovered by the police. Nicked tools have typically been sold in carparks, and now via eBay, Facebook and other digital platforms. Greg Smith, Conversative MP for Buckingham wants to shut down thieves fencing stolen tools through the internet 

Rising costs for skilled tradespeople are a symptom of a broken labour model

Posted: Friday, September 24th, 2021  

In August the cost of hiring skilled labour rose by nearly 3%, but wage inflation across the industry is an indicator of more fundamental problems in the construction sector.