Whether you are working on site or in an office-based role, the demands of the construction industry are constant. Deadlines are tight, programmes need to be met, quality standards must be maintained and safety is always a priority. With so many moving parts, the stakes are high – and that can create significant stress if not managed effectively.
Understanding the key pressure points is the first step in addressing work-related stress, particularly in fast-paced environments like construction. Keep reading to explore what these are and what they mean in practice.
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, remains one of the most visible and recognisable elements of construction site safety. Hard hats, high-visibility clothing, safety glasses and protective footwear are all part of everyday working life on site.
But while PPE may feel routine, it should never be taken for granted. It is often described as the last line of defence – the final protective layer when other control measures cannot fully eliminate safety risks. Used correctly, PPE helps prevent serious injury; using it incorrectly or while damaged can give a false sense of security.
In this week’s Focus on Safety feature, we look at why PPE is so important, when it is required, and how to ensure it is properly fitted, maintained and inspected.
When new homes are built, they are supposed to bring more to local communities than bricks and mortar. Through Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, developers contribute millions of pounds each year towards local infrastructure – funding schools, healthcare facilities, transport improvements and affordable housing.
Yet recent figures show that more than £9 billion in developer contributions is currently sitting unspent in local authority accounts. For communities waiting for improved services and infrastructure, that is not just an accounting issue – it is a missed opportunity. Read this week’s blog to understand why rising unspent contributions matter and what the real impact is for local areas.
Social value in construction is embedded into how projects are commissioned, how contractors are evaluated and how success is measured across the sector. Clients and communities rightly expect businesses to demonstrate meaningful impact beyond the physical asset delivered.
At Sheriff Construction, we take that responsibility seriously. Our latest Social Value Impact Report sets out how social value is integrated across our business and the measurable difference it is making. Keep reading to see what the report reveals.
In the UK, falls from height are consistently one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities, particularly within the construction sector. This makes effective fall protection an essential part of any safe working environment. Understanding what fall protection involves and how to implement it properly helps keep workers safe and ensures sites remain compliant, efficient and productive for everyone involved.
Keep reading this week’s blog to learn more about why fall protection matters, the hierarchy of protection measures that should be deployed and how to ensure equipment such as personal fall arrest systems are used correctly on site.
With energy costs continuing to be a major concern for households across the UK, the cost of running a home is now a key factor for buyers, developers and the wider construction sector. Alongside affordability and supply, energy efficiency is playing an increasingly important role in shaping decisions about housing.
Recent research shows that new build homes are, on average, 21% cheaper to run than older properties, offering significant long-term savings for homeowners and renters. Read on to find out what’s driving this difference and what it means for the future of housebuilding.
February marks Heart Month in the UK, an annual campaign led by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (also called heart and circulatory disease) and encourage people to take steps to protect their heart health.
Heart conditions remain one of the biggest health challenges facing the nation, affecting millions of people and impacting families, workplaces and the NHS.
Keep reading this week’s blog to find out more about these conditions and what you can do this Heart Month to look after your heart and support lifesaving work.
From daily travel to site, to deliveries of materials and the movement of plant and equipment, vehicle use is an unavoidable part of how construction operates. However, it also contributes significantly to carbon emissions and the overall environmental impact of the sector.
At Sheriff Construction, reducing carbon emissions associated with transport is a key priority. We have taken a proactive approach to improving how we manage vehicles, travel and logistics across the business. Read on to find out what we are doing to reduce our transport-related carbon footprint.
By this point in January, plenty of people have realised their New Year’s resolutions haven’t quite gone to plan. In fact, the second Friday of January is often dubbed ‘Quitter’s Day’ – when many people have already admitted defeat on their goals.
But even if you didn’t set a resolution, January still brings a natural pause for reflection – a chance to take stock and think about where you’re heading, including in your career. If that sounds familiar, construction could be worth a closer look. It’s long been seen as a solid, dependable choice, but it’s also evolving fast – with more high-tech roles than many people realise. Read this week’s blog to explore a few of those future-facing careers in construction.
The start of a new year often brings a sense of fresh energy. Many people use January to reflect, reset and set intentions for the months ahead, whether that is in their personal lives, their health or their careers.
At Sheriff Construction, we believe this is also a valuable moment for businesses. While individuals might call it a resolution, for our company it means taking time to set out our strategy, goals and aspirations. It is about being clear on what we want to achieve and how we conduct our business during that process. This January, we are doing exactly that and, while our wider business strategy work is still to come, one area where we have already been able to define some ambitions is social value. Read this week’s blog to find out what we want to build on in 2026.