Schindler Expands Fleet of Elevator Shaft Robots
Schindler has increased its fleet of R.I.S.E elevator shaft robots to seven worldwide, adding two more units. Since launch five years ago, the robots have been deployed at 36 sites, installing roughly 50,000 anchor bolts across seven countries. The self‑climbing robots claim up to 40% time savings and improved safety by removing workers from noisy, dusty drilling tasks. Schindler is expanding hub locations to meet rising global demand and the technology was shortlisted for Product Innovation of the Year at the Digital Construction Awards 2026.
ECITB Launches ‘Next-Generation Learning Identity’ Inspired by Video Games
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has unveiled ECITB World, a gamified digital learning ecosystem embedded in its Learning Experience Platform. The environment mimics 3‑D video‑game districts and unifies courses under a consistent visual identity that extends to offline...
Building over Stations: Urban Density Drives Engineering Ingenuity
Urban densification and scarce land are prompting cities to build over railway stations, a trend Mott MacDonald describes as overstation development. Advances in geotechnical investigation, structural analysis, and digital design now allow construction above live rail assets with minimal disruption. Projects...
Mace Group CEO Jason Millett to Stand Down to Explore New Opportunities
Jason Millett will step down as group CEO of Mace Group and Mace Construct at the end of December 2026, coinciding with the final separation of Mace Consult into an independent entity. Millett, who joined Mace during the London 2012...
Digital Twin Reveals £64k of Savings at Queen Margaret University
Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh used IES’s cloud‑based IES Live digital twin to pinpoint about £64,000 (≈ $81,000) in annual energy savings – roughly 11% of its current energy spend. The platform synced high‑fidelity physics models with live building‑management‑system data, exposing...
Sir Robert McAlpine Adopts Workforce Planning Platform
Sir Robert McAlpine has implemented Bridgit’s AI‑enabled workforce planning platform, shifting from spreadsheet‑based scheduling to a data‑driven model. The system aggregates the contractor’s historical crew data, certifications, location and availability to surface real‑time skill insights. Planners can query the platform for...
Suicide in Construction: Implementing a Systemic Approach
Construction has expanded mental‑health awareness with first‑aiders and wellbeing programs, yet the industry still leans on reactive, post‑incident support. CIOB data reveal that 28 % of UK construction workers have considered suicide in the past year, highlighting the limits of awareness‑only...
Built Environment Competency Guidance Nears Publication
Guidance titled "Managing Competence in the Built Environment" is nearing publication, translating the Industry Competence Committee’s 15 competence principles into practical steps for the sector. Developed by the Industry Task and Finish Group, which includes over 40 professional bodies and...
‘How Do We Structure a Contract Claim?’
A contractor working on a live hotel refurbishment in Lancashire faces unexpected delays and added costs and asks how to protect its contractual position. Mark Rimmer explains that a claim is simply a contractual entitlement and differentiates informal variations from...
How Contractors Can Demonstrate Their Commitment to Water Conservation
During Water Saving Week, CIOB’s sustainability chief Amanda Williams urged construction firms to adopt the Waterwise Checkmark, a certification that proves ongoing water‑efficiency improvements. The UK faces a projected daily shortfall of five billion litres of water by 2050, and water scarcity...
Diary Dates: What’s on in May
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has unveiled a packed May calendar that blends sustainability, heritage, networking, talent development, and technology. Highlights include a May 7 site visit to Suffolk’s net‑zero Lakenheath school, a May 14 tour of the heritage‑focused Causeway Barns...
Climate Data Reporting Needs to Be More Joined-Up to Support Net Zero
BEAMA’s latest emissions‑reporting snapshot shows UK electrification firms are collecting more climate data, but they rely on a patchwork of frameworks that hampers comparability. While 59% already use third‑party auditors and 84% have Scope 1‑2 data, only 66% can report on...
UK Gets First Marketplace for Second-Hand Steel Bridges
The UK has launched Re‑Bridge, an online catalogue that lists redundant steel bridge components for reuse, aiming to lower material costs and embodied carbon. Asset owners can upload detailed specifications, creating a searchable inventory for engineers, contractors and local authorities....
Construction Is Overlooking Its Most Job-Ready Workforce
The Masonry Association’s Military to Masonry programme converts UK armed‑forces leavers into site‑ready bricklayers in just ten days, guaranteeing employment from day eleven. Launched in March 2026, it has already attracted over 20 applications and will begin its first five‑person...
‘I Couldn’t Keep Encouraging Women Into an Industry that Wasn’t Set up for Them’
Renée Preston, managing director of Gallaway Construction, founded Construction for Women after a school outreach revealed that half of potential talent is being overlooked. The initiative now operates in 12 cities and has more than doubled the number of women...