Re:Construction

Bishop & Taylor spend most of this episode discussing proposals for a mandatory builders’ licensing scheme with the project’s architect, Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Chief Executive Brian Berry.

Bishop & Taylor are joined by Hardy Giesler, Chief Executive of the British Board of Agrément (BBA), who tells them about the changes he is planning within the much-criticised organisation.

Bishop & Taylor chew over the government’s latest planning proposals, the leadership of major projects and the UK’s continuing dependency on migrant labour.

Bishop & Taylor discuss a new code for construction product marketing, (lack of) transparency at the British Board of Agrément, and the hydraulic jacking of an 11,000-tonne box tunnel.

This week Bishop & Taylor reflect on changes to the Prompt Payment Code, the new building products regulator and consolidation in the builders’ merchant sector.

The UK construction industry is warned that it may be about to become ‘embroiled in costly and long-running disputes’. This, along with HS2’s new personnel database and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) on site, are on Bishop & Taylor’s agenda this week.

As the UK enters its third national lockdown, Bishop & Taylor take solace in the Brexit deal that has averted even greater chaos; they discuss the threat facing hundreds of old railway bridges; and wonder whether Berkeley Group’s recruitment this week of the Archdeacon of Hackney might start a trend for clergy in the boardroom.

With the end of 2020 upon us, Bishop & Taylor reflect on some of the big talking points of the year.

Bishop & Taylor discuss flexible working with Emma Stewart, Chief Executive of Timewise, and how it might help to improve the construction industry.

Bishop & Taylor mull on the public procurement policies set out in the new Construction Playbook. They also consider the home improvements that the Climate Change Committee expects them to make. And mark the contribution of Rudi Klein, retiring after more than 30 years as chief of the SEC Group.

Bishop & Taylor mull latest Covid developments, including the unforeseen consequences of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. They also discuss shortcomings of the under-funded Health & Safety Executive. And Taylor has been to some more virtual press conferences.

Bishop & Taylor discuss JCB’s ‘virtual’ press launch of new battery-powered machines, mull over what to do with machinery operators who work while intoxicated, and find statistical evidence regarding how Britain spent the constrained summer of 2020.

Bishop & Taylor discuss the plans for a tunnel under the Stonehenge world heritage site, one of two major road tunnels in the works, and (as it’s Road Safety Week) the perils faced by road workers.

Bishop & Taylor discuss the collapse of the campaign for a builders’ licence, the expansion of the Construction Leadership Council and one contractor’s left-field move into offsite construction.

As the UK embarks on a second national lockdown, Bishop & Taylor mark the 415th anniversary of the country’s most famous failed explosive demolition job by meeting a man who knows a thing or two about to knocking things down, AR Demolition’s Richard Dolman. They discuss explosives, steam engines and debris protection.

The Boot family has clocked up 600 years working for JCB, there’s a planning row in Walton-on-Thames over later living, and must we learn to call construction contractors ‘PSCPs’? Here’s Bishop & Taylor again.

Bishop & Taylor discuss the news that half a million UK construction workers have had a planned pay rise frozen and that Morgan Sindall Construction has committed to the Living Wage. They are also joined by Paul Clarkson, managing director of Yorkshire’s Triton Construction, who explains what it means to be employee-owned.

How do you get from HS2 to Jaffa Cakes? Well, Bishop & Taylor get there via planning reform, Palestine and Britain’s biggest contractor that builds absolutely nothing.

Wind power is in the news this week, prompting Bishop & Taylor to focus on green matters. In this episode they also discuss a better way to end the red diesel rebate, cleaning up concrete and one contractor’s use of electric bicycles.

After a brief discussion about the NHS track & trace app that the construction industry has been encouraged to embrace, Bishop & Taylor talk to ecologist Dr Stephanie Wray of RSK Wilding about environmental mitigation, from carbon reduction to the nascent rewilding movement.

It’s all about the stars! Huge scepticism is required when reading online reviews, but they can still matter. Bishop & Taylor (4.5 stars) discuss the latest Glassdoor ratings for top contractors and a new app for rating asbestos removal operatives.

Bishop & Taylor discuss highlights of the latest Construction Index UK Top 100 construction companies, as well as share price trends, and a new scheme to get Hampshire building again.

Taylor credits Bishop with raising demand for dogs, while Bishop credits Taylor with raising consciousness of the threat to chalk streams. Of greater relevance, however, is the use of a hydrogen fuel cell system to provide power for a pioneering construction project in Lincolnshire.

With the new school year starting, it’s a time of fresh beginnings; should you still work from home or return to the office?  A Loughborough University study finds how well construction has adapted to the constraints of Covid-19.  Meanwhile trade secretary Liz Truss appears to have no truck with the construction industry, shutting it out of her 11 trade advisory groups. It’s Bishop & Taylor ti...

Bishop & Taylor discuss delays to the £4bn Thames Tideway project as well as the transport secretary’s new acceleration unit and a drill attachment that cuts square holes.