Manifesto for Construction

There is probably little left to add about the Autumn Budget, partly because it has been amply chewed over in the six days since the Chancellor’s speech but also perhaps because much of the reaction on the issues of housing and construction has been muted to say the least.

It is little more than coincidence however, that the speech was followed so closely by the latest figures showing that housebuilding is stalling again after the good news of strong summer figures. Read Story

One factor right at the core of the housing issue however is the number of workers we will need if we are to do anything about the housing shortage, and now the feelings of the industry as a whole towards the impact of Brexit on the workforce are about to be delivered to the Government in a new manifesto due to be published tomorrow (Nov 29). Read Here

And on a far more upbeat note, anyone who would like to know how it feels to be a G17 Award winner can now see them all on our video, which joins the other pictures in the G-Awards Gallery. View Here

We hope you enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

Housing back in decline

UK housebuilding is back in decline after a strong summer, with figures decreasing by 10 per cent and falling for the second month in a row, according to the latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analyst Barbour ABI.

Across the industry, project numbers were down in October by almost 10 per cent when compared to the same time last year, indicating that a number of larger projects were awarded within the month rather than a large succession of smaller contracts. It was a mixed bag for various sectors this month with industrial and medical & health construction joining housing as sectors that saw a drop in contract value, at 16.2 and 9.9 per cent respectively.

Regionally, London took back the top spot with 25% of the total construction contract value from the West Midlands, which benefited greatly in September thanks to the HS2 contracts. Joint second was the South East which contributed 14 per cent, which included the £40 million McArthurGlen Retail Outlet in Kent, alongside the North West which had the biggest residential project in October, the aforementioned Portugal Street project in Manchester.

Read More Here...

Seven bodies join for ‘Brexit Manifesto’

Seven of the UK’s major construction industry organisations have joined forces to spell out to Government their key concerns over the probable effects of Brexit on the industry, specifically the impact on the access to migrant workers in a post-Brexit Britain.

The document, ‘Construction Industry Brexit Manifesto’ detailing their forecast for the sector’s responsibilities and requirements, is due to be published tomorrow (Wed Nov 29) and will be available here along with statements from the heads of each of the contributing organisations as soon as they are released.

Kat steps up as
Epwin NSM

Epwin Window Systems has announced that Katrina Earl, former Northern Regional Sales Manager, has been promoted to the new role of National Sales Manager, Fenestration Division.

Katrina will report directly to Paul Lindsay, Sales Director and will be responsible for the development of sales within the new Fenestration Division which includes both Epwin Window Systems and the newly formed Epwin Glass business.

She told The Glazine: “I am extremely excited to take on this new challenge and it’s great to know that the Epwin team have the confidence in me as well as our fantastic market-leading brands.

Read More Here...

Community trophy makes a hat trick for G17 installer

G17 double trophy winner SEH BAC has added a third accolade with an award from the National Home Improvement Council for a £10,000 community initiative.

The Suffolk-based installer won the NHIC’s ‘Delivering Community Benefit Through Home Improvement’ Award for its gift of £10,000 of windows for the renovation of The West Cliff Theatre, Clacton, in its Community Giveaway competition.

“We are incredibly proud to win this prestigious award from the NHIC, our third in four years,” said managing director John Savage.

Read More Here...

We Have Email

From: Chris Coxon,
Head of Marketing, Eurocell

Most of the headlines about the Autumn budget have focussed on the Chancellor’s stamp duty cuts. The threshold has been raised to £300,000, supposedly to help first-time buyers and families who are desperate to move to bigger properties. Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing at Eurocell, considers the announcements.

The jury is definitely out on whether the stamp duty break will have its intended effect. But the detail that caught our eye was plans to lift borrowing caps on Housing Revenue Accounts for local authorities in areas of “high affordability pressures” so that they can build more council homes.

Read More