Image of two excavators on a construction site with a dramatic sky in the background

The roar and clatter of bulldozers and excavators have been a long-running soundtrack to construction sites across the world but it seems like something a bit quieter might be on the horizon here in the UK.

The UK government recently published a ‘call for evidence’ on decarbonising non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), which includes construction equipment, hinting at a potential shift away from the diesel-powered giants towards cleaner alternatives. Read this week’s blog to find out more.

While construction has long been known for its focus on hard work and technical expertise, research suggests that one of the key strengths of our industry comes from it having embraced a broader range of thinking styles and experiences beyond the ‘typical’.

A new study by the Association for Project Management (APM) has revealed that almost half (46%) of construction professionals identify as neurodivergent, compared to a cross-sector average of 31%. Read on to find out more about what this means and the potential benefits this offers for our industry.

Back view of a man in dark clothing and carrying a bag with a construction site ahead of him

With crimes like theft and trespass already costing the construction industry a staggering £800 million per year, it now seems that things are getting worse.

According to a survey carried out by site security firm, BauWatch, 60% of construction professionals in the UK have seen crime on energy, infrastructure and commercial construction projects worsen over the past year. Read this week’s blog for more of the survey results and some ideas about how to mitigate the risks by maintaining good security.

Back in November last year, we reported on a free masterclass for bricklayers that was being offered by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and how an equivalent opportunity would soon be made available for roofers.

This month, the HBF have released that opportunity so, if improving your roofing skills is on your ‘to do’ list, read on.

Man wearing a hard hat looking at a futuristic scene of a city, overlaid with an image of the planet Earth

As the world grapples with challenges like climate change and economic uncertainty, the construction industry is adapting and innovating at an unprecedented pace, so for this week’s blog, we’re asking what’s in store for 2024?

From technological advancements to an increased focus on the adoption of sustainable materials and practices, here are just three thought-provoking trends to watch in the coming year.

Image of a Christmas themed balloon arch at the Sheriff Christmas party

With the end of the year approaching, Sheriff’s team came together on Saturday night to eat, drink, dance and generally ‘be merry’ at our Christmas party.

As well as this being the moment when everyone starts enjoying the festivities, it’s always a time when we, at Sheriff Construction, like to look back and review what kind of year we’ve had. Read this week’s blog for a few of 2023’s highlights.

Construction site featuring one person working in wintery conditions

After a few chilly early mornings and, as we’re likely heading into the coldest months of the year, it’s time once again for the construction industry to brace itself against the full impact of winter.

Working outdoors in rain, snow, ice, fog or wind can be harsh, however there are practical solutions which can help ensure such work is carried out productively and that every site worker stays safe and healthy. Take just a few minutes out of your day to read this week’s blog, where we’re sharing three strategies for weatherproofing the construction site.

Image of the earth at night time being held in human hands

At the opening of COP28 this afternoon, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, gave a powerful speech, urging delegates to accelerate climate action. His stark message was: “If we do not signal the terminal decline of the fossil fuel era as we know it, we welcome our own terminal decline. And we choose to pay with people’s lives”.

With building operations and construction accounting for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, our industry clearly has to be part of that call to action. Read this week’s blog for what one industry expert says are the key points that the sector should be thinking about.

Construction site worker wearing a face mask and making an OK sign with his hands.

The Health and Safety Executive estimates that, in Great Britain, 4000 construction workers die every year from respiratory diseases caused by long-term exposure to dust particles at work. That’s around 100 times more deaths caused by ill health in the sector than fatal accidents!

So, to answer the question posed in the title of this week’s blog, ‘why wear a mask’, the answer is pretty simple – it might just save your life. Read on for more on this important topic.

hands reaching into centre of an image showing items relating to learning

Thousands of brickies and roofers across England, Wales and Scotland are set to benefit from a major new fully-funded training initiative that aims to upskill the workforce and address common defects.

As part of the industry’s ongoing commitment to building quality homes and with CITB funding, the Home Builders Federation’s (HBF) ‘Home Building Skills Partnership’ has begun delivering a series of brickwork masterclasses and will be rolling out brand-new roofing masterclasses soon. Find out more about these free training opportunities in this week’s blog.

Page 2 of 10 1 2 3 4 10