Qualified operator shortage leaves plant owners suffering

By Fraser Dykes, Vice President of the Scottish Plant Owners Association and Director at AMD Contract Services Ltd, who says action must be taken...

Genuine parts ensure articulated hauler quality and uptime

Articulated haulers excel at navigating challenging terrain while transporting heavy loads, making them indispensable in construction, mining and infrastructure projects. However, the integrity of...

Governments must be ready to help construction sector go green

By Scott Brewster, MD of Brewster Bros, a resource management business which specialises in recycling construction waste and creating high quality recycled aggregates based...
Metso equipment working in a quarry

Knowledge holds the key to ‘the Metso experience’

Denis McGrath, sales director at Metso’s UK and Ireland distributor McHale Plant Sales, explains the benefits of close customer collaboration KNOWLEDGE (they say) is no...

Working together to attract next generation of skilled workers

By Glen Hampson, business development manager, construction, at Kubota UK WITH the construction sector hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis in recent months, it’s more...
Sunbelt Rentals apprentices

Addressing the skills gap: why growing your own talent pipeline is key

Julie Harpley, early careers & social impact academy manager, and Jenny Parry, head of talent at Sunbelt Rentals UK and Ireland discuss the growing...

New blood vital to the SPOA

Jim Houstoun, Past President of  the Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA), currently involved with training for members, explains why the organisation remains in robust...
TOYOTA operator training

Trained fork truck operators lift safety standards and lower business costs

Improved forklift safety, lower running costs and reduced downtime are among the many benefits that lift truck operator training will bring to a business,...

Safe Digging Week: safety on site is the national priority

To mark National Safe Digging Week, Mark Royse, head of sales at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, discusses the importance of responsible digging and explains...

Boosting plant productivity with contract hire

As the UK construction industry faces challenging labour shortages, Paul Beddows, sales director at Dawsongroup emc, explains how flexible contract hire of the latest...

Why innovation is driving the future of the construction industry

Mark Royse, head of sales at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, discusses the latest industry growth figures and explains why the future of compact equipment...

Tackling the skills gap

With the industry skills gap still widening, many companies are looking to find a suitable and sustainable solution to the skills shortfall, says Philip...

The cost of over digging

It is sometimes necessary to dig beyond the depth required for the formation of below-ground structures if the ground conditions are not stable. For...

Have you got the edge?

Construction businesses are more likely to win bids if they can guarantee high-quality work, while sticking to a budget and a deadline. Meeting all...

Chasing the correct revenue

All businesses want to grow, but is the most suitable measurement of success increased revenue? Mark Anderson, committee member of the Scottish Plant Owners...

Equipment advances can help to address housing challenges

There is no silver bullet to the shortage of affordable housing across the UK. Debate over the barriers to meeting targets is complex; not...

Aggregates Levy must be a springboard for the resource management sector

By Scott Brewster, MD, Brewster Brothers ONE of the aims of the Scottish Government’s proposed Aggregates Levy is that the new tax should support the...

Telehandler hazards: tackling blind spots in mobile plant

Telehandlers are powerful machines that offer invaluable service to industries across the world, from construction and agriculture to logistics, mines and quarries. Here, Emily...

How to maintain dump trucks during winter

Scotland has been gripped by icy weather in recent weeks, with parts of the country experiencing its most significant snowfall in years. Terex Trucks...
Mineral repurposing

Driving carbon reduction in construction works

By Andrew Askew, owner of MINORE, which specialises in sustainable solutions within the minerals sector A number of reforms and policy updates in relation to...
Air leak detecting

Leaked: how to save money on your fourth utility

By Andy Batey, head of engineering, Brammer Buck & Hickman ON average 10% of all industrial electricity consumption can be attributed to the production of...
Demolition equipment on tunnelling project

The race to develop electric-powered machinery

Jeff Keeling, VP sales and marketing at Brokk Inc, discusses the race to develop electric-powered equipment and how demolition machine manufacturers got ahead of...

Suicide – we’re in it together

By Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity  World Suicide Prevention Day is just around the corner and we will see a huge...

Managing health and safety risks of outdoor working this summer

By Kevin Rowe, MD of SafetyBuyer.com AS the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ease, construction firms will be looking forward to completing their...
Claire Sheerin of Hays

Diversity in construction: how far have we come?

In a recent survey of construction professionals nearly half of the respondents (46%) said they felt their career progression has been limited due to their background.

Balfour Beatty goes all-electric at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

Jo Gilroy, group sustainability director at Balfour Beatty, shares an update on the company’s ongoing journey towards the zero carbon construction site of the...
Rebecca Swann of Certas Energy

Reducing emissions from NRMM with alternative fuels

It is an uncomfortable truth that there is no single fuel solution to the air quality problem for the construction sector.

Ten tips for maintaining hauler productivity when the cold creeps in

Safeguarding hauler productivity is vital when operating in low temperatures. Here, Motherwell-based articulated hauler manufacturer Rokbak addresses the challenges posed by winter weather conditions,...

Groundbreaking developments in earthmoving technology

Earlier this year, when the Construction News Award for Commercial Innovation of the Year went to Miller UK, the company's hydraulic breaker was thrust...

Creative thinking helps operators thrive on peatland restoration projects

Andrew McBride, Peatland ACTION project manager explains why the Scottish Government is pledging £250 million for peatland restoration over the next 10 years, and...