For builders, electricians and plumbers, this Budget will not be judged on how it plays in Westminster, but on whether it lets them actually take on work, invest and hire apprentices. With National Insurance, wages and business costs all rising, many trades are feeling like they are being taxed simply for creating jobs.
Within that, the Government’s own housing and skills ambitions are now tightly bound to how viable life is for local trades. From council tax uncertainty affecting home improvement decisions, to tool theft and muddled VAT rules on green upgrades, policy choices are feeding directly into whether tradespeople can stay afloat, grow and support the “skills revolution” ministers talk about.
Robin Clevett, tradesperson and Radio Show Host at FIX Radio, says:
‘This Budget will not be judged on how it plays in Westminster, but on whether it lets tradespeople actually take on work and hire apprentices. Right now, builders, electricians and plumbers are being hit with a triple whammy of higher National Insurance, higher wages and rising business costs. It is, in effect, a tax on jobs. Every extra percentage point in NI is an apprentice not hired, a van not replaced or a pay rise delayed.
Against that backdrop, it becomes much harder for the Government to meet its own housing targets. It is difficult to promise hundreds of thousands of new homes a year while making it harder for the very people who build them to stay afloat, invest and grow. The uncertainty around proposed council tax changes is only adding to the pressure. When households are unsure what their bills will look like, the first things they delay are repairs and home improvements. For local trades, that drop in confidence risks becoming another strain at a time when margins are already tight.’
On top of that, tool theft and muddled VAT rules on green home upgrades are undermining the very skills revolution ministers talk about. If the Chancellor is serious about fixing the economy’s foundations, he has to stop taxing the people who lay those foundations and start backing them instead.’
A new JCB 19C-1E mini excavator is helping a leading hirer win more business in noise sensitive areas.
Purchased by Gloucester-based Ermin, the JCB 19C-1E is the industry’s first ever fully electric mini excavator. It is part of JCB’s E-TECH range of electric equipment with zero emissions at the point of use and no compromise on performance.
Supplied by Holt JCB, the 19C-1E is being hired by Ermin’s diverse customer base, from large contractors to smaller builders and DIY customers. It has already helped the firm secure new projects in noise sensitive areas such as schools and urban environments.
Ermin Operations Director, Mark Davis said: “Operationally it is important that we have confidence in the reliability of the machines and JCB certainly provides that with all of the equipment we have bought. In our industry the machines do take some punishment and JCB certainly stands up to the rigours of the hire trade and provide a durable option when looking for rental machinery.
“Our hire customers have all been impressed and have expressed their surprise at how well it compares to a diesel version. The quiet operation of the machine is a big hit as well as not having to rely on refuelling. Customers that have had it on hire at schools and in town centres have commented that the zero emissions has helped them when carrying out works.”
The JCB 19C-1E is the world’s first electric mini excavator with zero exhaust emissions at point of use and considerably quieter than a standard machine. Four lithium-ion batteries provide 20kWh of energy storage – enough for full working shift for the majority of mini excavator customers on a single charge.
Established in 1966 Ermin employs 60 people across its six depots in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Worcester and Ross on Wye. The company specialises in plant hire and also offers comprehensive access, scaffolding, welfare and site security hire backed by servicing, repairs, sales and training.
NFB TEAM: Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the NFB and Rico Wojtulewicz Head of Policy and Market Insight
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves delivered her second budget today, unveiling an array of tax measures. Most importantly, she did not go ahead with the unviable landfill tax increase of 3,015%, instead implementing a smaller uplift. Ultimately, the biggest cost of the Budget was the increased cost to hiring, especially for firms hiring young people.
Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “Construction feared the worst from the budget, particularly on landfill tax. While we were heard on this proposal, lower rate landfill tax, or ‘muckaway’, will still more than double in price. Furthermore, businesses who employ directly, take on apprentices, or who choose to decarbonise their vehicle fleets, will be throwing their arms up in frustration.
“There was nothing on stamp duty land tax rebates for the most efficient homes, no cancelling of the Building Safety Levy and not a murmur on Help to Buy, all of which means industry will remain in the mud.
“Death by a thousand taxes has already killed off many businesses, with insolvency rates still high within the construction industry. The Government must therefore redouble its effort to make projects more certain for investors, while helping the construction businesses who deliver them become more viable. Planning reform is one place which will help industry, and we can only assume that as they were omitted from the budget, they have been saved for the housing secretary, Steve Reed.”
Some of the most important parts of the budget for builders includes:
The landfill tax will not converge to a single rate as previously proposed, but the lower rate will be uplifted with the same multiplier as the standard rate. So, for 2026-27, the lower rate will be £8.65 per tonne and the standard rate will be £130.75.
Public bodies will be provided with grants to remediate land where landfill tax is an ‘unaffordable blocker’.
£48 million of additional funding being allocated to boost capacity in the planning system, which will increase recruitment across the planning system to 1,400 by the end of this Parliament.
A ‘High Value Council Tax Surcharge’ on properties in England that are worth £2m or more, from 2028-29.
Relief for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) buildings will be funded by the most expensive properties
One of the most pressing issues is the increase to the minimum wage. It will impact firms that hire younger workers and apprentices the most, as they receive the largest increases in pay.
Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight and the NFB, said: “The landfill tax proposal was an existential threat to the construction industry, dampening investment and growth. We are therefore delighted that the Government engaged so openly and diligently with industry to scrap their proposals. It was a real partnership.
The lower rate landfill tax will double for 2026-27 financial year, which will a challenge, but we hope the next steps are for the Government to work with industry on analysing waste licensing and regulations so that that lower rated material can be reused on site, on other projects or stored for re-use. If we want a circular economy, we need a regulatory environment to enable it.”
2025 sponsor of the CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management) WaterAid Charity Golf event Jemma Catterson and organiser Michael Donnelly were delighted to hand over £17,000, which was raised through the sold-out competition, to WaterAid NI President & CEO of NI Water Dr Sara Venning.
The sell out annual golfing event at Rockmount Golf Club drives home increased player interest and donations for WaterAid each year.
The organising committee is grateful to all the industry partners that support and take part in the competition each year and in particular Castlederg based Lowry Building & Civil Engineering – the headline sponsor of the 2025 event.
One in ten people worldwide don’t have a reliable source of clean water close to home and more than one in five don’t have a decent toilet of their own.
NI Water is proud to lead the local WaterAid NI Committee and we support WaterAid’s vision of a world where everyone, everywhere has access to clean water, decent sanitation and good hygiene. These essentials keep people safe and healthy.
For further information on the 2026 event or to register your interest in WaterAid events, email SNI@wateraid.org
Gateshead College’s PlanBEE programme has been awarded one of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education, the highest national honour a Further Education College can receive.
The announcement was made at St James’s Palace and coincides with the college’s 80th birthday celebrations. The prize will be formally presented at an investiture ceremony next February.
Part of the UK’s national honours system, the Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education are granted every two years by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, following a rigorous and independent review process. They recognise outstanding work by UK colleges and universities that demonstrate excellence, innovation and real benefit to the wider world.
Developed in partnership with Ryder Architecture, PlanBEE was launched in 2016 to help attract and retain talent in the built environment and construction sector and solve the skills shortage the industry is facing.
Backed by a consortium of over 70 leading businesses across the UK, the programme combines academic study at the college with hands-on experience at leading industry employers.
As the first programme of its kind, apprentices undertake six distinct four-month placements across roles such as architecture, engineering, project management, quantity surveying and digital design.
PlanBEE has achieved remarkable success, delivering over 850 industry placements and boasting a 98% progression rate of apprentices into permanent roles or further study. Building on its success in the North East, PlanBEE expanded to Manchester in 2020 and London in 2023.
In 2024, the college developed PlanBEE Rail in partnership with Network Rail and its supply chain partners, and it also expanded into the digital sector in the North East with the first cohort of PlanBEE Cyber apprentices starting at the end of 2024.
This national honour shines a spotlight on the North East as a place where innovation in skills development is not only happening but leading the country. PlanBEE reflects the ambitions of the region’s skills agenda demonstrating how employer-led, flexible and collaborative models can strengthen the talent pipeline in priority sectors, boost productivity and support long-term economic growth.
David Alexander, Principal of Gateshead College said: “This is a tremendous honour for our college. It recognises the innovative partnership approach we’ve taken with industry to tackle skills shortages, and it’s a powerful endorsement of the impact the PlanBEE programme has made. This honour wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our team, our incredible sponsors, and the talented apprentices who’ve helped make it the success it is today. It’s especially fitting to receive this recognition as we mark the college’s 80th birthday giving us even more reason to celebrate.”
Mark Thompson, Managing Director, Ryder Architecture, said: “When we first set out to create PlanBEE, I spoke to universities and professional institutes across the country, but many simply couldn’t move at the pace our fast-changing industry demands. We needed a partner who understood the urgency and the bigger picture.
Gateshead College’s commitment, ambition and ‘can-do’ approach never faltered. Together we’ve created a collaborative programme that brings the sector together in a completely new way.
“To see PlanBEE recognised with this national honour is a testament to that partnership. It shows what can be achieved when industry and education work side by side with shared purpose and real determination and I’m grateful to all those who invested in the vision from the outset, it wouldn’t have happened without them.”
Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of the Royal Anniversary Trust, said: “The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education celebrate the power of education to change the world for the better. This much-loved national honour recognises, at the highest level of state, outstanding work in UK universities and colleges, and the remarkable benefit they bring to our economy, society and the wider world.
This year we are delighted to honour 19 institutions whose work offers an inspiring snapshot of the excellent and innovative work going on in universities and colleges across the UK. Congratulations all!”
Reform needed as Boiler Upgrade Scheme under review in Autumn Budget
Only around 5% of the Government’s annual air source heat pump installation target is being met in England and Wales under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), according to new data* analysed by Hewer Facilities Management.
The Government is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations annually by 2028. However, a review of publicly available MCS data by Hewer, a leading heating, plumbing and building services provider, shows that on average only 36,167 units have been installed per year in the three years since the BUS launched.
The BUS launched in 2022 and replaced the Domestic Renewable Heating Incentive (DRHI). The scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 to homeowners looking to upgrade their heating systems as an incentive to decarbonise their homes. The grants are only available through engineers certified through MCS, the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewable energy technologies.
Despite the shortfall there is growing speculation that the eligibility criteria could be under review in the Autumn Budget on 26 November, with the grant support either coming to an end, or more likely scaled back, including being made available to only those receiving certain benefits and/or low-income households.
Total installations by region under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
To date the BUS has been more successful in England and Wales than its predecessor. From April 2022 to April 2025 there were 108,502 air source heat pump installations, compared to 68,833 under the eight-year duration of the DRHI.
Installations in domestic homes have been growing year on year with 22,642 in 2022, up 250% to 54,409 in the year to April 2025. Since January this year there have been 44,587 installations by MCS certified engineers.
The South West and South East have seen the most, with over 16,000 installations each since the grant started in 2022. The East of England is third, while London has had more installed than the whole of the North East over that time. Wales in its entirety has had over 16,000, matching that of the south.
Table of installations per region between April 2022 and April 2025
Region
Number of Installations
South East
16,397
South West
16,303
East of England
13,869
East Midlands
10773
Yorkshire and Humberside
9,547
North West
9,420
West Midlands
8,182
London
3,917
North East
3,732
Wales
16,546
The best performing local authority area is East Lindsey in Lincolnshire with 1.96% of households now having an air source heat pump installed under the grant period, with the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, coming in second with 1.88%. The rest of the top five are made up of South Norfolk, North Kesteven, and Cornwall.
Local Authority Performance (Top Areas)
Local Authority
MCS Certified Installations Total
% of Households with Installations
East Lindsey
1268
1.96%
Forest of Dean
700
1.88%
South Norfolk
1027
1.67%
North Kesteven
797
1.56%
Cornwall
3817
1.52%
South Holland
577
1.42%
North Norfolk
683
1.41%
Fenland
572
1.30%
South Cambridgeshire
864
1.29%
Torridge
393
1.29%
The worst performing areas are all based in and around the Capital. Only 0.04% of homes in Kensington and Chelsea have had an air source heat pump installed, with the London districts of Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham, and Harlow making up the bottom five.
Local Authority Performance (Lowest Areas)
Local Authority
MCS Certified Installations Total
% of Households with Installations
Redbridge
88
0.08%
Greenwich
92
0.08%
Hammersmith and Fulham
59
0.07%
Islington
70
0.07%
Newham
65
0.06%
Harlow
21
0.06%
Barking and Dagenham
39
0.05%
Tower Hamlets
49
0.04%
Westminster
36
0.04%
Kensington and Chelsea
24
0.04%
Stuart Hesk, director at Hewer said: “The data highlights that the BUS grant is a better solution than its predecessor. This is most likely down to the way in which the scheme allows claimants to access the funding. The DRHI was paid in instalments whereas the BUS grant is paid in one lump sum, directly to installers.
“Although we are seeing year on year increase in installations, the figures suggest that there is still more to be done, especially if we as an industry want to support the roll out and the UK’s transition to greener energy technologies. In this instance changing the BUS eligibility criteria could be a backwards step, however there are other challenges that need to be addressed too. These include filling a shortfall in the workforce, educating consumers on best use practices, reviewing energy costs and tariffs, and reform to red tape, which is hampering the roll out, especially in vulnerable communities such as those living in social housing.”
While the BUS grant can only be accessed through MCS certified businesses and installers, there is currently no standardised qualifications for heat pump installers. This stands in sharp contrast to the rigorous training required of gas engineers and is “a likely cause of many of the horror stories regarding poor installations and high running costs” noted Stuart.
He also highlighted the need for greater collaboration between manufacturers to help reduce installation and repair costs, alongside action from government and energy companies to bring down electricity prices, pointing to Norway, Sweden and Finland as examples of countries where heat pump adoption is significantly higher, largely due to more affordable energy.
Stuart added: “The UK is one of the leading global parties in the transition away from fossil fuels, and technologies such as air source heat pumps have huge potential. If industry and government can work together to raise installation standards, simplify support schemes and bring down electricity prices, we can unlock far greater public confidence and accelerate installations at scale.”
The nine-storey scheme in central London will be the UK’s largest all-timber frame office building.
Following the completion of enabling works, McLaren will now work alongside architects Piercy&Co, project manager Avison Young, services and sustainability engineers Max Fordham, and structural and civil engineers Heyne Tillett Steel, to deliver the project by Q2 2028.
Xylo will be one of the most advanced environmentally sensitive buildings in the world. Its glulam beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure are being supplied by Hybrid Structures, a William Hare Group company.
Darren Gill, Managing Director for London & South at McLaren Construction, said: “This is a pioneering use of structural timber and off-site manufacturing to deliver a high level of buildability and sustainability on a typically tight central London site.
“The result will be a landmark project that redefines what a sustainable, healthy workplace can be. Rigorous digital information management systems enable us to monitor carbon emissions as the project progresses and ensure that it comfortably meets its ambitious targets.”
Josh Lawrence, Chief Executive of Global Holdings Management Group UK, added: “We are delighted to be working with McLaren to deliver Xylo – a game-changing project and significant milestone for our industry.
“Xylo is going to be the perfect building for companies that are leaders in their fields, showcasing the most environmentally friendly technologies in a truly beautiful building, underpinned by a vibrant neighbourhood and abundant transport links.”
Buyer demand in Northern Ireland’s housing market has remained strong during the Autumn despite some uncertainty relating to the upcoming UK Budget, according to PropertyPal’s latest monthly market snapshot.
October saw sales enquiries 21.7% higher than in the same month of 2024, with sales volumes 3% above the long-term average. Average prices reached £237,918, which is 6.5% higher than in October 2024, representing an increase of over 40% since the start of 2020.
Despite some uncertainty relating to the UK Budget, the expectation is that on balance, there will be further interest rate cuts in the coming months, which would improve affordability alongside recent strength in local earnings and provide further momentum to an already resilient sales market.
In the rental market, whilst headline rents continued to increase, the rate of growth has been moderating, and now sits at 5.8% on a year-on-year basis with the average rent now £992. Rental enquiries were lower than in October 2024 (-4.1%) representing a slowdown from extremely high levels.
Sales enquiries: +21.7%
Newly agreed sales: 2,363
PropertyPal website traffic: +6.9%
Average house price: £237,918
Average listed time to reach sale agreed: 46 days
NI average rent: £992
Jordan Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer at PropertyPal, commented on the October housing market: “Buyer demand has remained strong throughout the autumn, with around 2,400 newly agreed sales in October, 3% above the 10-year average. Properties are continuing to move at pace during their marketing phase, taking an average of 46 days to find a buyer, broadly in line with last year, and still quicker than long-term norms.
“While the rate of house price growth has eased slightly in recent months, prices remain on an upward trend, having grown by over 40% since the start of 2020. The average home now stands at £238,000, up 6.5% over the past year, and among the fastest-growing price levels across the UK, with similar growth confirmed by both Halifax and Nationwide indices.
“Looking ahead, the underlying market signals remain positive. Search activity on PropertyPal is up 7% year-on-year, and agent enquiries have increased by 22%, suggesting a strong pipeline of activity as we move towards 2026.
“However, the upcoming UK Budget introduces a degree of uncertainty. While it has so far had limited impact on local sentiment, speculation is building around potential property tax reforms and broader revenue-raising measures. The economic and fiscal outlook will be closely watched and under considerable scrutiny, given the challenging backdrop of high inflation, a cooling labour market, and subdued economic growth.
“A key factor will be how markets respond to the Budget and what it signals for the future path of interest rates. On balance, current evidence suggests further cuts are likely in the coming months. If this materialises, it will improve affordability alongside recent strength in local earnings and provide further momentum to an already resilient market,” he adds.
Reynaers Group has published its new annual sustainability report – Our Sustainable Road Ahead 2024–2030 – which highlights an 8.5% reduction in operational carbon, as well as a 13.6% reduction in embodied carbon, crediting its comprehensive approach as the key driver in its sustainability gains.
With its initial sustainability benchmarks set in 2019, this new report denotes the halfway point towards Reynaers achieving its ambitious Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) goals of a 46.2% absolute reduction in emissions and 55% relative reduction in emissions by 2030.¹
Looking beyond embodied carbon, Reynaers takes a broad approach to sustainability, the focal point of its new campaign ‘Sustainability. From Every Angle’ which calls for a wider focus on sustainability, challenging the established view in the construction sector that embodied carbon is central to achieving long-term sustainability.
Having said this, Reynaers is achieving a consistent decline in emissions through further decarbonisation of its aluminium systems. In 2019 for each kilogram of sourced aluminium the average footprint was 5.16kg Co2 eq. The report highlights that by pursuing low-carbon aluminium Reynaers was able to reduce this by 20% to 4.13 Co2 eq./kg by 2024. The aim is to reach 2.81kg Co2 eq./kg by 2030.
Reynaers approach calls for much more than a focus on embodied carbon. Its latest 112-page report cites a variety of factors contributing towards an improved carbon footprint, including its investment in infrastructure incorporating new low-energy campuses in Poland and Switzerland, electric car fleets and developments in eco-design for product circularity.
Reynaers Aluminium now boasts 15 Cradle to cradle systems including over 50 variants – MasterLine windows and doors, ConceptSystem 77 windows and doors, SlimLine 38 windows and doors, MasterPatio, HiFinity as well as its curtain wall ranges including ConceptWall, ElementFacade 7 and SlimWall 35 products.
John McComb, Technical Director and Sustainability Champion at Reynaers Aluminium UK, said: “Sustainability is at the core of what we do at Reynaers, and this new report highlights the significant gains we have made in our journey to a sustainable future.
“In order to lower our environmental impact, we have implemented a comprehensive sustainability strategy that looks beyond the focus on embodied carbon in the industry, to cover all aspects of our products and operations.
“It is essential to understand that sustainability is constantly evolving, and to adequately reduce our environmental impact we must be adaptable and foster a culture of continuous education and change within the industry as a whole. The sustainability gains highlighted in the latest Reynaers annual report demonstrates why it is vital to look at our environmental impact from every angle, and that we all take ownership of our impact to ensure true sustainability for our built environment, and those who reside within it, long-term.
“We recently held a webinar outlining our journey to a more sustainable future and our approach to sustainability from every angle. In 2026, we aim to host further webinars centring on various angles and what impact we can make in helping to carve out a future of sustainable construction.”
Reynaers ambitious sustainability goals are guided by The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Find out more about Reynaers commitment to a sustainable future and download its latest report ‘Our Sustainable Road Ahead: 2024-2030’ here: https://www.reynaers.co.uk/sustainability.
Altrad RMD Kwikform (Altrad RMDK) has officially opened its second dedicated Training Academy at the company’s Head Office in Aldridge, West Midlands. The new facility builds on the success of the first academy in Skelmersdale, further reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to developing skills, safety, and technical excellence across the construction industry.
Unveiled by Managing Director Mark Pickard, the Aldridge Training Academy will serve as a central hub for advancing knowledge in above and below ground temporary works systems. It features purpose-built training areas, a live demonstration zone, and digital resources that replicate real-world site environments, enabling employees and customers to deepen their understanding of Altrad RMDK’s innovative systems and engineering solutions.
Together with the Skelmersdale academy, the Aldridge facility forms a unified learning network. The combined facilities increase training capacity and make learning more accessible for employees and customers across the UK, promoting continuous improvement, technical excellence, and best practice throughout the temporary works sector.
Mark Pickard, Managing Director at Altrad RMD Kwikform, commented: “The opening of our Aldridge Training Academy represents the next phase in our investment in people and the future of the industry. By expanding our training offering, we’re giving our teams and customers the opportunity to strengthen their technical expertise, improve safety standards, and deliver excellence on every project.
“It’s a proud moment for everyone at Altrad RMDK as we continue building on the success of the Skelmersdale academy and look ahead to shaping the next generation of construction professionals.”
The addition of the Aldridge facility ensures that training is now accessible to Altrad RMDK teams and customers from North to South, supporting the company’s growing workforce and customer base throughout the UK.
