23 June 2016 – a key date in the UK’s history when the population voted to leave the EU. A decade on, Callum Jensen and Scott Wood of Haddonstone, the UK’s leading manufacturer of architectural and landscaping cast stonework, discuss their take on Brexit 10 years on. Photographed above (left) Callum Jensen, Senior Commercial Manager, and right, Scott Wood, Export Supervisor (Transport) It’s always healthy to focus on the positive, so despite the many difficulties that Brexi

Home renovators, self-builders and construction professionals are invited to visit The National Self Build and Renovation Centre Spring Show on the 15th and 16th May, where Ecological Building Systems will be showcasing practical solutions for both new build and retrofit projects. Visitors will be able to explore two dedicated exhibition stands from Ecological Building Systems, one focused on retrofit solutions and the other on timber frame new build systems. Technical spec

Bradite One Can has become the go-to finish for the team at Snowdon Mountain Railway, thanks to its quick-drying, highly durable formulation. The iconic attraction is the UK’s only public rack-and-pinion mountain railway. First built in 1895, it has been welcoming visitors for 130 years, offering a unique and accessible way to experience the landscapes of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Eryri National Park. With Bradite’s factory based in the foothills of Snowdon, and both brands sha

Architects today are under more pressure than ever. Tighter programmes, complex planning constraints, heightened sustainability targets and exacting clients mean there is little room for friction anywhere in the supply chain. When it comes to cast stone, architects are not simply looking for a manufacturer; they are looking for a partner who understands design intent, technical reality, and the long-term value of the buildings they create. Here, based on years of close collab

Royal Greenwich Trust School (RGTS) is a key educational hub in the Charlton Riverside area of London. Following a major extension in 2020, the school's facade required urgent attention and in 2024, Express Group Ltd was contracted to remove the existing cladding. Upon closer inspection, the team identified significant installation flaws, including an incorrectly installed subframe and non-compliant cladding, necessitating a complete and rapid remediation of the building.​

Bringing a contemporary edge to a 1970s-built home in Helsby, Cheshire, this impressive kitchen renovation showcases how thoughtful design and carefully selected materials can completely transform a space. Originally characterised by bold colours and exposed brickwork, the four-bedroom detached property has been reimagined into a modern, light-filled family home. Working alongside Gareth Lewin of PJL Installations, the homeowners have gradually renovated the property over tim

Königstone’s KönigZero innovative zero‑silica surface collection offers UK kitchen retailers a high‑performance alternative to traditional quartz while responding to evolving health, safety and regulatory concerns. The new Imperial Viola is a refined, marble‑inspired surface which is characterised by a bright, clean white base layered with an expressive network of veining. Fine charcoal and soft grey lines move organically across the surface, with subtle warm beige undertone

Following a successful debut in 2025, Taylor Maxwell returns to Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) this month from 19–21 May 2026. Alongside SBS Cladding, Taylor Maxwell Timber and Vobster Architectural whom form part of the Taylor Maxwell Group, the company will host a dynamic programme of events at its Clerkenwell showroom, while also exhibiting at the festival’s central hub in the ‘Commercial Design in the Park’ area (Stand PA2). In keeping with its sponsorship of World Champio

In its 90th year, it seems almost fitting that leading radiator manufacturer Stelrad has chosen to expand the range of options for its cast iron column radiators here in the UK. The popularity of cast iron radiators, albeit better manufactured and much more efficient than their elderly predecessors, has seen major growth in recent years, if anything making them even more popular now than they were in their so called heyday back between the mid nineteenth century and the 1920s

Navigator MSL has announced a serious annual total to its fundraising exploits for 2025. Every year the company chooses a charity to support for the year voted for by the employees of the company. In 2025 the charity selected was the Cransley Hospice Trust. Cransley Hospice in Kettering provides support for patients with a life-limiting illness who need the specialist help of a hospice. Charity Coordinator Hannah Salton says the team at Navigator is delighted with the amount

Recently redeveloped, the Sutton Life Centre is a vibrant community and education hub in South London, offering a blend of learning, leisure, and civic facilities. TORMAX was contracted to work with façade specialist Sealtite Windows, alongside main contractor Thomas Sinden, to design, manufacture and install a new automatic entrance solution. Powered by iMotion door drives, two sets of bi-parting automatic sliding doors work in tandem to create a thermally efficient lobby.

A new era of liquid screed technology delivers speed, strength, and simplicity for modern flooring projects. Flowcrete, a product brand of Tremco CPG UK Ltd is proud to announce the launch of the new and improved IsocreteFlowing K, developed in partnership with Cemfloor by McGraths. This next-generation cement-based liquid screed combines Flowcrete’s flooring expertise with Cemfloor’s advanced binder technology to deliver a solution that’s faster to install, easier to wor

The UK roofing sector is currently facing significant supply chain challenges. A recent survey by MRA Reports, published in Builders' Merchant News, revealed that 79% of specialist roofing merchants are experiencing problematic lead times. In some cases, contractors are waiting 52 weeks or more for concrete roof tiles, causing costly delays to construction schedules across the country. While the wider industry struggles with these shortages, FP McCann has taken decisive ac

By Fitzroy of London... The UK office construction sector is one of the most promising areas for growth in 2026. Following years of uncertainty, the upturn for new office construction and refurbishment, as well as the increased return to the workplace, creates significant opportunities for architects, developers, specifiers and contractors to deliver high-quality, future-ready spaces. According to a recent report by Glenigan*, 23 major projects worth £6.3 billion are schedule

Already widely specified for flooring applications and creating ‘protected zones’ in roof-spaces, FIREFLY® FB 180 ablative batts are now also being used to provide fire compartmentation beneath raised access floors. Raised access floors are commonly used to accommodate power, data and other building services, creating concealed voids beneath the finished floor. Without appropriate fire protection, these hidden cavities can allow fire and smoke to spread unseen beyond the poin

A Manchester based heating and renewables specialist is striving to grow his business based on delivering high standards of service and system performance, including specifying valves and other hydronic components from the ESBE range to optimise the Seasonally adjusted Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) for the air source heat pumps his company installs. Liam Crosby set up his own business in 2019 having been a British Gas engineer for eight years and now heads a team of eight

The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) is playing a central role in informing and influencing a series of significant changes to standards and regulations affecting the powered pedestrian door industry across the UK. With multiple frameworks under review, ADSA is actively involved in the development of standards amendments in four key areas: new machinery regulation for powered doors and turnstiles a long‑term overhaul of construction products to define how doors an

Spacemann’s Odyssey is a new range of Class A acoustic-certified pods for both modular and accessible solutions Spacemann, a leading brand in innovative pods, booths and office screen systems engineered for modern, flexible work environments, has unveiled a new showroom at The Forum where Odyssey, a next‑generation range of modular acoustic pods, will be launched at Clerkenwell Design Week. Odyssey is a Class A acoustic‑certified pod system which has been created to suppo

Paul Trace, Director of Stella Rooflight, discusses why authenticity and performance must go hand in hand... There is a well understood principle in conservation and restoration work that extends far beyond architecture: the idea that the method must be appropriate to the material. A stonemason repairing a centuries old wall would not reach for modern cement where lime mortar is required, even if the modern material appears stronger, quicker or more convenient to apply. The w

West Fraser’s CaberDek structural flooring has been specified by Essex‑based housebuilder Bocking Homes on a 10‑home residential scheme, helping to protect floor quality during construction while supporting programme efficiency and high standards at handover. Founded in 2017, Bocking Homes is a privately-owned, SME housebuilder delivering small to mid‑scale residential developments across Essex. The business focuses on creating high‑quality family homes, with robust construct

By Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance.. In February 1877, a fire broke out in a Massachusetts mill. It was, by most accounts, an unremarkable fire and the kind of incident that at any other time would have gutted a building, destroyed livelihoods, and perhaps cost lives. But on this occasion, something different happened. The fire at the American Linen Mill in Fall River was stopped in its tracks before it had the chance to become catastrophic. It was the

Pyroguard has raised over £4,000 for Men’s Minds Matter after a team of employees completed a sunrise ascent of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to shine a light on men’s mental health. Twenty employees took on the nine-mile overnight hike to the summit of Wales’s highest mountain, setting off before dawn and reaching the top in time for sunrise, pausing for a moment of reflection at the peak. The challenge was organised in memory of colleague Mikey Shoer, Pyroguard’s former Technical

West Fraser has donated £10k to neighbouring care charity Strathcarron Hospice in Denny, Falkirk for a new community van, allowing the team to provide further care across central Scotland. The funds raised by employees and the team at West Fraser have helped the charity purchase the new, specially adapted community care van, which will support it in bringing hospice care and important conversations directly into local and more rural communities across Forth Valley, Cumbernaul

As the industry unites for Construction Safety Week 2026 (4 - 8 May), West Fraser – the UK’s leading manufacturer of engineered wood-based panel products – is highlighting how its carefully designed solutions help contractors, developers and housebuilders advance the week’s core mission: putting safety first, every day. From reducing slips and falls to improving the stability and durability of working platforms, West Fraser’s portfolio - including SterlingOSB Zero T&G, CaberD