The motoring experts at LeaseLoco.com have shared which items tradespeople should never leave inside of their vans and work vehicles during high temperatures.

Parts of the UK are forecast to see temperatures reach as high as 37°C this month, creating potentially hazardous conditions for tradespeople storing equipment in their vans.

The experts say that equipment stored in the back of the van and away from direct sunlight is still at risk due to vans retaining heat.

They also advise parking in the shade to keep vans as cool as possible. Drivers can also open the doors during breaks for ventilation in order to release any trapped heat.

Reflective sunshades at the front of the van can also keep the sun out and help keep temperatures lower. 

Thermal tool boxes can also offer extra protection for heat-sensitive items such as sealants, adhesives and batteries.

John Wilmot, CEO and founder of car leasing deals site LeaseLoco.com said: “We’re about to experience another heatwave and we could potentially see temperatures hit the high thirties. 

“For tradespeople, it’s important to make sure that nothing stored in your van during this time is at risk of being damaged or causing a fire hazard.

“Products such as paints, sealants and plastic fittings can warp in heat so you’ll want to remove them from your van when possible and store them in a cool and well-ventilated area.

“Pressurised cans, gas bottles and lithium-ion batteries can cause safety risks in hot conditions causing them to overheat, leak and even ignite.”

Equipment you shouldn’t keep in your van during a heatwave: 

Pressurised cans or gas bottles
Always be mindful to remove pressurised cans or gas bottles from your van in extreme temperatures. These can burst or rupture due to the expansion of gas which can cause a fire if kept in a hot environment.

Paints, adhesives and sealants
Many of these products can separate, spoil or become unsuitable for use after being kept in hot environments.  

Plastic pipes and fittings
Fittings made from PVC and MDPE can warp, bend or soften when exposed to heat over time. Heat distortion may not be immediately visible so to be safe, remove these items.

Lithium-ion batteries
High temperatures can cause lithium-ion batteries to leak and ignite which can be extremely dangerous. This applies to spare batteries and those in power tools such as drills.  

First aid kits
Some items in first aid kits, such as bandages, creams, or antiseptic wipes, have temperature-sensitive shelf lives. When exposed to heat for long periods of time, these products can degrade, dry out, and lose their effectiveness.

The research, which is being carried out in partnership with the construction analysts Barbour ABI, comes at a critical time.

The government has stripped the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) of responsibility for enforcing the Building Safety Act.

Extensive planning delays and a shortage of qualified assessors led to the creation of a new “fast track process” under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG), headed up by two former senior fire chiefs.

A Freedom of Information request by cost consultant Cast revealed that just 10.8% of Gateway 2 new project applications had been approved.

These developments and BESA’s research follow further traumatic revelations in a new Netflix documentary about the Grenfell Tower disaster, which led to the creation of the Act. 

‘Grenfell: Uncovered’ refocused public attention on unsafe buildings and highlighted the weaknesses of UK building regulations.

This is BESA's second annual building safety survey. It is aimed at companies of all sizes across the building engineering spectrum to assess awareness and understanding of legal responsibilities and the implications for individual competence and organisational capability.

The Association said the findings would help to shape “practical support, clear guidance, and targeted interventions to drive industry-wide improvement”.

“We want to find out what is preventing organisations from adopting the legislation requirements,” said BESA’s director of specialist knowledge, Rachel Davidson. “Awareness and understanding of the Act have improved in the past 12 months, but it is far from a consistent picture."

To promote a circular economy, the Government’s Landfill Tax consultation aims to abolish the lower Landfill Tax rate of £4.05 and replace it with the standard rate, which is currently £126.15. This change is proposed to take effect in 2030.

By 2027, it will also remove the disposal permit that quarries use to recover land, which will now need to apply for a recovery permit.

A permit which isn’t always easy to get, and if that continues, may increase the cost of materials because quarries incur higher running costs.

2027 will also be the date at which lower-rated for mixed waste (lower-rated and a small amount of standard-rated) will cease to exist, and all mixed waste will be charged at the standard rate.

The Government appears committed to using behavioural change through taxation as a strategy. While constructive discussions have taken place with HM Treasury about whether 2030 is achievable and what is needed to establish a circular economy and tackle waste crime, NFB is encouraging SMEs to start swiftly updating their site waste management plans.

The Federation of Master Builders says the steepest fall in construction activity is a serious wake-up call that government announcements on construction have yet to be delivered.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “The sharp downturn in construction activity undermines the Government’s stated ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes and upgrade five million homes.

“Positive government policy reforms to speed up the planning system, introduce greater borrowing flexibility, and upskill the workforce are failing to unlock the much-needed momentum to drive economic growth. Delivery is key, so July’s plunge should set alarm bells ringing across industry and government."

The data highlighted marked decreases in work volumes across all three monitored sub-sectors, but a considerable drag came from a fresh drop in residential building.

UK constructors remain challenged by subdued demand conditions. The volume of new incoming work declined for a seventh month running in July, with the pace of contraction at its most pronounced since February.

Berry concludes: “To get Britain building again, consumers need greater confidence in the economy. Small building companies are very reliant on consumer confidence, which is why the prospect of further tax increases is such a concern. The proposed planning reforms announced in May need to be given absolute priority with a focus on fast-track approvals for sites of up to nine houses to help small building companies deliver the homes Britain needs."

The app is slowly becoming a platform for finding handymen, as these single ladies are on the prowl for a “first date” that includes hex keys and hammer drills.

“I feel like guys need a little job or mission, and then they feel so happy. They’re like a golden retriever — they accomplished something and are happy to help,” Hinge habitué Storm Halestrap, 24, of Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn, told The Post of the “Bob the Builder” trend.

The professional photographer participated in the handyman-hustling Hinge hack on social media, posting a cheeky video in April that showed a man crouched on the floor assembling a wooden table with a drill.

“POV: You get your Hinge date to build your new TikTok shop furniture,” the caption read.

It turns out that the man featured is her current boyfriend, whom she did meet on the popular app, Halestrap told The Post, though she didn’t nab him while looking for Mr. Fix-It.

However, the impetus for her video was that she previously had multiple successes meeting similarly service-minded suitors on Hinge.

Stories are popping up all over TikTok, with allegedly satisfied users showing off everything from built bed frames to hung cabinets.

And after a Post reporter added a call for shelf-and-curtain-rod removal to their own Hinge profile, offers of help came hammering in — with get-it-done guys declaring their willingness to work before, during or after a date.

The survey of 1,000 tradies by Zego, found that 70% of those aged between 18-and-24-years-old were enthusiastic about installing a ‘black box’ to track their driving behaviour.

Nearly three quarters those between 25-and-34 years-old were also happy to share data if it meant reducing their premiums.

Between 2023 and 2024, van insurance increased by as much as 25%.

But since the start of this year, van insurance prices have come down by nearly 5%.

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Band of Builders has completed a house renovation for a Norfolk widow and mother of six.

Over 12 days, a team of more than 40 volunteers completed work, including installing a sensory bedroom and wet-room for her 16-year-old quadriplegic son.

Sarah Fletcher’s husband, an electrician, took his own life on Christmas Eve leaving the renovation work unfinished.

With the house now complete, Sarah said her family can now begin to heal.

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Barratt Redrow is offering buyers two years of free electricity if they share data on their use of the property’s eco-technology.

The pilot scheme, put together with British Gas is open to just ten buyers on a development in Lincolnshire.

The initial scheme is part of a wider partnership due to rollout this year.

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The CIPHE will be a key partner in moderating the judging process, ensuring fairness and impartiality in the awards.

In addition, Polypipe Building Products has pledged its support as an awards sponsor in this inaugural year, demonstrating its support of plumbers who do the best work—in the right way, too.

The Plumber Awards launches following a demand from the plumbing community and will spotlight the UK’s talented professionals who set standards for the sector.

The awards are searching for the best-of-the-best: the plumbers who push themselves daily to find the best solutions for their customers.

Plumbers will answer questions ranging from their opinions of customer care through to examples of domestic jobs undertaken that show why they should win.

Tim Sainty, membership director at the CIPHE, said: “We will always consider backing initiatives that are designed to support plumbers and lead the sector forward, and The Plumber Awards is the perfect example.”

Jason Nightingale, head of marketing at Polypipe Building Products, adds: “Every day, we see plumbers pushing to break boundaries and apply innovations to benefit homeowners. Some brilliant projects are happening – and it will be terrific to see this reflected in The Plumber Award entries.”

Entries open on 1st September 2025, but anyone interested can register their support here, and a member of the awards’ administration team will be in contact.

Because Toby’s ground-floor room was an empty shell – and Sarah could not access overnight support – she had to carry Toby upstairs to bed and care for him alone each night.

The BoB team of volunteer tradespeople came together and took just 12 days to finish the renovations her husband had begun – before he took his own life on Christmas Eve.

More than 150 tradespeople from across the UK volunteered their time for free to complete Toby’s room, all the renovations (including bedrooms and bathrooms for his brother and sister), and landscape the front and back of the house.

Looking at all the work that went into completing her house, she felt that saying “thank you” wasn’t enough.

“We can’t thank you all enough; you’re all superheroes,” she said. “It’s felt like we’ve been living on a building site for a few years, and I can’t believe how much has been done to complete it in such a short time.

Toby’s room is incredible, so we can finally get overnight support for him.”

She added: “The house is amazing and a poignant legacy for Shaun, and we now have a home where my family can start to heal.”

BoB CEO Gavin Crane was full of praise and pride for what the BoB community of volunteers had achieved, with as many as 40 tradespeople (including groundworkers, electricians, bathroom fitters, plumbers, decorators, landscapers, solar panel engineers and smart home specialists) on site for each of the 12 days.

“This was our most ambitious project to date, and everyone who supported us – be it volunteers, businesses, suppliers of materials and the local community who provided food and refreshment – has reminded us all what kindness looks like.”

He also spoke more broadly about the issue of mental health, which is a blight on the construction industry, and the fact that two tradespeople take their own lives each day.

“What happened to this family resonates with many members of our community and the construction industry.

“Grief, pressure, and mental health concerns are all things we understand too well. We hope that in finishing what Shaun started, we’ve done him proud and that wherever he is, he knows his family is now safe in a completed home surrounded by the love and empathy of some amazing people.”

The financial advisory estimates the number of construction companies in ‘significant distress’ has risen by nearly 14% since Q2 2024.

Businesses facing a critical situation have increased by nearly 15% during the same period.

The plumbing, heating and air conditioning sector saw a 24% jump in firms reported they were in significant financial trouble.

Begbies Traynor partner, Julie Palmer warned that UK businesses would have to review where they can tighten budgets or restructure, to give themselves more stability.”

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One in four business owners believe they have been negatively impacted by confusing jargon.

In a survey by Capital On Tap, over half claimed that misunderstanding of corporate terms had led to missed opportunities, and nearly a third said it had contributed to reputational damage. 

EBITDA — earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation — was crowned the most confusing term, with over 40% admitting they were unclear what it meant.

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Gen Zers in New York have started using Hinge to find dates that are happy to carry out home maintenance jobs.

The trend started when Storm Halestrap, a 24-year-old photographer living in the Big Apple, posted a video of her Hinge date assembling TikTok furniture.

Experts believe the ‘chivalry-tinged’ trend taps into a post pandemic shift, where ladies want utility with their partners. Not just chemistry.

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"From a tender age of 13, I was exposed to the world of drugs and was living an unstable life right up until 2020. I was sent to prison for nine years at the age of 19. I never had any prospects or ambition until the pandemic hit." 

He credits the COVID-19 pandemic as the "best thing that ever happened" to him. He was able to distance himself from the vices and bad company. "Today, my life is entirely different."  

Ian's life has completely changed. He now runs marathons across mountains and has become a successful property developer. 

He is also giving back to the community by redeveloping Blyth, once known as the drug capital of the North East. He informs that certain areas were left to "rot" and how he's buying degenerate homes on the worst streets and renovating them. 

"I'm fixing these houses and giving them back to the locals, renting them to residents and trying to do my part where I can," he says. 

He also reveals how he has purchased the "worst house on the worst street" - a crack den with renovations costing him over £50,000. "Most houses I've been buying are derelict and owned by landlords outside the area who bought them for £10,000 - 15,000 years ago." 

Ian is working with a charity that helps youth impacted by drugs and alcohol to work on his projects. He believes it's his duty to restore his town. 

He hopes to work with more charities to revamp the houses in Blyth further and get the community back on track. 

Listen to the full podcast here. 
 

In the survey of over 1,000 developers, 51% said they were not confident about launching projects in the next year, due to funding concerns.

While nearly half said their activity remained stable compared with 2024, 30% said they had paused work due to market uncertainty.

Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital said: “It’s clear that 2025 remains a testing environment for property developers, with high interest rates, funding pressures, and market uncertainty weighing heavily on confidence.”

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Small and medium sized businesses are struggling with their marketing, claims a report from Mums in Marketing.

The agency found that nearly two thirds of small business owners didn’t have the time to organise marketing, while over half claimed they didn’t have the budget.

With many trade businesses focused on delivering work, meeting customers and putting together quotes, marketing often falls to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list.

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Painting and decorating contractor Bagnalls has designed and created its own bespoke female workwear.

The firm which has seen an increase in women joining, worked with its PPE supplier to develop the ‘bib and braces’ outfits

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This plan outlines its intention to tackle late payments, an issue that costs the UK economy £11bn a year and forces 38 businesses to shut down every day.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “As the Government has rightly recognised, SMEs employ 60% of the country’s workforce and generate £2.8 trillion in turnover.

“In construction, they train eight in ten construction apprentices. Therefore, it is promising to see the Prime Minister acknowledge the devastating implications of late payments on SMEs and the construction sector.

“We cannot train enough skilled workers, drive business growth, retrofit our buildings, deliver infrastructure, and build 1.5 million homes in an environment where late payment and unfair terms are acceptable.” 

Key announcements from the plan include:

• New £4bn finance boost including 69,000 Start-Up Loans to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• Plans to introduce the strictest laws on late payments in the G7.
• New laws are expected to give stronger powers to the Small Business Commissioner to empower them to wield fines, worth potentially millions of pounds, against the biggest firms who persistently choose to pay their suppliers late.
• The Small Business Commissioner will be given new powers to carry out spot checks and enforce a 30-day invoice verification period to speed up resolutions to disputes.
• The introduction of maximum payment terms of 60 days, reduced to 45 days, giving firms certainty that they’ll be paid on time.
• Audit committees, under the proposals, will also be legally required to scrutinise payment practices at board level, placing greater pressure on large firms to show they’re treating small suppliers fairly backed by mandatory interest charges for those who pay late.

New figures compiled by Aira, a UK heat pump business, show that Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) applications have surged 54% year-on-year.

According to the Climate Change Committee, total heat pump sales in 2024 reached nearly 100,000 units—a figure likely to be surpassed again this year as the UK races toward its target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028.

Chris Collinson, Aira UK CEO, said: “Achieving the national target of 600,000 annual installations by 2028 requires an average annual growth rate of around 50%, and current trends suggest this is within reach.

“These figures highlight that the heat pump industry is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors, with the potential to significantly contribute to the Prime Minister’s manifesto pledge to create 650,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector.”

With planning permission requirements removed for heat pumps installed within one metre of a property boundary, the proportion of Aira customers needing planning permission has dropped from 30-40% to just 5-10%, the company reports.

He adds, “This change has enabled homeowners to complete their installations and access the benefits of heat pumps more quickly, without waiting up to six months for planning approval. Now, we urgently need to reform electricity taxes to further increase heat pump adoption and cost savings for people across the UK.”

Resident Kyle Ritchie’s mother-in-law went to take out the trash but was chased back inside by bees. He ran out to the front yard, where his wife’s grandmother, Juana, had been napping, and found her swatting a swarm of bees. 

Kyle and his mother-in-law could not get her away from the bees, so San Roque stepped in to help Juana, who nearly fainted from all the bee stings. “That’s somebody’s grandma, somebody’s mother. I just wanted to do the right thing and step up,” San Roque said. “She spoke in Spanish, letting me know she feels like she’s going to faint. Right then, I saw her whole body start to collapse.”

The Upper Michigan’s Source reported that  San Roque caught Juana as she began to lose consciousness. He moved her away from the bees while his colleague helped spray the insects with a fire extinguisher.

Shortly after the incident, the plumbers got a call from emergency services, who said that San Roque and his partner had saved Juana’s life.

“It just uplifted me. I’m glad we were there at the right time,” San Roque said.

Under proposals from the Department for Business & Trade, the Small Business Commissioner will be able to impose fines on ‘persistent’ late payers, carry out spot checks and accelerate dispute resolution.

The proposed legislation also includes an option to “reform or ban cash retentions in construction contracts.”

Government figures suggest that late payments cost the economy £11 billion a year and cause 38 firms to close every day.

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Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS), a trade body for plastering and dry walling specialists has launched a campaign against the spread of bloated, overly complicated contracts.

Matt Hallam, a FIS spokesperson, said that contracts had increased in content and in terms, “which continue to confuse, conflict and compromise those required to sign them”.

FIS has published a simplified subcontract template and made it freely available to members to combat the spread of overly complex contracts.

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Two plumbers in California saved the life of a grandmother after she was attacked by a swarm of bees at her home.

Diosdado San Roque and his partner from Happy Plumbing were leaving a job last Thursday when they saw two people desperately waving them down.

The plumbers drew the bees into their van and drove off with them, allowing the grandmother to escape.

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Research shows that 21% of construction employees have experienced bullying in the past few years, and almost three in 10 claim bullying was labelled as 'banter'. 

Plumber Jimmy says that apprentices need to know they aren't at school anymore. "There's a fine line between banter and bullying, which can go far in various degrees. I know of one case where the plumbers were heating bolts on compression couplings where an apprentice was working. To me, that's bullying." 

He also adds that bullying has evolved beyond the workplace. It's gone online. Having said that, he hopes that banter doesn't leave the industry as it draws people out of their shells. 

Andy Cam, host of the Heating & Plumbing Show, reveals that he's been in the trade for 46 years, employed many tradespeople, and had six apprentices.

"One of the lads who had been my apprentice for four years once told me in the van on the way home that I made him feel like 'poo' on the job as he was always taking a loo break. I apologised and tried my best not to do it again." 

He further adds that some get offended too easily nowadays. "When we were young, we just took it on the chin and carried on." 

Paul Meenan, co-host of The Electrical Show, reveals that he was bullied as an apprentice, some of which was 'character-building'. 

"I gave our apprentices one per cent of the character-building part. Apprenticeship is about repeat, repeat, and pressure to mould skills." 

He argues that the worst bullying is from project managers who have no clue what they're doing. "Developers and high-rise builders are the worst, setting impossible targets and budgets." 

Clive also reads messages from listeners sent to the show. Listener Dean Harrison says, "Sending in the apprentice for a long wait or bump starting the discotheque is a tradition that will always gain a laugh as banter, but it's a step too far if someone gets an injury from a prank or mickey-taking gets personal." 

A message from J Bailey & Sons reads: "Life on site is very different today from when I first started. However, it's important to discuss this and tell anyone bullied to speak out and not be afraid."

Another listener, Steven, notes that being bullied was part of the apprenticeship in the 1980s. "It was not fun, but definitely character-building." 

A message from Magnum Opus Leadwork says: It's mostly hate speech and racism. One of our friends who was learning to become a plumber committed suicide out of the blue. It's got to stop, lads, or reap what you sow." 

Another listener notes that he was bullied as an apprentice by a subcontractor. "It was always passed off as banter. I was once locked in a metal toolbox and hit with a shovel when I gave it back. Banter will always be a part of being on site, but there's always someone who never knows where the line is." 

GMB Union rep Charlotte reveals that bullying is a "huge issue" and "pervasive" in the industry. "It is pretty indiscriminate, whether on a big, well-organised site or smaller satellite sites. If left unaddressed, it can have a long-lasting impact on tradespeople." 

She points out that there's a mental health crisis in industry and "people need to look after their colleagues and each other". 

She advises speaking out, whether it’s the person bullying you or the person in charge.

Listen to the podcast here.
 

Speaking on a Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) podcast, Richard Quigley, MP for the Isle of Wight West claimed that a scheme would protect consumers and support legitimate tradespeople.

Quigley said that “no decent builder” should be against the idea of a licensing scheme.

In his view “good builders want to be distinguished from the rogues. They want customers to have confidence in their work and qualifications".

The FMB claims that over £14 billion have been lost to rogue traders in the last five years.

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The sales of second-hand electric vans have doubled in the last two years — that’s according to a study by MarketCheck

The report indicated that the price of a used e-van has dropped by 28%.

The average price in June for a second-hand electric van was £17,500.

Alastair Campbell of MarketCheck UK said used e-vans were now “far more accessible” for businesses and sole traders. 

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Builders in North Yorkshire have found an old newspaper dating back to 1869.

The builders were working on a shop extension in Malton when they made the discovery.

The newspaper called Good News was originally founded by Peter Drummond, a seed merchant and devout Christian in 1848 to publish religious tracts.

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The housebuilder took the move after intrusive surveys uncovered widespread issues with cavity wall barriers hidden behind brickwork and render.

The full scale of the problem hadn’t been picked up in surface level checks.

Approximately £145 million has been allocated to fix the cavity wall crisis, with the rest going towards further cladding-related works.

The surprise financial provision plunged the firm into a first-half, pre-tax loss of £92 million.

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A 38-year-old plumber is considering leaving the trade after more than £3,000 worth of tools were taken from his van.

Robbie Hawkins had left his Ford Transit parked near his home, when thieves used a master key to unlock the side door and steal his kit in less than a minute.

Hawkins told ITV he had been left with nightmares, PTSD and a “constant feeling of anxiety” when he goes to work.

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Heritage craft trainees have been getting their hands dirty working on a Grade 1 listed church. 

Students from Lancaster and Morecambe College have been learning about hot lime mortar, slate roofing, stonemasonry, plastering, joinery and mud masonry, under the tutelage of master craftspeople.

The summer school run by Historic England is part of a £600,000 project to restore the Church of St John the Evangelist.

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Richard Quigley MP claimed proper regulation could shield consumers and support genuine tradespeople.

Speaking on the FMB podcast Build up from the Basement, Mr Quigley addressed the urgent need for reform in an industry where rogue operators can devastate families' finances and dreams of home ownership.

The MP spoke about his constituents on the Isle of Wight who have fallen victim to unscrupulous builders: "When you've got constituents coming to you saying, 'We've been a victim of a rogue builder,' you're not talking about a couple of hundred quid. You're talking about people who've lost £30,000, £40,000, £50,000 and are not in a position where their home is what they wanted—or even safe."

Highlighting the current regulatory gap, he noted: "At the minute, there's nothing to stop anyone setting up as a builder. You could set up as builders tomorrow."

When asked if he supported licensing building companies, Mr Quigley MP threw his full support behind it - "No decent builder will be against it - good builders want to be distinguished from the rogues. They want customers to have confidence in their work and qualifications."

His support comes as the government is expected to respond soon to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee's (ESNZ) - recommendation for licensing in the retrofit sector, following the ESNZ Committee's findings on the urgent need for consumer protection in home improvement works.

CEO of the Federation of Master Builders, Brian Berry said: "I am delighted that the MP for the Isle of Wight West, Richard Quigley has openly backed the FMB’s campaign for the licensing of building companies.

"We need to get the issue on the Government's agenda as soon as possible - whilst continuing to drum up support in Parliament, from all sides of the house on this vital issue of rogue builders.”

Monumental, a company based in the Netherlands, has created robots equipped with two mechanical arms that can dispense mortar and lay bricks at a speed comparable to humans, which is estimated to lay 500 bricks over an eight-hour shift.

The machines, which have already built ‘dozens’ of house facades and canal-supporting walls in the Netherlands, will be used by Galostar, a London bricklaying contractor.

The firm’s managing director, Tony Chapman, told The Telegraph he was testing the robots to see if they could be adapted to British standards and used on scaffolding.

He said: “We don’t think they [the machines] will ever completely replace brickies, but they can certainly help with the skills shortages we are dealing with.”

The robots are expected to be priced competitively, with rates around £1 per brick, similar to current market rates for manual bricklaying, according to Scottish Construction Now.

The robots can also be programmed for complex brick patterns and multi-colour configurations without additional cost, Monumental claims.

Another developer across the country has deployed a robotic bricklayer to build 27 houses.

In June, a Czech-based company, GreenBuild, saw its robot WLTR (Walter) laying bricks on the start-up developer JT Lifestyle Homes’ project in Durham.

Construction Index reported that the robot brickie can lay up to 200 square metres of masonry daily – 10 times the human output – constructing walls up to 3.5 metres high without scaffolding, regardless of weather conditions.

Walter, the robot, has been introduced to the UK by Czechoslovakian émigré Jan Telensky, owner and founder of JT Lifestyle Homes.

He said: “The construction industry is currently facing severe labour shortages at a time when the government wishes to deliver 1.5 million more homes. There are simply not enough bricklayers entering the trade to keep up with demand for affordable homes, so we must find new solutions.”

He added: “Robot Walter’s cutting-edge technology can ease the burden and create new, highly-skilled jobs for operators who will still be needed to oversee projects.”

The anonymous builder was left with serious leg injuries and unable to work after being mauled by the XL Bully in January.

Daniel Savino who was looking after the animal for his partner has pleaded guilty ‘to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.’

Savino’s solicitor described the incident as an “unfortunate slip”.

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Construction output is expected to rise by nearly 2% in 2025, and increase to 3.7% 2026, but there is greater economic uncertainty ahead, cautioned the Construction Products Association (CPA) last week.

The CPA expects industry growth to be driven by private new builds, private repair, maintenance and improvement jobs (RMI) and infrastructure projects.

The trade body warned that growth remains susceptible to project delays, homeowner and consumer confidence and government plans to raise taxes.

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Dutch firm Monumental is set to trial its robot brickies in the UK.

The machines, which have already built ‘dozens’ of house facades and canal-supporting walls in the Netherlands, will be used by London bricklaying contractor, Galostar.

The firm’s managing director Tony Chapman told The Telegraph he was testing the robots to see if they can be adapted to British standards and used on scaffolding.

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Alongside the announcement, ‘Delivering a Decade of Renewal for Social and Affordable Housing’ was released. This document sets out how the Government will achieve its ambition and drive up home safety and quality.

Further announcements include:

• Updating and modernising Decent Homes Standard and extending it to privately rented homes.
• Minimum energy efficiency standards are set in the social housing sector.
• Right to Buy reforms
• Further measures to protect social housing stock.

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight at the NFB and House Builders Association (HBA), said: “It has become politically expedient to blame builders for using land, while chastising them for not building the homes the public sector should be creating.

“Yet when the public sector tries to build, it quickly realises how land use opposition, a broken planning system, and politically motivated regulatory change make projects unviable.”

It also revealed that 46% service their van regularly, with time, cost, and lack of legal requirements cited as key barriers.

The insurance broker also noted that vans are a vital part of a tradesperson’s job, yet many self-employed workers are risking their safety, income and legal compliance by skipping essential upkeep.

When it comes to vehicle servicing, a third service their vans occasionally, 16% wait until there’s a noticeable issue, and 46% say they follow a regular service schedule.

When asked why they put off servicing, 28% said they were too busy with work, 21% cited cost, and 25% felt it wasn’t necessary because it’s not legally required. A further 16% believed their vehicle was running fine and didn’t need one.

Regarding MOT advisory notes, 40% act on them straightaway, while 41% wait a few months. A total of 10% admitted to leaving them unresolved for even longer, and 7% said they address issues when they become urgent.

The study revealed that 36% of tradespeople have faced a van breakdown in the past two years, and 26% have had to cancel or postpone work due to transport problems.

When asked how many working hours they had lost due to their most recent vehicle-related issue, 44% said they had lost between four and eight hours.

When faced with vehicle issues in the past, 40% said they had to rely on a vehicle from friends, family or colleagues to keep working, 15% had to go out and buy a new van, and 6% received customer complaints due to last-minute job cancellations.

The survey revealed that 32% stated that they had to pay out of their own pocket to get the issues rectified. A total of 25% spent between £751 and £1,000, and 16% spent between £1,001 and £1,500 to get back on the road.

ATEX work safety gear is essential for use in explosive environments and is only certified if it has passed rigorous safety testing.

Terry McDonald, technical sales manager, Thorne & Derrick International said unscrupulous distributors and manufacturers were “callously risking lives”.

The increase in counterfeit ATEX equipment mirrors warnings from the British Safety Industry Federation about the growing availability of substandard safety gear.

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Nearly half of tradespeople have forgotten their MOT — that’s according to a report from Tempcover.

5% also admitted they had continued to drive without realising their road tax had expired.

The survey also found that many tradespeople have a relaxed attitude to van maintenance. A third said they only serviced their vehicle occasionally, and 16% confessed to only taking their van to a garage if it had a problem.

A further 41% of survey respondents said they waited ‘several months’ to act on MOT advisory notes.

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Roofing apprentices are stepping up to the pressures of working on site.

Nearly two thirds of apprentices referenced the mental and physical demands of site work in a survey for the BMI Apprentice of the Year competition.

But rather than be discouraged, many applicants described a strong sense of pride, purpose and growth.

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This has led to the introduction of short-course training standards for plant categories that mirror plant operators' increasing requirements and responsibilities.

The phase one standards were updated in December 2024, and the second set of 19 standards was launched in June.

Once again, the standards are being developed in collaboration with industry working groups, comprising employers, training providers, and federations.

The changes will ensure employers see a return on their investment by producing competent, work-ready plant operators who have received expert training.

Phase three standards will cover the following confirmed categories:

• Slinger Signallers
• Loader Operations
• Vacuum Excavators
• Lifting Operations
• Tower Cranes
• Forklifts

Christopher Simpson, head of quality and standards at CITB, said: “These changes will help standardise and improve the quality and consistency of plant training; increase the amount of plant training that takes place before testing; and increase the number of people trained in plant operations, particularly new entrants to construction.”

Still, the economic risks and uncertainties have risen considerably. Total construction output is forecast to increase by 1.9% in 2025 and 3.7% in 2026, matching projections from Spring.

The growth in construction activity in 2025 and 2026 is forecast to be driven by the three most significant sectors of construction: private housing new build, private housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RM&I) and infrastructure.

Nevertheless, these sectors remain vulnerable to delays in starting new projects in the near term, homeowner and consumer confidence in spending, and risks around the government increasingly looking as though it will need to raise taxes once again, potentially cut back on its capital expenditure plans, or both.

Private housing output is forecast to rise 4% in 2025 and 7% in 2026. Fortunes for firms in house building will depend heavily on which part of the sector they are operating in.

Major house builders continue to see a gradual recovery in completions, from a low base. Smaller house builders have seen an improvement in demand, but site viability remains challenging, given the numerous costs the government continues to add to house builders.

Build-to-Rent and high-rise continue to be affected by six–to nine-month delays at the Building Safety Regulator, which are not expected to be resolved during the forecast period.

Whilst the government’s focus on supply-side measures such as the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill may benefit towards the end of the forecast period and beyond, the demand side will be the key driver of activity in the near-term, balancing further interest rate cuts and improving confidence with continuing constraints around affordability.

In private housing rm&i, activity continues to be supported by government-subsidised energy-efficiency programmes, predominantly for heat pumps and solar photovoltaics, as well as a stream of fire safety remediation work.

Outside of this, general home improvement activity remains subdued. Although many homeowners currently have spare funds for general home improvements, they choose to save rather than spend due to the scarring effect of the inflation spikes in 2022 and 2023 and current economic uncertainty.

The key to growth in the sector overall will be when these homeowners with finance feel confident enough to spend on home improvement projects.

This is still expected to be in late 2025, but it may be pushed back into 2026, especially if there are tax rises in the Autumn. Overall, private housing rm&i output is expected to rise by 2.0% in 2025, with any growth at the backend of the year, followed by 3.0% growth in 2026.

In mid-October last year, an explosion and fire at a house in Bedford killed two pensioners.

The incident happened near to where a natural gas leak had occurred in July, after a borehole was drilled to install a heat pump.

Bedford Police want to speak with anyone who worked on the building of a bungalow behind the property.

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A plumbing firm from Hull has struck an investment deal with a local social housing charity.

Kesselmann Plumbers has invested a six-figure sum in Giroscope, a local organisation that buys and transforms empty properties using volunteers and then makes them available to people living in need.

The two organisations say the agreement is a direct response to gaps in private funding for social housing.

Martin Newman, CEO of Giroscope told the local paper that as traditional funding sources tighten, and demand for affordable housing rises, “we continually seek creative ways to fund new purchases and refurbishments.”

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Parkes Decorators has won a national award for its work on a barn conversation project near Wolverhampton.

The Dudley-based business won the New Build category at the Painting & Decorating Association’s annual Premier Trophy Awards.

Neil Ogilvie, chief executive of the trade body said the project was “a stellar example of best practice in the sector”.

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The Association, which represents specialist firms that design, install, and maintain heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, said the rapid improvement in heat pump technology was an opportunity to provide cooling to more homes and address the “overheating crisis” that was now affecting a record number of people.

“We need an urgent rethink about how we cool and ventilate our homes, especially in our existing housing stock,” said BESA technical director Kevin Morrissey.

“Winter fuel payments were recently at the top of the political agenda, but a similar summer cooling scheme, targeted at vulnerable members of the population, now deserves serious consideration.”

He said BESA members had been sounding the alarm about overheating and poor air quality in buildings for many years. Still, the growing duration and intensity of heat waves made this issue increasingly urgent.

“A recent study found that up to 80% of UK homes regularly overheat in summer. The government reports that UK summertime temperatures will be between 1.3°C and 5.1°C warmer over the coming decades.

“This will hugely harm people’s health, wellbeing and productivity,” said Morrissey.

The UK heatwaves of 2022 led to almost 3,000 excess deaths, but the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) suggested that official figures may have been significantly underestimated.

Heat is often not reported as an official cause of death for someone with a pre-existing health condition. 

The British Medical Journal reports that annual heat-related deaths across the UK could rise to more than 10,000 by 2050, with children, vulnerable adults, and low-income families disproportionately affected.

Heat can affect the health, well-being, productivity and performance of otherwise healthy children and adults, but can be fatal for anyone suffering from heart problems, diabetes, and respiratory issues.

Morrissey said the All Party Parliamentary Group for Healthy Homes and Buildings, which BESA sponsors, provided expert guidance to the government and suggested adapting several existing policies to address the overheating issue.

“Programmes like the Warm Homes Plan, Great British Insulation Scheme and Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), are designed to improve heating efficiency, but these could equally be used to help people who are just as vulnerable to heat as they are to winter cold,” he said.

“Improving insulation is important for reducing heating bills and carbon emissions, but, unless done in tandem with better ventilation and cooling, can lead to overheating, damp, mould and poor air quality – all of which can devastate human health and wellbeing.”

BESA is, therefore, urging the government to revise the BUS to improve incentives for heat pumps that provide both heating and cooling. It says the funding arrangements should be more flexible as the number of heat pumps being fitted remained well below government targets.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The Construction Skills Mission Board (CSMB) is a recognition that construction and government must work together to tackle the skills crisis and achieve its growth ambitions.

“The CSMB’s focus on demand acknowledges that unless the regulatory environment enables work pipelines, existing workforces cannot be sustained, and new workers cannot be added in any serious numbers.”

Mark Reynolds, co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, will chair the CSMB. The board will focus on five key areas to drive increased recruitment:

1. Confidence to employ and invest 
2. Clear new entrant pathways
3. Access to provision and support to train
4. Funding that works 
5. Reliable and rewarding careers

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, will attend the first meeting.

The Government has also announced a partnership between Jobcentres and the industry, which will better equip more people with the skills they need to start or discover fulfilling careers.

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight for the NFB and House Builders Association (HBA), said: “For too long, it was assumed that training workers guarantees a job. The reality is that while 8 in 10 construction apprentices start their training with SMEs, these businesses only build 9% of homes, are struggling with procurement, and many are leaving the industry due to the broken planning system. As a result, many learners fail training because there isn’t anyone to train them to retain them.

“The missing ingredient has always been government intervention. If the Government can unlock project certainty and pipelines, particularly for SMEs, we will see more workers trained and more will be taken on as direct employees. This means greater job security and clear, long-term career pathways.”

A survey by NFU Mutual estimates that one in 20 tradies have considered leaving the industry, while one in 15 knew someone who has already downed tools.

Nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they had been a victim of tool theft in the last year. 

While one in five tradespeople also said they lived in fear of it happening again.

Zoe Knight, head of commercial at NFU Mutual said the figures showed how “how devastating this can be for individuals.”

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International tariffs on steel, aluminium and timber are likely to push up materials prices and impact jobs, claims a report from QBE and Control Risks.

UK firms reliant on imported aluminium and US timber are particularly at risk due to the escalating trade rows.

The same report also highlighted the surging cost of copper, which has jumped by nearly 30% since the start of 2025, due to trade barriers and skyrocketing global demand driven by renewable energy and EV projects.

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The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has registered the lowest Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) among its members since it started keeping records, 50 years ago.

The 2025 Safety Report also highlighted a record low in the Accident Incident Rate (AIC), despite a 22% growth in membership.

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