What The Future Holds?
According to a recent report, over 60% of all industry professionals believe that 2010 will be a more positive year that 2009.
The survey, conducted by KPMG, asked almost two hundred leading construction company owners, if they felt profits would remain consistent or increase in 2010. Of all the respondents asked, over 50 %were positive.
However, Tom Ford, a piling contractor based in Manchester, thinks that while the outlook is more positive, the construction and piling industry still relies heavily on the stimulus packages given by the government and various Marco economic factors.
T.V. STARS IN THE MAKING?
Two of our piling operatives, Robert Clegg and Lewis Woodruff appeared in the Channel 4 Documentary featuring traditional Public Houses and more specifically those named “The Red Lion” throughout the UK.
The pair were shown playing rugby for the Red Lion’s Whitworth Spartans who have coincidentally been sponsored by MK Piling for a number of years.
The pair talked about their enjoyment both on and off the pitch and the programme showed the obligatory post match rugby drinking games with their fellow team mates. All in good fun and whilst their small screen debut was a success we are that Ant and Dec have nothing to fear……….. just yet!
Whitworth Spartans
The Red Lion
Construction Purchasing Spend Declines
According to a recent report by the CIPS/Markit index, the pace at which purchasing spend has fallen in the construction industry, has speeded up dramatically throughout October.
According to research, the sector that has been most affected is civil engineering, though as the latest figures reveal, no area of the construction industry has gone unscathed.
While residential construction did increase for the second month in a row, the accelerated decline across both civil and commercial sectors indicates that the UK’s construction industry is still firmly in the recession.
Mark James, the administrative editor of the report, comments: “While there are promising signs of recovery with the UK’s construction sector, the latest figures reveal that a return to pre-recessionary spending is still a long way away.”
MK Piling (North West) Offer New Complete Service
We are pleased to be able to offer a fully comprehensive setting out package for builders/develope
rs, house owners and self-build projects, which require the services of fully qualified and insured site engineers.
These service include for the setting out of, pile positions, foundations, building lines, sewers, levels, profiles and as-built surveys. References are available upon request and our charges are very competitive.
We feel that the inclusion of this service will allow MK Piling to offer a more complete service and offers peace of mind to the client.
Construction Industry Slow to Recover
According to a recent report conduced by the Construction Products Association, construction output will fall 15% this year and continue on to descend until 2010.
While results of the last quarter suggested that the UK’s property market is on the road to recovery, the latest figures reported by the Construction Products Association suggest that it may be some time before the construction industry fully recovers.
Commenting on the report, chief executive of the Construction Products Association Mike Ankers states; “News of an uplift in the property market encouraged many to predict the end of the recession. However, our latest forecast reveals that, while the future does look positive for the construction industry, the pace of recovery will be slower than initially anticipated.”
Mr. Ankers added: “One of the main objectives of the CPA is to ensure that the government is aware that the recovery of the construction industry, is key to the broader economic recovery of the UK.”
Are We on The Road to Recovery?
The past month has seen many key economists announcing, that the UK is well on the road to economic recovery. However, though the construction industry is now contracting at a less alarming rate, it is still struggling.
In August, we welcomed news that the rate of deterioration had slowed. However, this can mainly be attributed to a decrease in demand for new houses. Indeed, there are still many challenges, threatening the industry’s full recovery.
The most unanticipated of which, is the decline of the civil engineering sub sector. Throughout the recession, this sector had remained remarkably buoyant. However, August witnessed the sectors worst ever recorded results. Not only does this indicate that – despite initial reports of economic recovery – the UK’s construction industry is still volatile, it also highlights flaws in the government’s economic stimulus plan.
In other areas, the residential construction sector has experienced a slower rate of contraction in August than reported in previous months. Meanwhile, the number of construction workers facing redundancy has been though to have significantly reduced.
In conclusion, as the rate of contraction slows across all areas of the construction industry, it definitely seems that we are on the road to recovery; however, the question as to whether the construction industry will ever fully recover from the impact of the recession over the last year, remains unanswered.
Bid-Rigging Contractors To Face Lower Penalties
When the story bid rigging in the public sector broke over 18 months ago, it again raised the issues of inefficient tendering in the public sector and cover pricing. Cover pricing is a progress where a potential bidder and a client agree that the bidder will tender an massively over priced bid without any intention of carrying out the work, in order to satisfy client requirements for a certain amount of competition and ultimately keep costs low.
At the time, leading industry experts claimed that private sector clients were well ahead of the public sector, mainly due to the fact that the government procures projects based on low price rather than quality and reputation.
The scandal prompted calls for an inquiry by the Office of Fair Trading, as piling contractors, and many other industry sectors felt the current situation was illegitimate.
A report in the Sunday Times revealed that the construction companies that co-operate with the OFT, will face much more lenient penalties.
MK Piling (North West) – Ground Source Heat
MK Piling (North West) are currently conducting trials in conjunction with Groundtherm and Hecol at our premises in Oldham.
Installed is a 5kW Ground source pump which can provide heating up to 35/40 degrees and a maximum cooling of 8 degrees. The case study involved installing driven steel cased cast in situ piles, which transfer the energy from the ground to the heating/cooling fan coils located in our offices.
The efficiency can not be confirmed until the case study progresses further, however early indications are exceeding expectations.
This technology is at the forefront of renewable energy and can be incorporated in any new/build or extension where piling is required.
Niyod Construction Nigeria – Ibom Tropicana Site
Niyod Construction Nigeria, have increased their fleet of Piling rigs which now includes 5 Banut rigs.
2 of which are working on the project at Makako while the other 3 rigs are working on a newly secured contract for AKWA Ibom State Government/Silverbird Group which involves piling for the Ibom Tropicana Resort Complex.
The piling works for a new Shopping Mall, Cineplex and Hotel are being overseen by Aim Consultants consists of approximately 2,000 350mm x 350mm pre-cast concrete piles, driven to depth of approximately 22 metres.
Niyod Construction Nigeria (Lagos)
Niyod Construction have completed piling works on the contract at Makako, Yaba, Lagos, which was overseen by the Lagos Division of Ove Arrup.
Niyod, successfully installed 1,500 No. 350mm x 350mm pre-cast concrete piles driven to depths of 33 metres, on time and within budget.
As a result Niyod have secured another contract on the same project for an additional 255 piles, to be commenced shortly.