News

Scottish procurement reforms are failing to help smaller businesses win public contracts, a new report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed. According to FSB’s research, only about a fifth of Scotland’s £12 billion procurement budget goes directly to small bus

Persimmon is to become the first major UK housebuilder to offer a retention policy to protect homebuyers from repair problems. Under the new initiative, which begins today, the company’s standard contract will say 1.5% of the total home value can be withheld by the buyer’s solicitor unti

Planning Minister Kevin Stewart blogs about the need for Scottish Parliament to amend the Planning Bill to ensure it supports economic growth. The Financial Memorandum for the Planning Bill has been published. This sets out the estimates of the financial implications of the legislation as it st

National law firm Shoosmiths has made three new appointments to its real estate team in Edinburgh. The expansion comes as the division looks to further capitalise on sustained business growth and recent client wins.

Heart of Midlothian Football Club has upgraded its Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh with a new state-of-the-art hybrid pitch thanks to Aggregate Industries’ drainage stone, sand and rootzone. Having used a natural grass pitch and without a full pitch replacement in over 20 years, Hearts wante

Delegates from five major construction companies in the United Arab Emirates visited the ground-breaking new GRID building at Heriot-Watt University (HWU) in Edinburgh this week. The group were then paid a visit from innovation and trade minister Ivan McKee MSP.

Works are progressing at two developments by Highland Housing Alliance that will deliver more than 80 homes. Onsite building works are under way at Glenfield in Ullapool, which will see 49 homes becoming available in winter 2019, while demolition work nears completion at a 37-home project in Inverne

Pupils from Waid Academy, Anstruther, have been given an insight into the development of the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus. Six S2 pupils attended the renovation of the PSR Building, which involves the restoration and refurbishment of university facilities.

A petition has been launched calling for a Del Boy statue to be installed at the site of the soon-to-be-demolished tower block that appeared in Only Fools And Horses. Harlech Tower is the west London tower block which once was used to portray Nelson Mandela House, the setting for Del Boy & Rodne

Kier Group has suffered a £35.5 million loss in pre-tax profits as a result of problem contracts and mounting debts. In financial results for the six-month period to 31 December 2018 the infrastructure, building, development and housing group reported an operating loss of £20.9m on under

The new owner of McGill & Co has unveiled the team tasked with turning round the fortunes of the Dundee-based building contractor. McGill was purchased from administration by Catalus Energy Investments last week after the firm succumbed to disputes and delays in payment for a number of significa

Marshall Construction has appointed Brian McDermott as its new managing director. Brian has been promoted from operations director of the general building division, bringing significant leadership experience and a deep understanding of the company to the role.

Edinburgh-based Miller Homes remains on track to achieve its 2021 target of 4,000 homes per year after its annual accounts revealed a strong financial performance in 2018, a growing workforce and an increase in forward sales. Operating profit at the housebuilder rose 15% to £151.1 million in 2

Fife timber firm James Donaldson & Sons has appointed Pamela Scott to its Board of directors. Pamela is currently global operational excellence director at Diageo, having held a number of senior leadership positions across the global beverage alcohol organisation, including technical, innovation

How to attract more women into construction is one of the themes at this year’s Scotland Build, and it is hoped that the Women in Construction networking event on March 21 will see the largest ever gathering of women from across the industry. The session is free to attend and offers female con