Construction National

Magazine, Online Directory and Web Design Service

Tue05052026

Last updateThu, 09 Apr 2026 9am

Construction apprentices encourage other young people to 'earn while you learn'

Twenty-year-old Alex O’Brien had set his sights on becoming an accountant – and had the exam marks to match his goal – but at the last minute decided to become a construction apprentice instead after finding out about the benefits of work based learning.

Read more: Construction apprentices encourage other young people to 'earn while you learn'

Barker and Stonehouse brings first living wall to Teesside

The new flagship Barker and Stonehouse store on Teesside Retail Park is literally being brought to life, thanks to the creation of the first ‘living’ wall and roof on Teesside.

Thousands of colourful plants will soon transform a south-facing wall and the roof into a bright display and wildlife habitat in time for the store’s opening on March 28.

Read more: Barker and Stonehouse brings first living wall to Teesside

BEST Programme announces accredited 'BIM for Facilities Management' course

As its success continues throughout 2015, the Built Environment Sustainability Training (BEST) Programme, working in collaboration with Project Five, will be delivering additional, accredited building information modelling (BIM) courses throughout Wales. The latest course to be announced by the programme is the delivery of CQFW Level 3 accredited course; “BIM for Facilities Management”. 

Read more: BEST Programme announces accredited 'BIM for Facilities Management' course

Health & Safety: Thinking differently - and changing the game

We live in a Health & Safety-obsessed world. Or so it seems. 

Schools, colleges, organisations, shops and businesses up and down the land take great pains to prove that they are ultra-conscientious about Health & Safety practices and are fully compliant with Health & Safety laws. They draw up strategies. They assess risks. They run Health & Safety courses. And — most importantly — they tick boxes. 

Read more: Health & Safety: Thinking differently - and changing the game

Stop demolitions and refurbish instead, says leading architect

VAT rules are undermining sustainable development by rewarding developers who demolish buildings and penalising those who refurbish.

Duncan Baker-Brown, architect of the University of Brighton’s Waste House, Britain’s first house made almost entirely of thrown-away materials, is calling on politicians to introduce an award system that encourages green retrofit projects to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change.

Read more: Stop demolitions and refurbish instead, says leading architect