‘People make places’. This is the driving force for a growing number of developers who are putting people, and particularly community, at the heart of what they do. Factors such as good design or a convenient location alone are no longer enough, leading to a growing trend in mixed-use developments. Mixed-use developments combine both commercial and residential aspects. In short, they allow people to live, work and play in a concentrated area, writes Founder of Blackswan Property, Marcus Hawley.

The UK construction sector has not traditionally been a bastion of equal rights for women. However, that situation is changing, argues Gillian Thomson, Branch Manager at cladding specialist MSP (Scotland), part of the Vivalda Group.

Changes to Building Regulations, Brexit uncertainty and shifting purchasing decisions are just some of the issues affecting the construction sector and its suppliers. Stuart Bell, Managing Director of Polyfoam XPS, explains the impact on the insulation industry and what lies ahead in 2020.

Did you know that one million people are exposed to hearing-damaging noise at work? If you work in construction, you’re most likely aware that the industry is a noisy business. But did you also know that the sector has the second-highest rate of people developing occupational deafness?

It’s no secret that the construction industry is currently facing an increasingly large skills shortage. The industry has long suffered from a lack of skilled workers, making it more difficult than ever to hit deadlines due to the shrinking talent pool.