Scottish Construction Jobs under threat
Dire warnings regarding Scotland’s construction industry have been released which speculate that 11,000 jobs could be cut in 2011. The losses are expected to be due to construction workloads flagging next year which could see industry output decrease by over £600m.
The survey chronicling this data was carried out by The Scottish Building Federation (SBF). The statistics show that nearly two thirds of those who contributed to the survey are expecting to be forced to reduce their staff numbers. I measly 5%think that they will be able to increase their workforce.
These revelations come after a slight recovery for the construction industry during 2010; a recovery which is deemed to reverse. Michael Levack, chief executive for SBF has remarked that:
“Overall, as 2010 draws to a close, I think the mood amongst construction firms is very apprehensive. With the value of new orders apparently shrinking, with Scotland’s public capital budget facing a cut of more than 20% next year, and with many other sectors of the industry – not least house building and commercial – continuing to struggle, our members are bracing themselves for tough times ahead.”
He also advised that MSP’s should take “careful heed” of the information and take it into consideration for the coming negotiations for next year’s Scottish budget.
£3bn saving with the Construction Industry
Infrastructure UK has outlined improvements that could be made to increase efficiency and ultimately reduce building and infrastructure maintenance costs by 15%. The new initiative will involve the government and the construction industry developing a much more intimate working relationship.
The plan covers different areas including procurement improvements, increasing productivity, making process more efficient and encouraging fresh approaches to construction.
Investigation steering group chairman Terry Hill said: “Evidence from the investigation suggests a high degree of consensus that efficiency improvements can be achieved and that the infrastructure construction industry will respond positively to client side improvements in planning, commissioning and procurement of projects and programmes.”
It has been estimated that implementing the new plan could result in saving £3bn a year on civil engineering. There are currently unnecessary standards in place which hinder workflow and there is also a lack of data which results in difficulty over making investment decisions and setting targets for the future.
Grundomat & The Grundomat Mole
Filed under: Grundomat Driven Piles, Mini Piling, Services, Top Driven Piles, Uncategorized
Grundomat are one of the better known brands within the piling industry. With many pile driving and underpinning products, they are popular throughout our industry.
The Grundomat Mole is a technical soil displacement hammer, ideal for use in almost any type of soil. With the ability to bore through up to 50 metres and successfully displace obstructions they encounter, they’re ideal for installing of underground services such as underpinning and piles. Available in sizes including 45mm, 55mm and 65mm diameters, they’re not only useful but essential products.
A key component in trenchless moling technology, the Grundomat Mole is quoted as saving time, cost and minimising disruption in residential and commercial locations where life and business needs to continue as smoothly as possible.
Construction Industry is bouncing back at a slower rate
The construction industry is still making a recovery but progress began slowing down again in November, compared to during the summer. Policymakers will be concerned with the news that employment rates are still declining. In the summer months the employment sector was considered to be the solution to jobs being lost in the public sector when the funds are cut.
Sarah Ledger, economist at Markit and author of the figures asserted that, “While mild growth of the UK construction sector was reported in November, PMI data signalled that operating conditions remained challenging. New contract wins were restricted by lengthy negotiation periods and deferred spending by clients. Furthermore, jobs were cut again, indicating that constructors see little need to maintain current capacity. Expectations for business activity over the coming year did rise in the month, although confidence remained below pre-recession levels.”
The economy will be unable to rely on the construction industry to being the saviour of the recession in the UK. The boost in construction during the second and third quarters was due to special factors which are no longer influential. However, there are certain projects in Greater London which are having a positive effect on the construction industry so it’s not all doom and gloom.
Mini Piling
Filed under: Bored Cased Piles, Drop Weight Driven Piles, Grundomat Driven Piles, Mini Piling
Although the use of piling equipment is widespread throughout the construction industry, there are often cases where site access is limited to the often large and unwieldy pile drivers used by many contractors. Not only is there the embarrassment and inconvenience that can sometimes happen when a piling rig is simply too big to reach the site, but there is the loss of productivity which can be damaging to companies, not only in terms of cost but scheduling.
This is where mini piling is the solution. Mini piling rigs are used in smaller projects from house extensions to sites with uneven or undulating ground. Fortunately, with our years of experience, MK Piling are specialist mini piling rig contractors. With experts in mini-piling rigs, we can offer Grundomat Driven Piles, Bored Cased Piles and also Drop Weight Driven Piles, ideal for small projects or locations where larger piling rigs simply cannot reach safely. Mini piling rigs are also ideal for locations where noise or vibration needs to be limited as much as possible, such as near residential or commercial properties.
So, for any building project, large or small, call us today to discuss your requirements.