Re:Construction: Recent Episodes
The Construction Index
A weekly podcast in which veteran construction industry journalists Bishop and Taylor have a natter about some of the week’s events in the UK construction industry, seeking meaning even where none may exist.
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After two hundred episodes and six (and a bit) years, Bishop and Taylor gracefully bow out from their responsibilities on the Re:Construction podcast. Don’t worry - they still manage to fit in some last bits of construction industry news relating to a change in the top at Vistry and the latest goings on at Strabag.
Bishop and Taylor discuss proposals to finally ban the use of retentions. Plus they ask why is the government consulting on proposals to cut consultations? And who is Fatty Acid Methyl Ester?
Bishop & Taylor discuss the extent to which a much anticipated imminent recovery in UK construction is likely to have been hit but the latest turn of world events. They also chat about the impending departure of Vistry CEO Greg Fitzgerald and the election of a plumber to the House of Commons.
Bishop & Taylor are joined again by barrister Rudi Klein, who for more than 30 years was chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group, to discuss progress – or lack of – in construction industry payment reform.
In this episode Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest in the ongoing saga of the physical deterioration of the Palace of Westminster. They also talk power tools, with the relaunch of a redesigned range of JCB-branded tools. And they talk soil recycling, with specific reference to house-builder Persimmon’s latest money-saving initiative.
This episode sees Bishop & Taylor discuss the state of labour relations in the UK construction industry, the rationality of sentences for health & safety breaches and the precise definition of ‘a Tier One contractor’.
With the demise of Versarien, the company behind Cementene, Bishop & Taylor discuss whether graphene admixtures will ever take root in the construction industry. They also talk about the landmark Supreme Court ruling in the case of Providence v Hexagon and a young plant hire company in the northeast making a tidy 40% pre-tax profit margin.
The Single Construction Regulator Prospectus dropped shortly before Christmas – with some astonishing content. And the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has published the interim report of its civil engineering market study. Much food for thought here for Bishop & Taylor to discuss. And, prompted by a new appointment at Kier, they ponder: what does a chief of staff actually do?
Were you paying attention in 2025 or closing your eyes at the back of the classroom? Bishop & Taylor are here to remind you of some of the UK construction industry news highlights of the year, or maybe tell you what you missed.
After a brief look at Birmingham City’s bonkers stadium plan, Bishop & Tayor discuss this week’s budget news, RSK’s latest acquisition and major developments in plant and tool hire, including the sale of Marubeni-Komatsu and the repositioning of Brandon Hire Group
With the latest UN Conference of the Parties (COP) taking place in Brazil, Bishop & Taylor ruminate on aspects of sustainability, including a warning from RICS of “clear signs of fatigue and uncertainty”. They also discuss the trend for construction trades to seek professional status, and whether they are prepared for the lifetime commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) that it must surely entail.
Topics discussed this week include a new film from Gilbert Ash, the Louvre jewellery heist, a poorly attended parliamentary debate on cement, and the binning of plant-theft legislation.
In this episode Bishop & Taylor discuss the break up of tool hire group HSS, the external wall insulation scandal and the cost of gold (or should that be green?) plating the Lower Thames Crossing project
Bishop & Taylor discuss the government’s latest plans for new towns, Gatwick Airport expansion and what might very well be Britain’s best supported building – is 17,000 piles a record?
Taylor struggles manfluey (sic) through this episode’s discussion with Bishop on topics including the challenges facing the new housing secretary, which statistics to believe and when contracts come to an end.
With that 1.5 million new homes target looking increasingly unachievable, Bishop & Taylor consider some of the blockages in the system. They also discuss how National Highways spends its ‘designated funds’. And they review some recent industry acquisitions, giving them the opportunity to talk cranes.
Bishop & Taylor trawl through The Construction Index 2025 rankings of the Top 100 construction contractors. And they hit upon the solution to the industry’s recruitment problems.
From Roskill to Arora, Bishop & Taylor discuss Heathrow expansion and alternatives of the past. They also wonder why Mace sold its most protitable operations. And they review some of the latest goings-on overseas, including the Strait of Messina Bridge.
After their regular review of recent headlines, Bishop & Taylor are joined by Suzannah Nichol, Chief Executive of Build UK, to look back on the first 10 years of the industry’s biggest representative body.
Bishop & Taylor discuss EDF’s decision to rein in its exposure to the Sizewell C nuclear plant, reorganisation of the Building Safety Regulator and the imminent soaring hike in landfill tax.
It’s all big infrastructure in this episode, with Bishop & Taylor discussing a new 10-Year Plan, revelations of how badly awry HS2 has gone, and cartel busters from the Competition & Markets Authority being given a stab at management consultancy to tell us how to do civil engineering better.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the UK government’s big push on nuclear power, the forthcoming requirement for new homes to have solar panels and Extract, the new AI tool for local planning departments
Bishop & Taylor approve of a significant Supreme Court victory for Barratt Developments and take opposing views on the government’s plan to prevent land banking. They also discuss a report from a group of MPs calling for a licensing scheme for individuals and companies engaged in domestic energy efficiency retrofits.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the difference between cheating and gaming the system, how to tackle bribery and corruption in the construction industry, and (completely unrelated) the Reform Party’s construction connections
Bishop & Taylor have been learning that concrete is far from the carbon-bad-guy that it is popularly portrayed as. They also discuss the Nature Levy, known by some as Licence to Kill. And they wonder whether aerogels are set for take-off in insulation.
In this episode stonemason Pierre Bidaud of The Stone Collective promotes the benefits of natural stone as a structural building material. Also, Bishop & Taylor discuss the crisis at British Steel (and whether it matters) and marvel at coffee-infused cement.
Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the talking points from chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent spring statement, the formation of new government bodies, and the rise of pine.
Bishop & Taylor discuss government’s efforts to reduce regulatory hurdles, the challenges facing the UK cement sector and a proposal to lower the school leaving age to 14 in Scotland
Bishop & Taylor discuss the government’s response to the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report and juxtapose this with the forgotten Cole Report report into a primary school wall collapse.
In this episode, Bishop & Taylor discuss exploding batteries, how the one-year-old biodiversity net gain (BNG) rules are bedding in, and a call from steel companies for clients to buy British
In a landmark speech last week, chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves voiced support for Heathrow’s long-range third runway plan but may have killed the shovel-ready Lower Thames Crossing. Bishop & Taylor chew it over. They also mourn the demise of the SGB brand (Scaffolding Great Britain, as was).
In this episide Bishop & Taylor discuss a thwarted attempt to make solar panels compulsory on all new houses, RIBA’s support a contractor licensing scheme and the latest examples of companies having a rethink about their plant operations.
Bishop & Taylor share their expectations for the UK construction industry in 2025, including a raft of major government initiatives, from NISTA to new towns.
In their last episode of the year, Bishop & Taylor look back on some of the highs and lows of the year: the change in government and what it has brought, the Grenfell Inquiry report, the fall of ISG, the birth of Barratt Redrow, the six-thousand-tonne crane… and more besides.
Bishop & Taylor discuss plans to for the provision of fast-track construction apprentices, the latest HSE statistics (shouldn’t musculoskeletal disorders be classified as injuries rather than illnesses?), and the small London company with a letter of intent for 10,000 prefab homes.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Paul Wilkinson, vice-chair of Nima, to discuss the Information Management Initiative (IMI) and its significance to the construction industry, particularly in relation to building information modelling (BIM) and technology adoption.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist of the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), to discuss chancellor Rachel Reeve’s autumn 2024 budget statement. Suffice to day, the doctor is unimpressed with her remedies.
Bishop & Taylor have yet to be much impressed by the new government’s impact on the construction industry. They also discuss Britain’s second-biggest house-builder, and plant hire companies turning away from general plant.
A decision on the £9bn Lower Thames Crossing is due this week, batteries are getting bigger and better, and there’s a new name in house-building. Bishop & Taylor discuss all this, and more.
In this episode Bishop & Taylor discuss the collapse of ISG, the rise and sale of Fox Brothers, and National Highways’ trial of graphene-enhanced asphalt.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the findings, and recommendations, of phase two of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the first 50 days of Kier Starmer’s prime minstership, the demise of two very different organisations – Women into Construction and Hypertunnel – and the appeal court ruling on Providence v Hexagon
Bishop & Taylor discuss this year’s tide of merger & acquisition activity, the appointment of Pete Redfern at Travis Perkins and National Highways’ footbridge design competition. But they start with an update on last episode’s discussion on AdBlue.
In another typically wide-ranging episode, Bishop & Taylor discuss what we can expect from the new government, problems with AdBlue and the latest addition to Network Rail’s footbridge catalogue
In a football and election-free zone, Bishop & Taylor discuss the implications of the Finch v Surrey CC Supreme Court judgment, the flawed credentials of certain hydrogens and Mammoet’s massive new flagship machine
After airing views about construction industry lobbying, Bishop & Taylor decide to park the politics. Taylor has been talking to an interesting SME, while Bishop has been following the battle for Chatham Docks.
Bishop & Taylor discuss how construction industry interests may or may not figure in the main party manifestos. They also discuss the UK’s entry to an Indo-Pacific trade bloc and why machinery manufacturers fear restrictions on the use of ‘forever’ chemicals.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by recruitment consultant Greg Shaw, Randstad’s London regional director, to discuss the construction industry jobs market and the future of the industry
In this episode Bishop & Taylor mourn the demise of Geoffrey Osborne Ltd. They also discuss how missing green targets brought down Scotland’s first minister. Also examined are demolition projects featured in the May 2024 issue of The Construction Index magazine: Honda’s Swindon plant and a bridge over the M25 at Wisley.
Britain’s briefest prime minister has a book out this week and Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the things that she’s been saying. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, they decide. So what might Liz Truss be right about? Also in this episode, checking consultants’ credentials and Taylor’s adventure in artificial intelligence.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the increasing difficulties endured by mobile crane hire companies faced with road embargos. They celebrate the completion of construction of the Thames Tideway tunnel (and hope it stops rowers vomiting). And they wonder what housing minister Lee Rowley’s MMC policy review might throw up.
In an unusually wide ranging episode, Bishop & Taylor cover crystalline silica, plastic pipes, the Lower Thames Crossing, the A66, the Daily Telegraph (is it really more important to national security than nuclear power?) and stress-inducing questions.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist of the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), to discuss Jeremy Hunt’s spring 2024 budget statement.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by L Lynch Plant Hire joint managing director Merrill Lynch to discuss reducing construction’s diesel consumption.
Bishop & Taylor explore the disconnect between attempts to remove red tape for house-builders while simultaneously burdening them with ever-greater levels of bureacracy. They also discuss news from a couple of regulatory authorities: the Office of Rail & Road is investigating the deteriorating performance of National Highways; and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is on EDF’s case after a series of safety failings at its power plants.
In this episode, Bishop & Taylor hear from Bob Weston about why he had to scrap his £300m Anglia Square development in Norwich. They also discuss a House of Lords report that damns government’s lack of strategy for prefab housing. And they ask whether carbon measuring rules need to be dictated by government, as proposed by a coalition of industry institutions. Finally, they pay tribute to Jim Stockoll, founder of Dyno-Rod and daddy of UK franchising.
Bishop & Taylor are re-joined by Rudi Klein, perhaps the construction industry’s most seasoned campaigner for change. He shares his opinions on the need for industry reform and encourages listeners to take the opportunity of this year’s general election to lobby their local candidates.
Bishop & Taylor kick off 2024 mourning the demise of Stewart Milne Group. They also consider the apparent preponderence of neurodiversity within construction project management and discuss the rebranding of Artex.
As the end of the year approaches, Bishop & Taylor look back on some of the highs and lows on which they reported in 2023.
Bishop & Taylor chew over the autumn statement and late paying clients, discuss why Grenfell Tower still stands, and question whether state aid should go to a company owned by Persimmon and Goldman Sachs.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest goings on at Westminster, new applications of digital technology in construction machinery and the revelation that working from home has added a year of delays to HS2 design work.
Bishop & Taylor discuss Mace’s proposals to move London construction from mere recycling to the more virtuous state of circularity. They also chat about likely motives for the sale of piling specialist Rock & Alluvium. They conclude with a report that reckons a fifth of UK construction companies are in significant financial distress, and worry how many will survive.
Bishop & Taylor mull over Labour Party leader Keir Starmer’s promise to get Britain building again and the National Infrastructure Commission’s blueprint that might help him. They also return to the topic of dodgy ladders, with new research form the Ladder Association.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the cancellation of HS2’s northern section and the prime minister’s policy reversals on net zero targets.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Balfour Beatty sustainability director Jo Gilroy for a chat about decarbonising construction machinery and the promise of hydrogen.
Bishop & Taylor return to the familiar topics of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and nutrient neutrality, both in the news. Fears of RAAC panels collapsing has prompted the closure of more than 100 school buildings and now more and more building owners are following suit. Rules that prevent houses being built where excessive nutrient run-off might pollute waterways are to be swept away, the government has decided. The final topic in this episode is the increasing obsolescence of power tools with plugs and cables.
After a whinge about companies trying to interfere with their journalistic integrity, Bishop & Taylor get onto the real business of this episode – the 2023 Top 100 ranking of UK construction contractors, as featured in the forthcoming September issue of The Construction Index magazine. They also discuss Sir Robert McAlpine’s version of the Barbie movie.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest tangles over switching from CE to UKCA product certification and the Transport Select Committee report on road-building. They also discuss repairs to Brentford’s modular Paragon Estate and latest results from volumetric house-builder TopHat
With industry forecasts this week predicting a 7% fall in construction output, much rests on Michael Gove’s latest raft of intitiatives. Bishop & Taylor chew the fat on this. They also revisit the Inland Homes story on corporate governance and “related party matters”.
Refreshed from a month off the airwaves [which is how they think podcasts are delivered], Bishop & Taylor discuss the A47 court challenge. They also expose how UK taxpayers support overseas construction companies instead of British ones. And they share concerns about how landlords use technology to educate their tenants.
Among topics covered in Bishop & Taylor’s wide-ranging conversation this week are Ilke Homes in need of rescue, the dangers of growth and whether the construction industry is behind the curve in embracing technology.
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss the revised hospital building programme and whether the HSE should investigate suicides. They are also joined by Adam Nicoll, director of HR firm Randstad, who has unfashionable views on the role of alcohol in the world of work.
Bishop & Taylor discuss Legal & General’s withdrawal from prefab housing, offsetting (again) and the economic clouds hovering over the UK industry
It has been a busy week for Bishop & Taylor: National Highways is preparing a diploma in integrated project delivery (IPD) that it expects its suppliers to sit; the Independent Review of Construction Product Testing has been published; and Persimmon has invested £25m in volumetric housing manufacturer TopHat.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the cancellation of the smart motorways programme, Billington’s recruitment difficulties, GMI’s shadow board and heat pumps.
Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti joins Bishop & Taylor to discuss HS2’s listening skills and community relations in the West Midlands. Also on the agenda are the £60m fine handed down to a demolition cartel and Balfour Beatty’s discovery that most battery-powered plant is not up to the job.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the recent Budget statement, including tax allowances (and perhaps how to exploit them), new additions to the Shortage Occupations List and the postponement of major transport projects. They also discuss developers that have not (or not yet, at time of recording) signed Michael’s Gove’s building remediation contract. And there’s an interesting new arrival in Vistry’s boardroom.
Bishop & Taylor give two cheers to National Highways for choosing to repair a Scottish viaduct instead of simply filling it in; they discuss latest initiatives in the push for a national retrofit strategy; and they sympathise with a contractor stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Bishop & Taylor’s wide-ranging discussion in this episode takes in the 90-year-old Buy American Act, concrete made from seashells, problems with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete and what plant-hire companies want from the upcoming budget statement.
Bishop & Taylor discuss a Supreme Court judgment on nuisance, the review of Compulsory Purchase Orders, and claims that HS2 is not as biodiversity-neutral as it thinks it is.
Bishop & Taylor discuss Levelling Up fund allocation and changes to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. They are then joined by John Allcoat, head of construction stats at the Office for National Statistics, who explains what he does and how he does it. Best of all, he has some good news…!
Bishop & Taylor kick off 2023 with a look at the latest HSE statistics, including those relating to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS); with the return of Andy Milner to Amey, they discuss boomerang CEOs; and they close proceedings with their views on internships.
Bishop & Taylor look back on some of the highs and lows of 2022. But first there’s the week’s news to catch up on: new owners for Mick George and Jewsons; and a warning from fire chiefs about modern methods of construction.
Bishop & Taylor discuss government spending plans, how Sizewell C power station will be funded and whether builders should have a builder as their institute’s president
Bishop & Taylor discuss a toddler’s death caused by uninhabitable social housing and the latest from that other great recent social housing scandal, Grenfell Tower. They also discuss why the Code for Construction Product Information has stalled and the temporary reprieve for CE marking in the UK.
Bishop and Taylor discuss some of the challenges facing the new transport secretary, a new concept for self-service readymix, and Interserve’s £4.4m fine for data protection failings. The also discuss corporate uniforms, of which Taylor approves.
Just like the prime minister, Ray O’Rourke is not yet ready to leave his job. Both are on the agenda of Bishop & Taylor in this episode. They also discuss whether the future of offsite construction means offshoring to distant lands, the Lafarge scandal and whether electricians deserve protection.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the government’s plans to reinvigorate the UK economy. They then move on to the backlash against hydrotreated vegetable oil as a diesel replacement. And finally, the beaver is back, with full legal protection.
On 8th September 2022, two days after asking Elizabeth Truss to form a new government, HM Queen Elizabeth II died. Bishop & Taylor discuss both the rules of mourning and their expectations of the new PM. Finally, having received a polite ticking-off from Portakabin, they also discuss brand protection.
The episode in which Bishop & Taylor discuss The Construction Index’s latest annual analysis of the UK’s Top 100 construction companies.
As drought turns to floods, Bishop & Taylor discuss reservoir plans and other rainwater strategies. They also consider the implications of a survey that appears to show young people warming towards careers in construction. And they welcome Vp’s refusal to accept unworthy offers.
Tanned and refreshed after their summer break, Bishop & Taylor return to discuss all things energy related, including controlling bills, the cost of heat pumps, repowering wind turbines, importing Moroccan sun and Sizewell C’s prospects.
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With the Building Safety Act 2022 now in force, Bishop & Taylor wonder how much of it was needed and why there aren’t more Rick Willmotts in the industry to speak out. They also discuss bid rigging in the demolition industry. Finally, with Genie being recently fined for an incident nine years ago, they wonder why it takes so long for health & safety prosecutions to get to court.
The concrete rebar lobby has challenged the sustainability credentials of cross laminated timber; asphalt suppliers are switching from hot to warm mix recipes; and the trade gap in construction products and materials has doubled when it was meant to have halved. Bishop & Taylor discuss all this, and a little more besides.
The government is consulting on the restoration of imperial units for shopkeepers. Bishop & Taylor have their views. They also discuss telescopic ladders and the latest news on the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project. But first, tune in to learn the fastest way to net zero…
Bishop & Taylor are joined by bricklayer-turned-teacher Dean Carpenter, a supporter of the Further Education Teacher Recruitment campaign. That’s after they discuss the rising costs of Hinkley Point C and the surprisingly long reach of the Competition & Markets Authority.
Bishop & Taylor reflect on this week’s state opening of parliament and the contents of the promised legislative programme, from planning to procurement. They also discuss the ‘For Sale’ sale that has been hung on the still-great company formally known as Vibroplant. And, five years after tunnelling completed, the Elizabeth line is finally opening for paying passengers. Hurrah!
The battle to dig the UK’s longest road tunnel enters the ‘competitive dialogue’ stage; MPs call for more action on asbestos removal; and Thames Tideway’s twisted chimneys turn ventilation shafts into public art. Bishop & Taylor ruminate on it all in their usual manner.
The Chartered Institute of Building is pressing for the development of an A level in construction – Bishop & Taylor approve. They also discuss the new BBC Three series, Brickies, and have been sent a list of the world’s smuttiest looking buildings, including the new Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the British Energy Security Strategy, talk innovation with Transforming Construction Challenge director Sam Stacey, and approve of a promised crackdown on fly-tipping. They also reveal themselves to be on Michael Gove’s side in his battle against construction product manufacturers.
Bishop & Taylor discuss latest developments in funding fire safety remediation, the composition of top contractors’ management teams and RoSPA’s Safer Stairs campaign. They also discuss Liebherr’s decision to stay in Russia despite economic sanctions.
Bishop & Taylor mull on the chancellor’s spring statement, the earthmoving industry and biodiversity net gain… along with a few of their usual detours, of course.
Bishop & Taylor discuss, among other things, comments recently attributed to Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg. They also explore social value with Andrew Lowe of Social Value Portal.
Bishop & Taylor look ahead to next week’s spring budget statement from Rishi Sunak but don’t expect any U-turns on red diesel. They also discuss non-executive directors (aka Neddies) and whether loyalty should be part of the job spec. But first they enjoy Sir Rod Stewart filling in potholes.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Brusk Korkmaz, CEO of AIM-listed Hercules Site Services, and his CFO Paul Wheatcroft
Bishop & Taylor discuss the vacant chair at the Construction Leadership Council, the Pallet Loop scheme and the lurking perils of expiring PFI contracts.
With Taylor Wimpey choosing its next CEO from within, against the advice of a major shareholder, Bishop & Taylor discuss succession planning. They also make a plea for greater clarity from marketing copywriters and discuss the breadth of construction’s corporate slogans, from “we build stuff” to (Taylor’s favourite) “redefining the boundaries of ambition”.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Sarah Meek, managing director of mental welfare charity Mates in Mind. They also meet Nick Barnes of Allied Mechanical Engineering, who explains how recent VAT reforms have further squeezed the middle of construction’s supply chain.
Bishop & Taylor discuss reports of Kier buying Taylor Douglas, CARES (the UK Certification Authority For Reinforcing Steel) expelling manufacturers, and the arbitrary 18-metre cut-off for the new building safety regime.
Taylor has been watching Greg Wallace in a JCB factory; Bishop accuses Michael Gove of grandstanding; and they share views on the 2022 New Year Honours.
Bishop and Taylor look back and some of the highlights and lowlights of construction industry news in 2021.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Lord Aberdare, who has tabled The Construction (Retentions Abolition) Bill in parliament. Our hosts also discuss developments in the campaign for mandatory builders’ licences, and the feasibility studies for a Stranraer-Larne fixed link, both of which now look dead in the water.
With International Men’s Day on 19th November, Bishop & Taylor discuss manliness and men’s health. They speak to Sophie Smith, a specialist nurse at Prostate Cancer UK. And they also discuss the construction industry’s (lack of) preparedness for the end of red diesel.
Interserve’ auditors have been fined, BAM is building a net-zero pathfinder school and the consolidation of builders’ merchants continues. Bishop & Taylor discuss all this and more.
Bishop & Taylor have differing attitudes to the use of uncertified reinforcing steel on the HS2 project. They also discuss a change in funding methods for new nuclear power stations and consider proposals from the National Federation of Builders to ‘reconstruct’ the industry’s training board.
Bishop & Taylor wonder how much the UK really benefits from foreign contractors building roads in far-off lands. They also discuss the SOS hand signal with which victims of modern slavery can seek help, before straying to the topic of secret handshakes.
After a brief digression into James Bond territory, Bishop & Taylor discuss developments at nmcn since they last spoke, the new rules for chartered surveyors and the production of HS2 tunnel lining segments in Hartlepool.
After a bit of politics, Bishop & Taylor discuss the demise this week of a £400m contractor. They are also joined by Ayo Ogunbambi, mentor to Balfour Beatty CEO Leo Quinn.
In a bumper episode, Bishop & Taylor are joined by building conservation specialist Adrian Attwood of DBR and hear how 2022 will be ‘The Year of the Master Craftsperson’. They also talk fuel efficiency, from F1 to tower cranes, with Punch Flybrid’s Tobias Knichel. But first… views are expressed on UK taxpayer loans to a foreign-owned start-up.
Bishop & Taylor discuss materials shortages and spiralling prices, exchange thoughts on the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, and look forward to the return of Peter Tom, the Leicester Tigers chairman dubbed the Aggregate King by The Times newspaper.
Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the events of the week, including the cabinet reshuffle. They also talk to theatre director Nicolas Kent, whose Grenfell: Value Engineering – scenes from the Inquiry is coming to a London stage next month. And, first up, Taylor recalls his visit to Wells Cathedral to see conservation work in action.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the 2021 UK Top 100 Construction Contractors ranking, published this week. They also recall the world-changing event of 20 years ago this week and reporting from Ground Zero.
On the agenda in this episode is the Wolfson Economic Prize shortlist and the limitations of Rishi Sunak’s apparently generous tax allowance for machinery purchases. But first, Bishop & Taylor are joined by Richard Waterhouse of NBS to discuss product specification, sustainability and marketing.
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss Highways England’s re-brand, the sale of Osborne Infrastructure Ltd and an industry programme to devise equality, diversity and inclusion metrics
To discuss the new UK Hydrogen Strategy, and what it means for construction and the built environment, Bishop & Taylor are joined firstly by Buta Atwal, CEO of Ryze Hydrogen and Wrightbus, and then by Cadent regional development manager Helen Boyle and Isaac Occhipinti from the Energy & Utilities Alliance
Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest scary news from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as the rise of HVO fuel and the deep pockets of modular house-builders.
Bishop & Taylor discuss recent judgments from Mr Justice Holgate, one supporting the government’s roads programme and one blocking its Stonehenge tunnel plans. They also discuss whether 3D printing is just slow slipforming without formwork.
Helena Russell, author of Cleveland Bridge: 125 Years of History, joins Bishop & Taylor to discuss the company seeking rescue from administration. Also discussed in this episode are the music of the Golden Gate Bridge and the pings of the Covid app.
With it being Net Zero Week, Bishop & Taylor discuss an industry initiative for measuring progress in the built environment. And as fans of a good hardware store, they return to the topic of builders’ merchants.
With ‘freedom day’ approaching, Bishop & Taylor discuss what it means for the construction industry. They also mull the decarbonisation of road transport and the shortage of truck drivers.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the Building Safety Bill (which had its first reading in the Commons this week), Willmott Dixon’s reconstruction of what used be known as Colston Hall, and seemingly magic concrete that repairs itself.
Callum Mackintosh, president of the Scottish Plant Owners Association, joins Bishop & Taylor to discuss challenges facing the plant hire sector. But first our regular hosts briefly revisit flexible working and discuss why costs have risen on a Norfolk road project.
Bishop & Taylor are re-joined by Emma Stewart of Timewise (previously heard in episode 42) to discuss the results of the Build UK-sponsored study into flexible working on construction sites.
Bishop & Taylor discuss B3W (‘Build Back Better World’), the G7’s plan to counter China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). They also talk about the growing prominence (at least in their email inboxes) of Italian contractor Webuild; and they return to the topic of Scottish timber production.
Bishop has had a tour of the HS2 Chilterns Tunnel south portal site, Taylor has been watching TV; they chat about their findings. They also discuss leisure centre design shortcomings. Plus: What not to say in a press release.
As the Construction Industry Training Board starts its three-yearly consultation with the industry to ascertain whether there remains consensus for the statutory training levy, CITB policy director Steve Radley tells Bishop & Taylor why we still need it.
A trio of technical topics appeal to Bishop & Taylor this week, namely zero trim piling, asbestos recycling and reuse of concrete components. They also return to the familiar topics of flexible working and office life.
Diversity is in the air this week as Bishop & Taylor discuss inflation, project bank accounts, concrete batteries and a report from Arup titled ‘Queering Public Space’.
In the week that Her Majesty revealed the government’s legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary session, Bishop & Taylor find much to chew over, from planning to political process. They also discuss whether it is possible to choose bio-methane (answer: no) and how estate agents market unloved 60s’ buildings.
Bishop & Taylor cast an eye on the wonderful world of wood. They also note the inability (or reluctance?) of construction workers to save for their old age, and express disdain for surveys confected to promote vested interests.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by acclaimed folk musician Nancy Kerr to talk about her latest work, Tunnellers, and by Dr Benoît Jones, the man from the British Tunnelling Society who commissioned the work. But first they talk to Daren Lester, chief executive of SpecifiedBy, and hear that the proposed Code for Construction Product Information might not be a good idea.
Acquisitions have been in the news, with new owners for Avant Homes and Kier Living, while RSK’s ‘buy to grow’ strategy shows no sign of slowing. Bishop & Taylor discuss this and more, including steel imports and the latest on smart motorways.
Bishop & Taylor (middle-aged pink-faced men) tentatively discuss boardroom diversity. They also mull possible reform of the National Infrastructure Commission. And they talk to Jonathan Townsend, Chief Executive of the Prince’s Trust.
A revelatory discussion with construction law barrister Professor Rudi Klein, who has championed the interests of subcontractors for more than 30 years, with some heroic successes along the way. Among topics covered are the use and abuse of project bank accounts to protect money owed to suppliers.
After a brief recap of some of the week’s UK industry news, Bishop & Taylor turn their attention to the rescue of the stranded EverGiven container ship. They also discuss recruiting in prisons to counter labour shortages.
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Peter Lauerner, chair of the Construction Industry Training Board, who explains why the CITB has decided to keep two of its training centres after all. They also celebrate the Court of Appeal judgment quashing the 47-year-old convictions against striking builders. And they ask expert witness Jacqui Bishop: after a year of working from home, what have we learned?
Surveys and reports from Redrow, the CITB and the Construction Leadership Council provide food for thought on construction recruitment and training. Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the issues arising. There’s also news from HS2 of an unlikely replacement for rebar.
In a bumper episode, Bishop & Taylor discuss aspirations for a fixed link between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, the social value of construction, aspects of fire safety left neglected amid the cladding scandal, and Doosan’s transparent loading shovel.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his post-Covid budget for the UK this week, giving Bishop & Taylor plenty to chat about. They also discuss Interserve’s branding U-turn.
Bishop & Taylor get their teeth into issues of direct employment, senior recruitment and meaningless, obtuse and/or imprecise jargon.
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 time on Re:construction.
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.
Bishop & Taylor turn their attention to the contents of the August issue of The Construction Index magazine, and cover remarkably wide ground…
Bishop & Taylor are joined by structural engineer Kevin Lyons to discuss offsite construction. Our two regulars then also mull the government’s planning white paper and wonder whether contractors will be eager to pay plant hire firms a premium for carbon offsetting.
This was the week that we learned more details of the £2bn Green Home Grants scheme, with the condition that only Trustmark accredited installers could be used; and the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge opened, less than two years after the old Morandi Brige collapsed. Bishop & Taylor reflect on it all.
With a no-deal Brexit on the cards, Bishop & Taylor discuss unresolved issues for the construction industry, including the future of product standardisation; and – with protests camps fighting a rear-guard action – they agree to disagree about HS2.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the need for face masks (both in life and on site), Rishi Sunak’s Plan for Jobs, and (after the fatal 8th July collapse in East London) tower crane safety.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the Prime Minister’s Rooseveltian ambitions, the suspension of democratic accountability at the Construction Industry Training Board, and the sale of Interserve Facilities Management to Mitie.
Read more on all these topics, and more, at www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news
In this episode Bishop & Taylor discuss industry job losses, how overseas contractors exploit UK state aid, construction’s plastic packaging problem and the remarkable claims of air-purifying paint.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the Roadmap to Recovery, the sudden flow of transport projects and the building workers (including TV’s Ricky Tomlinson) jailed nearly 50 years ago, whose convictions the Court of Appeal is now, finally, revisiting. Podcast, my arse!
Bishop & Taylor recap recent events in the UK construction industry, including this week: planned building works in parliament are under review, a company that allowed its workers to drive home tired has been in the dock and an old steam engine has been deployed to great effect on a decommissioning project.
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss the opportunities that some are finding in the health crisis, the use of drones in construction surveys and battery-powered machinery.
In this edition, Bishop and Taylor discuss latest safety stats from the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation, Highways England’s smart motorways alliance and whatever happened to Britain’s consulting engineers? The one’s that aren’t safely in employee ownership, that is...
Bishop & Taylor discuss furloughed construction workers, moves to revive the supply chain, recycling gypsum and the stalled cladding replacement programme.
Bishop & Taylor briefly discuss the latest news on HS2 before welcoming Steve Hadley to their virtual studio – he’s the Managing Director of Central Piling and the new chair of the Federation of Piling Specialists.
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest mixed messages from Government on safe site operations, admire the heroic efforts of those getting field hospitals up and running, and have their interest piqued by the use of augmented reality to provide professional supervision to household DIY.
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss the continuing controversy about what sites should stay open, and the difficulties facing those that do. They also muse on the days when travel was easier, and press junkets enjoyed.
The lockdown has started and Bishop & Taylor chat about how the UK construction industry is responding to the Prime Minister’s order for all but essential workers to stay home. They also discuss working from home with expert input from our very own ‘Good Lady Professor Her Indoors’, Jacqui Bishop.
As the world goes into lockdown, Bishop & Taylor keep their distance to mull on Covid-19, Bimcams and bionic rakes, and the contents of the March issue of The Construction Index magazine.
Bishop & Taylor add a note about their last episode’s retentions discussion before turning attention to the Budget, bringing the end of cheap diesel for construction. They round off mulling why companies choose to change their name.
Bishop & Taylor discuss the potential ramifications of the Court of Appeal ruling against Heathrow expansion, developments (or lack of them) in the reform of cash retentions usage, and experiments in flexible working.
On 26th Feb 2020 Bishop & Taylor discuss the industrial impact of coronavirus, the creation of an ombudsman for buyers of new homes and the fate of construction industry archives.
It's Wednesday 19th February 2020 and in this week’s Re:Construction podcast, Bishop & Taylor discuss the benefits of cannabis, the UK’s new immigration rules and Sheffield’s smart bins.
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest green light for HS2, a shocking display of bad leadership and the possible end of spring back / fall forward.
In this week’s Re:Construction podcast, recorded Wednesday 5th February 2020, Bishop & Taylor discuss beauty, signs of a Boris Bounce and cowboy builders. See also:
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/government-considers-fast-track-for-beauty
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/data-news
&
https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/who-needs-a-builders-licence
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss construction’s attempts to help save the planet, the idiocy of smart motorways and how quickly Wuhan is building emergency hospitals.
Re:Construction is a new podcast, launched this week by The Construction Index, featuring construction journalists David Taylor and Phil Bishop.
In this launch episode they discuss developments in the government’s Building Safety Programme, the latest attempt to legislate against late payments and the digital marketing prowess of the top contractors.
Each week Bishop and Taylor chew the fat for 30 minutes or so, exchanging views about the latest news stories to have caught their eye.