Civils

A sharp downturn hit the UK construction sector in February with the lowest activity level since May 2020. The latest S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data, released this morning (6 March), showed an activity index of 44.6. This was down from the 48.1 recorded for January and below the neutral 50 mark.

Alun Griffiths has begun a consultation with staff following a “strategic review of the business” caused by “recent challenges” including financial performance.  In October 2023, the Welsh civils contractor reported turnover of £301m and a £20m pre-tax loss for the year to 31 December 2022 – its fourth consecutive year in the red. Its current

A public spending watchdog has said HS2’s construction contracts are “extremely poor value for money” and is “unconvinced” they can be renegotiated to achieve significant savings. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) described HS2 as a “cycle of repeated failure” and “a casebook example of how not to run a major project”. In a report published

Colne Valley Viaduct concepts created for HS2 by Grimshaw Architects Civils firm Colas Rail has scooped up a £206.9m job to develop HS2’s overhead wiring system. The contractor will now design, manufacture, install and test HS2's overhead catenary system (OCS), for 469km worth of track. That will include overhead wiring to supply electric power for

Civils specialist Applebridge Construction has grown both turnover and profit by a third despite slashing its headcount. The Middlesbrough-based contractor posted income of £82.9m for the year to 30 April 2024, up 33 per cent on the previous year. Meanwhile, the firm's pre-tax profit soared by 34 per cent over the same timeframe to £7.2m.

HS2 civils delivery director Mike Lyons (pictured) is leaving his post next month for a role in the private sector. In a letter to HS2 independent construction commissioner Mark Worthington, Lyons confirmed he would be “leaving HS2 Ltd shortly”. Lyons joined HS2 in 2014 as programme director and has held several senior leadership roles on

Hochtief UK’s profit fell by 85 per cent in 2021 due to problems with an unnamed job. The infrastructure specialist made a profit of £681,000 in 2021, down from £4.6m the previous year, according to accounts filed at Companies House. The decrease was despite the group’s turnover jumping from £82.3m to £99.3m. Hochtief UK is