153: The Construction Skills Crisis
Bishop & Taylor are joined by recruitment consultant Greg Shaw, Randstad’s London regional director, to discuss the construction industry jobs market and the future of the industry
May 15, 2024•38 min•Ep. 153
Re:Construction
{"_":"
A weekly podcast in which veteran construction industry journalists Bishop and Taylor have a natter about some of the week’s events in the UK construction industry, seeking meaning even where none may exist.
\n\n\nTo keep up to date with the latest construction news every day, visit www.theconstructionindex.co.uk.
\n\n\nYou can find the latest issue of The Construction Index magazine in WHSmith & independent newsagents UK wide - use our online store locator to find your nearest stockist today.
\n\n","$":{"audioboom:html":"1"}}Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
152: The Downfall Episode: Osborne, Yousaf and Honda Swindon
In this episode Bishop & Taylor mourn the demise of Geoffrey Osborne Ltd. They also discuss how missing green targets brought down Scotland’s first minister. Also examined are demolition projects featured in the May 2024 issue of The Construction Index magazine: Honda’s Swindon plant and a bridge over the M25 at Wisley.
May 01, 2024•56 min•Ep. 152
151: Could Truss be right?
Britain’s briefest prime minister has a book out this week and Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the things that she’s been saying. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, they decide. So what might Liz Truss be right about? Also in this episode, checking consultants’ credentials and Taylor’s adventure in artificial intelligence.
Apr 17, 2024•51 min•Ep. 151
150: (Im)mobile Cranes, London Supersewer and MMC Review
Bishop & Taylor discuss the increasing difficulties endured by mobile crane hire companies faced with road embargos. They celebrate the completion of construction of the Thames Tideway tunnel (and hope it stops rowers vomiting). And they wonder what housing minister Lee Rowley’s MMC policy review might throw up.
Apr 03, 2024•52 min•Ep. 150
149: Killer Materials, Dubious Contracts and National Security
In an unusually wide ranging episode, Bishop & Taylor cover crystalline silica, plastic pipes, the Lower Thames Crossing, the A66, the Daily Telegraph (is it really more important to national security than nuclear power?) and stress-inducing questions.
Mar 20, 2024•51 min•Ep. 149
148: Budget Special
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist of the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), to discuss Jeremy Hunt’s spring 2024 budget statement.
Mar 07, 2024•21 min•Ep. 148
147: Decarbonising construction machinery
Bishop & Taylor are joined by L Lynch Plant Hire joint managing director Merrill Lynch to discuss reducing construction’s diesel consumption.
Mar 06, 2024•32 min•Ep. 147
146: Planning reforms, National Highways probe and Nuclear safety breaches
Bishop & Taylor explore the disconnect between attempts to remove red tape for house-builders while simultaneously burdening them with ever-greater levels of bureacracy. They also discuss news from a couple of regulatory authorities: the Office of Rail & Road is investigating the deteriorating performance of National Highways; and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is on EDF’s case after a series of safety failings at its power plants.
Feb 21, 2024•45 min•Ep. 146
145: Anglia Square, Prefab woes and Measuring carbon
In this episode, Bishop & Taylor hear from Bob Weston about why he had to scrap his £300m Anglia Square development in Norwich. They also discuss a House of Lords report that damns government’s lack of strategy for prefab housing. And they ask whether carbon measuring rules need to be dictated by government, as proposed by a coalition of industry institutions. Finally, they pay tribute to Jim Stockoll, founder of Dyno-Rod and daddy of UK franchising.
Feb 07, 2024•49 min•Ep. 145
144: The Rudi Klein Manifesto
Bishop & Taylor are re-joined by Rudi Klein, perhaps the construction industry’s most seasoned campaigner for change. He shares his opinions on the need for industry reform and encourages listeners to take the opportunity of this year’s general election to lobby their local candidates.
Jan 24, 2024•48 min•Ep. 144
143: Milne down, Neurodivergence and Rebranding Artex
Bishop & Taylor kick off 2024 mourning the demise of Stewart Milne Group. They also consider the apparent preponderence of neurodiversity within construction project management and discuss the rebranding of Artex.
Jan 10, 2024•42 min•Ep. 143
142: Review of the Year 2023
As the end of the year approaches, Bishop & Taylor look back on some of the highs and lows on which they reported in 2023.
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 142
141: Paying the bills, Grenfell’s standing and State aid
Bishop & Taylor chew over the autumn statement and late paying clients, discuss why Grenfell Tower still stands, and question whether state aid should go to a company owned by Persimmon and Goldman Sachs.
Nov 29, 2023•59 min•Ep. 141
140: Reshuffle, Plant Tech and Hybrid Working
Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest goings on at Westminster, new applications of digital technology in construction machinery and the revelation that working from home has added a year of delays to HS2 design work.
Nov 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 140
139: Circularity, Piling and Companies On the Edge
Bishop & Taylor discuss Mace’s proposals to move London construction from mere recycling to the more virtuous state of circularity. They also chat about likely motives for the sale of piling specialist Rock & Alluvium. They conclude with a report that reckons a fifth of UK construction companies are in significant financial distress, and worry how many will survive.
Nov 01, 2023•46 min•Ep. 139
138: Starmer’s Promises, Infra Planning and Dodgy Ladders (again)
Bishop & Taylor mull over Labour Party leader Keir Starmer’s promise to get Britain building again and the National Infrastructure Commission’s blueprint that might help him. They also return to the topic of dodgy ladders, with new research form the Ladder Association.
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 138
137: Sunak Hits Reverse
Bishop & Taylor discuss the cancellation of HS2’s northern section and the prime minister’s policy reversals on net zero targets.
Oct 04, 2023•53 min•Ep. 137
136: Killing Diesel with Jo Gilroy
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Balfour Beatty sustainability director Jo Gilroy for a chat about decarbonising construction machinery and the promise of hydrogen.
Sep 20, 2023•53 min•Ep. 136
135: RAAC, Nutrient Neutrality and Power Tools
Bishop & Taylor return to the familiar topics of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and nutrient neutrality, both in the news. Fears of RAAC panels collapsing has prompted the closure of more than 100 school buildings and now more and more building owners are following suit. Rules that prevent houses being built where excessive nutrient run-off might pollute waterways are to be swept away, the government has decided. The final topic in this episode is the increasing obsolescence o...
Sep 06, 2023•58 min•Ep. 135
134: Top 100, Controlling the Press & Barbie
After a whinge about companies trying to interfere with their journalistic integrity, Bishop & Taylor get onto the real business of this episode – the 2023 Top 100 ranking of UK construction contractors, as featured in the forthcoming September issue of The Construction Index magazine. They also discuss Sir Robert McAlpine’s version of the Barbie movie.
Aug 23, 2023•54 min•Ep. 134
133: CE Reprieve, Big Roads and MMC Woes
Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest tangles over switching from CE to UKCA product certification and the Transport Select Committee report on road-building. They also discuss repairs to Brentford’s modular Paragon Estate and latest results from volumetric house-builder TopHat
Aug 09, 2023•57 min•Ep. 133
132: Economics, Gove-ernment and Governance
With industry forecasts this week predicting a 7% fall in construction output, much rests on Michael Gove’s latest raft of intitiatives. Bishop & Taylor chew the fat on this. They also revisit the Inland Homes story on corporate governance and “related party matters”.
Jul 26, 2023•56 min•Ep. 132
131: Green Roads, Export Finance and Snoopy Landlords
Refreshed from a month off the airwaves [which is how they think podcasts are delivered] , Bishop & Taylor discuss the A47 court challenge. They also expose how UK taxpayers support overseas construction companies instead of British ones. And they share concerns about how landlords use technology to educate their tenants.
Jul 12, 2023•54 min•Ep. 131
130: Prefab Fail, Flying Too High and Embracing Change
Among topics covered in Bishop & Taylor’s wide-ranging conversation this week are Ilke Homes in need of rescue, the dangers of growth and whether the construction industry is behind the curve in embracing technology.
Jun 14, 2023•43 min•Ep. 130
129: Hospitals, Health and Cheers!
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss the revised hospital building programme and whether the HSE should investigate suicides. They are also joined by Adam Nicoll, director of HR firm Randstad, who has unfashionable views on the role of alcohol in the world of work.
May 31, 2023•46 min•Ep. 129
128: L&G, Offsetting and Economic update
Bishop & Taylor discuss Legal & General’s withdrawal from prefab housing, offsetting (again) and the economic clouds hovering over the UK industry
May 17, 2023•50 min•Ep. 128
127: IPD, Product testing and Persimmon’s punt
It has been a busy week for Bishop & Taylor: National Highways is preparing a diploma in integrated project delivery (IPD) that it expects its suppliers to sit; the Independent Review of Construction Product Testing has been published; and Persimmon has invested £25m in volumetric housing manufacturer TopHat.
May 03, 2023•58 min•Ep. 127
126: Smart Motorways, Staffing Issues and Heat Pumps
Bishop & Taylor discuss the cancellation of the smart motorways programme, Billington’s recruitment difficulties, GMI’s shadow board and heat pumps.
Apr 19, 2023•45 min•Ep. 126
125: HS2’s Listening Skills, Demolition Cartels and Dud Batteries
Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti joins Bishop & Taylor to discuss HS2’s listening skills and community relations in the West Midlands. Also on the agenda are the £60m fine handed down to a demolition cartel and Balfour Beatty’s discovery that most battery-powered plant is not up to the job.
Apr 05, 2023•53 min•Ep. 125
124: Budget, Tax Allowances and Gove refuseniks
Bishop & Taylor discuss the recent Budget statement, including tax allowances (and perhaps how to exploit them), new additions to the Shortage Occupations List and the postponement of major transport projects. They also discuss developers that have not (or not yet, at time of recording) signed Michael’s Gove’s building remediation contract. And there’s an interesting new arrival in Vistry’s boardroom.
Mar 22, 2023•50 min•Ep. 124
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android