Federal funding for New York’s US$16bn Hudson Tunnel Project has been frozen, forcing the Gateway Development Commission to suspend works from 6 February after spending over US$1bn and employing about 1,000 site workers. A Manhattan federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, giving the administration until 5 p.m. on 12 February to restore reimbursements or appeal, while contractors warn that demobilisation, resequencing and remobilisation will add cost and delay. Sites are now in “safe-pause” mode, with dewatering, ground support and environmental monitoring maintained, and assembly of two Herrenknecht TBMs in New Jersey likely to slip beyond the planned spring 2026 launch without funding certainty.

A sinkhole roughly 8–10 m wide and several metres deep has opened on the AJ Burkitt Reserve sporting oval in Heidelberg, directly adjacent to the North East Link tunnel alignment in Melbourne’s northeast. Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority has confirmed the “surface hole” is in the vicinity of active tunnelling operations, leading to a work pause while engineers and emergency crews carry out geotechnical investigations and monitoring. No injuries or structural damage have been reported, but the area remains fully cordoned off pending cause determination and stability assessment.

A prototype quantum navigation system has been tested on a UK mainline train, claimed as the first deployment of quantum inertial sensing on a national railway network. Developed to provide ultra-precise positioning without GPS, the system uses quantum accelerometers and gyroscopes to track train movement through changes in atomic states. For rail engineers, successful adoption could tighten headways, support more accurate signalling and traffic management, and maintain navigation resilience in tunnels, deep cuttings and urban canyons where satellite signals are unreliable.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries and NEC are jointly developing an AI and computer vision system that uses camera feeds from hydraulic excavators and SHI’s SHICuTe ICT/IoT platform data to automatically detect “risk scenes” and generate structured near-miss reports. NEC’s 2023 video recognition and generative AI technology, previously used for road traffic accident analysis, will fuse time- and location-stamped video with machine operating logs as multimodal data to characterise hazardous and prohibited behaviours. Following a successful proof of concept in September 2025, full development starts April 2026, with global deployment targeted for broader construction-site safety management.

Government plans to promote supermarket-sold plug‑in solar panels, with Lidl preparing low-cost balcony units, are drawing strong safety warnings from Hollis energy director Stuart Patience and trade bodies ECA and NFRC. Concerns centre on non-competent DIY installation into unknown domestic circuits, lack of UK-specific product testing, fire risk from PV and potential add‑on battery storage (thermal runaway, unextinguishable high‑rise fires), and extra loading and combustibles on balconies. Critics argue current grid connection rules, building safety regimes and accreditation frameworks for rooftop and façade systems are not configured for mass plug‑in deployment.

3ME Technology has secured IECEx hazardous area certification for its BladeVOLT® lithium-ion battery system to the IEC 60079 series, enabling use on electric mobile equipment in gassy underground mines previously limited to diesel or tethered power. The intrinsically safe design targets Group I mining atmospheres, allowing OEMs to integrate high‑energy battery packs into flameproof or explosion-protected platforms without separate local certification. This opens a compliant pathway for battery-electric loaders, trucks and utility vehicles in coal and other gas-prone operations seeking to cut diesel emissions and heat load.

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group has partnered with Australian mining technology firm Decoda to deploy a real-time haul road hazard detection system for large open-pit haul trucks. Using on-board sensors and analytics integrated with fleet management platforms, the system flags issues such as potholes, spillage, standing water and excessive grade or crossfall as trucks travel, rather than relying solely on periodic road inspections. The approach targets reduced tyre damage and unplanned downtime, and gives mine planners continuous data to prioritise road maintenance and adjust haul profiles.

Hydration that holds up focuses on Neverfail Spring Water’s approach to supplying potable water to remote mine sites using bulk 15L and 19L returnable bottles, integrated filtration units and scheduled delivery to crib rooms and processing areas. The company uses a multi-stage production process with high-frequency microbiological and chemical testing to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, targeting contaminants such as dissolved metals, pathogens and suspended solids common in mining regions. For site managers, the system reduces reliance on trucked single-use bottles, simplifies water-quality compliance, and supports fatigue management and heat-stress controls in high-temperature pits and plants.

The UK government’s proposed ban on cash retentions in construction, following a year-long consultation, is being hailed by trade bodies such as the ECA and NFRC as a long-fought win for specialist contractors previously exposed to withheld payments used as free working capital. Legal and commercial advisers including Kennedy’s Amanda Hanmore and Osborne Clarke’s Daniel Cashmore warn the ban could drive higher project costs via performance bonds, more back‑loaded payment schedules and milestone‑only payments, and trigger more disputes over incomplete or defective works. BCIS chief economist David Crosthwaite points to project bank accounts and alternative defects and quality mechanisms as critical to maintaining delivery standards and payment security across supply chains.

National Apprenticeship Week saw contractors, consultants and suppliers use site visits, taster days and structured Level 2–6 apprenticeship schemes to tackle construction’s chronic skills shortage. Interviewees point to clearer progression routes from T-levels to degree apprenticeships, better on-site mentoring, and earlier engagement with schools as critical to attracting site engineers, quantity surveyors and trades. For geotechnical and civil practices, the message is to embed apprentices on live ground investigation, piling and temporary works packages rather than confining training to classroom or lab settings.

The British Antarctic Survey’s £100m Discovery Building at Rothera Research Station has been completed on time and budget, centralising field prep, storage, offices, training, medical and welfare facilities under one BMS-controlled roof designed for -22°C to +15°C conditions and targeting a 25% cut in station carbon emissions. Six redundant buildings are being deconstructed piece-by-piece, with cladding and other materials reused on site and waste containerised for controlled removal. Separately, Southbay Civil Engineering’s new 240m replacement causeway at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, will use an inner rock core, outer rock armour and a heavy steel ramp, with local labour and materials.

Rapid adoption of electric vehicles is creating a growing stream of “nearly new” traction batteries, and a specialist firm is repurposing these packs into temporary power units for construction sites. The systems aggregate multiple second-life EV modules into containerised battery energy storage, capable of running site cabins, tower cranes and small plant that would traditionally rely on 100–300kVA diesel generators. For contractors, this points to lower fuel logistics, reduced local emissions and quieter operation, but also raises questions on battery health monitoring, fire safety strategy and end-of-second-life recycling routes.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch report on a Port Glasgow possession details how a Kirow rail crane slewed unexpectedly and crushed two track workers between the crane and a wagon, leaving one with serious injuries. Investigators found the crane operator and controller were using unclear hand signals, with no agreed communication protocol, and that inadequate task lighting on the wagon meant the operator could not reliably see staff positions. The findings point to the need for formalised crane communication plans, better illumination of work areas, and stricter exclusion zones around on‑track plant.

Flender has launched the N‑ZAPEX gear coupling series as a new standard for heavy-duty drive applications in steel, cement, mining, and oil and gas plants operating under harsh conditions. The couplings target lower lifecycle costs by combining high torque transmission with misalignment tolerance and long service intervals, aiming to reduce unplanned downtime in critical drives such as mill, conveyor, and crusher systems. For mining engineers, the key implication is a standardised coupling platform that can simplify spares strategies and maintenance planning across multiple drive trains.

Viridien has launched a Global Tailings Monitoring Service (GTMS), an automated, remote platform for continuous surveillance of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) across single or multiple mine sites. The service integrates multi-sensor data into “actionable intelligence” for engineers and operators, aiming to standardise TSF condition tracking and anomaly detection without relying solely on on-site inspections. For geotechnical teams managing large TSF portfolios, GTMS signals further movement towards centralised, portfolio-level monitoring and earlier warning of stability or performance issues.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are shifting from a niche contamination issue to a core design constraint for water, wastewater and brownfield infrastructure, as regulators tighten limits on “forever chemicals” in soil and groundwater. Civil engineers are being pushed to integrate PFAS-specific measures such as high-pressure membrane treatment, granular activated carbon and specialised landfill liners into drainage, flood defence and remediation schemes. The trend signals more complex risk assessments, higher lifecycle costs and potential redesign of legacy assets where PFAS-impacted leachate or run-off was not previously considered.

Komatsu has run its 2026 North America Advanced Technician Competition at its Cartersville Customer Center in Georgia, putting 10 dealer-network diesel technicians through two days of scored tasks. Participants were evaluated on technical capability, quality of work and safety while working on Komatsu mining and construction equipment, mirroring field diagnostics and repair conditions. The event signals continued OEM emphasis on high-skill diesel maintenance as fleets integrate more complex hydraulics, electronics and emissions systems, with dealer technicians remaining critical to uptime and asset life.

Government plans to ban retention withholding in construction, cap payment terms from large firms to small suppliers at 60 days, and mandate late-payment interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate written into contracts. The Small Business Commissioner would gain powers to investigate suspected poor payers, adjudicate disputes outside court, and levy “significant” fines in the tens of millions, plus force large companies to publish explanations for poor performance. Construction bodies, including the National Federation of Builders, are pushing for alternative performance mechanisms such as accessible surety bonds or insurance during the consultation on the retention ban’s implementation.

Macmahon has secured the mining services contract for the restart of the Mount Carlton gold mine in Queensland, signalling a move from care-and-maintenance back to full-scale open-pit and underground production. The scope is expected to cover drill-and-blast, load-and-haul and potentially underground development, requiring rapid recommissioning of mobile fleets, dewatering systems and ground support in previously inactive stopes. Geotechnical teams will need to reassess pit wall stability and underground conditions after the production hiatus, with updated monitoring and slope management plans before ramp-up.

Panasonic’s latest TOUGHBOOK range is being deployed on Australian mine sites where devices must survive dust ingress, vibration and extreme temperatures that routinely destroy standard laptops. Units are tested to MIL-STD-810H and IP65–IP66 levels, with magnesium-alloy chassis, daylight-readable touchscreens usable with gloves, and hot-swappable batteries to support 12–20-hour field shifts. For geotechs, surveyors and maintenance crews, the key gain is reliable digital access to pit-wall monitoring, equipment diagnostics and mine-planning data directly at the face or on mobile plant.

Caterpillar has renewed its agreement with Fortescue to continue deploying Cat MineStar Command autonomous haulage and drilling systems across the miner’s Pilbara iron ore operations. The deal extends support for existing autonomous truck fleets and remote operations centres while enabling further integration of fleet management, high-precision guidance and collision avoidance on Caterpillar 793 and 789-class haul trucks. For geotechnical and mine planners, the expanded automation framework means tighter control of haul profiles, bench geometry and traffic interactions, with data streams feeding back into pit design and road maintenance strategies.

A construction contract within the $85 million Wakehurst Parkway upgrade in New South Wales has been awarded to Ertech, with detailed design completed and physical works due to start mid‑year after site establishment in the coming months. The package is expected to focus on corridor capacity and flood‑related resilience improvements on this key arterial link between Seaforth and Narrabeen, where closures from heavy rainfall have historically disrupted traffic. Geotechnical and pavement engineers should anticipate substantial earthworks, drainage upgrades and pavement reconstruction under live‑traffic staging.

Volvo Autonomous Solutions’ Volvo FH autonomous truck fleet at Brønnøy Kalk’s Velfjord limestone mine in Norway has expanded from a single shift to three shifts, now hauling all production from the pit to the crusher. The driverless trucks operate on a dedicated 5 km haul route through a tunnel to the processing plant, using GPS, lidar and radar for navigation and obstacle detection. For mine planners, the move signals growing confidence in fully autonomous, round-the-clock haulage on fixed routes with clearly defined geofences and traffic controls.

Foundations are now complete for a new 50‑metre shared-use suspension bridge replacing the historic Sappers’ Bridge over the River Conwy at Betws‑y‑Coed, built under a £3m Conwy County Borough Council contract with MWT Civil Engineering. Deep abutment excavations for mass concrete plinths were formed in a high water table using a sheet‑piled cofferdam with interlocking Larssen piles, welded corners, Groundforce Mega Brace beams and three MP50 hydraulic struts. Two ICE8SG side‑grip hammers installed piles over 6m long, while an unusual sheet‑piled ramp provided plant access without cranes beside the 14th‑century St Michael’s Church.

Structural testing is presented as a non-negotiable step for mining infrastructure, validating the integrity and fatigue performance of critical assets such as conveyor gantries, processing plant platforms, and heavy-equipment support frames. Australian Mining Services (AMS) is cited using load testing, strain gauging and non-destructive examination on welded joints, bolted connections and high-stress nodes to detect cracking and deformation before service failures occur. For engineers, the message is to embed scheduled structural testing into lifecycle management, particularly where dynamic loads, corrosion, and vibration govern design behaviour.

The Federation of Master Builders is urging the UK government to introduce mandatory licensing for all building trades as part of reforms to create a Single Construction Regulator, arguing current “halfway house” measures leave “vast gaps of no regulation”. Chief executive Brian Berry says responsible SMEs are being undercut by rogue traders operating with little oversight, causing serious financial and emotional harm to homeowners. The FMB wants the new regulator’s scope expanded to administer a state‑controlled licensing scheme that sets a clear competence baseline and strengthens enforcement.

Rapid drawdown in earth and rockfill dams is modelled in Rocscience’s Slide2 by separating gradual, fully transient seepage analyses from a dedicated Rapid Drawdown option that embeds hydrogeologic assumptions directly into limit equilibrium slope stability. Engineers can define initial and final water tables, including partial drawdown lines, and apply four established methods – Effective Stress (B-bar), Duncan–Wright–Wong (1990), USACE (1970) two-stage and Lowe–Karafiath (1960) – to estimate post-drawdown pore pressures and factors of safety. The B-bar approach allows material-specific drainage behaviour to be varied, supporting sensitivity studies where low-permeability cores retain elevated pore pressures after reservoir lowering.

Alligator Energy has begun uranium extraction in the field leach trial at its Samphire in-situ recovery (ISR) project near Whyalla, South Australia, a key step towards proving commercial ISR performance in the Eyre Peninsula’s shallow sandstone aquifers. The trial will operate a closed-circuit lixiviant system through a dedicated wellfield to generate real-time data on uranium recovery, solution chemistry and groundwater behaviour under controlled drawdown. Results will drive final well spacing, pump sizing and process plant design, and feed into regulatory approvals for full-scale ISR mining.

Detailed designs have been released for the $220 million Henry Lawson Drive Upgrade Stage 1B in Milperra, covering a 1.8‑kilometre section between Auld Avenue and the M5 Motorway approaches in south‑western Sydney. The New South Wales Government scheme targets a key freight and commuter corridor linking Bankstown Airport and the M5, with works expected to address current congestion and safety constraints on the existing dual‑carriageway arterial. For civil and pavement engineers, the project signals upcoming demand for urban arterial widening, drainage upgrades and construction staging under heavy traffic.

Sasquatch Resources is targeting roughly 300,000 tonnes of sulphide-bearing waste rock at the historic Mount Sicker copper-gold district on Vancouver Island, where legacy piles with a neutralisation potential of 0.2 and open shafts up to 200 feet deep continue to generate acid runoff and physical hazards. Modern sampling of the surface waste has returned average grades of about 2 g/t gold plus copper, silver and zinc, and the company plans to crush and process the material using density and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) ore-sorting in a closed-loop, reagent-free circuit. Because the project involves large-scale reprocessing without new mining, Sasquatch is working with regulators to craft a bespoke permitting pathway that could be replicated across an estimated 2,000 legacy mine sites in British Columbia.

A historical focus on water quantity over water quality in sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) is leading to poor sediment management, argues Stuart Crisp, UK manager at Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS). Crisp points to designs that size attenuation tanks and oversized pipes for peak flow while neglecting silt capture, pre-treatment and accessible maintenance points, allowing fine sediments to clog geocellular units and perforated pipes. He calls for SuDS layouts that integrate upstream sediment forebays, filter media and realistic maintenance access to protect long-term hydraulic capacity and water quality performance.

Immediate expansion of UK construction capacity, productivity and collaborative delivery models is being called for to meet the government’s 10‑year infrastructure strategy covering major rail, road, energy and water schemes. Industry leaders are pressing for integrated planning across National Highways, Network Rail and water companies, with longer‑term frameworks and alliancing contracts to secure design-and-build resources and specialist supply chains. Without rapid action on skills, offsite manufacturing and digital design tools such as BIM and common data environments, programmes risk cost escalation and schedule overrun.

Amey has defended its payroll practices after HMRC named it among 524 UK employers that failed to pay some staff the statutory minimum wage. The infrastructure and services contractor, which maintains highways, rail assets and public estate facilities across multiple long-term PFI and NEC contracts, said the underpayments were historic, affected a limited number of employees and have now been corrected with arrears paid. Inclusion on HMRC’s list may trigger closer scrutiny of labour compliance on public-sector frameworks and major civils maintenance contracts.

A 19-year-old labourer, Renols Lleshi, died after stepping onto a ventilation shaft on the 12th-floor roof garden at the Ark Soane Academy residential block in Mill Hill Road, London W3, where the opening was covered only with plasterboard and roofing foam before he fell six floors. Jerram Falkus Construction Limited admitted breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £42,200, plus a £2,000 surcharge and £5,000 costs at City of London Magistrates Court. HSE found routine site inspections excluded the roof garden, so the fragile, non-loadbearing cover and fall hazard were never identified or controlled.

Cardiff’s £multi-million coastal defence scheme is being delivered by Knights Brown and Cardiff Council to protect the city’s industrial bay from rapid shoreline erosion and overtopping risk. Works focus on upgrading ageing sea walls and revetments along key sections of the bay frontage, integrating higher crest levels, improved wave return details and more durable armour units to cope with increasingly energetic storm conditions. For geotechnical and marine designers, the project signals tighter performance demands on foundation stability, scour protection and long-term maintenance access in a heavily developed waterfront corridor.

Approximately 25 kilometres of the Mount Isa–Duchess Road in Queensland’s Cloncurry Shire will be sealed under joint Federal and State government funding to improve long-term flood resilience. The upgrade targets all-weather access for heavy mining and pastoral haulage, reducing closures on a key inland freight route that currently suffers from wet-season isolation. For geotechnical and pavement designers, the focus will be on flood-resistant formation, drainage capacity and surfacing able to withstand high axle loads from road trains.

Nominations for the 2025 Women in Industry Awards are closing soon, with categories spanning mining, engineering, transport, manufacturing and resources, and open to roles from site-based operators to senior executives. The awards, run by Prime Creative Media and supported by Australian Mining, recognise technical innovation, safety leadership, operational excellence and mentoring, rather than purely corporate or HR achievements. Mining and civil leaders are being urged to nominate women leading projects such as mine expansion programmes, process-plant upgrades, automation deployments or geotechnical risk initiatives before the final deadline.

BQE Water and Nuvumiut Development have signed a three-year contract with Canadian Royalties Inc to operate seasonal mine water treatment plants at the Nunavik Nickel Project in northern Québec. The JV will manage treatment of contact water and metallurgical bleed streams under Arctic conditions, where short operating windows and freeze–thaw cycles place tight constraints on plant availability, reagent dosing, and sludge handling. For mine operators in cold climates, the deal signals growing reliance on specialist contractors to maintain compliance with stringent metal and sulphate discharge limits.

Balfour Beatty Group has pleaded not guilty at High Wycombe Magistrates Court to two Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 charges following the July 2023 death of construction worker Stuart Cook, 58, at AWE’s Aldermaston nuclear site in West Berkshire. The company denies breaching Section 2(1) regarding its duty to protect its employee and Section 3(1) concerning risks to non-employees arising from construction activities on the Atomic Weapons Establishment site. ONR is prosecuting as a conventional health and safety case, with no radiological risk reported and no trial date yet set.

Excavation is under way 1.5km below ground at the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility in South Dakota to create three caverns, each roughly cathedral-sized, to house the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment’s liquid-argon detectors. The 1,300km-long beamline from Fermilab to the former Homestake gold mine demands tight control of rock mass behaviour, with extensive pre-grouting, cable bolting and shotcrete linings in complex, stressed Precambrian formations. Construction sequencing, spoil handling through deep shafts and long-term groundwater management are central geotechnical risks for the multi-year programme.

Immediate load capacity of helical anchors and piles at installation is being challenged by data showing significant “aging” effects, with shaft resistance and overall capacity increasing measurably over days to months in clays and some sands. The discussion contrasts torque-correlated design methods with time-dependent capacity gains, referencing field load tests where post-installation capacity growth alters factor-of-safety assumptions and serviceability performance. For practitioners, the key issue is whether to rely solely on installation torque or to incorporate waiting periods and ageing factors into design for temporary works, tiebacks and lightly loaded foundations.

Sandvik has introduced the HPA20 automatic resin injection pump for resin-based ground support, designed to automate resin mixing and delivery in underground bolting operations. The system integrates with Sandvik bolters to control resin volume and injection pressure, reducing manual handling at the face and improving consistency in encapsulation around rock bolts. For geotechnical and ground support engineers, this points to tighter control of bolt installation parameters and potential reductions in variability of resin annulus quality in highly stressed ground.

MST Global is preparing to launch a next‑generation underground digital network designed to simplify mine connectivity while expanding support for location tracking, voice, video and sensor data. The system targets more reliable communications in complex headings and declines, where signal propagation and power distribution typically limit Wi‑Fi and LTE coverage. For geotechnical and operations teams, denser, more resilient networks enable higher‑resolution monitoring of ground movement, equipment status and environmental conditions, supporting faster response to rockfall, gas or ventilation issues.

Raglan Mine in Nunavik, Quebec, has reached a key automation milestone, with the first autonomous haul truck at the new Anuri underground nickel mine completing an autonomous ramp climb and successfully discharging ore at surface. The Glencore-owned complex now runs autonomous haulage alongside existing high-grade underground operations at Qakimajurq and Kikialik, signalling progressive automation across multiple orebodies. For mine planners and engineers, the achievement validates autonomous truck navigation on ramp profiles typical of deep Arctic underground operations, with implications for traffic management, communications and ramp design in similar cold-climate mines.

Liebherr’s LiReCon (Liebherr Remote Control) system has been deployed on 70‑tonne PR 776 mining dozers for SQM at the Nueva Victoria iodine operation in Chile’s Atacama Desert, marking the first customer delivery of the flagship dozer with factory‑fitted remote capability. The LiReCon package uses an ergonomically designed remote operating station with full‑HD cameras and real‑time machine data to control the dozer from a safe location away from high‑risk ripping and stockpile areas. For mine planners and maintenance teams, this enables deployment of heavy dozers in geotechnically marginal zones while reducing operator exposure and potential downtime from slope failures.

Henkel is marking 70 years in mining maintenance support with its Loctite adhesive technologies, including long‑standing threadlocker Loctite 243 for locking and sealing metal fasteners on vibrating equipment. The company is pairing these anaerobic adhesives with structural bonding and wear‑protection products to extend service intervals on crushers, conveyors and mills, reducing unplanned shutdowns in high‑load, high‑vibration environments. For site engineers, the focus is on improving joint integrity without redesigning existing bolted connections or changing OEM hardware.

The UK government’s new fusion strategy sets March 2029 as the target date to submit a Development Consent Order for the proposed “limitless energy” fusion power plant. The project is expected to follow the prototype Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) concept at West Burton, using a compact tokamak design rather than conventional large toroidal reactors. For civil and geotechnical teams, the timetable fixes the window for detailed site investigations, nuclear-grade containment structures and heavy-shielded foundations to support extreme thermal and electromagnetic loading.

3ME Technology has completed what it calls a world‑first DC ArcFlash testing programme with Rio Tinto on high‑voltage battery systems for mining fleets, generating empirical data on arc energy, blast pressure and thermal effects to refine PPE categories and enclosure designs. In a parallel development, 3ME is collaborating with Toshiba to integrate lithium titanate oxide (LTO) cells into its Bladevolt battery platform, targeting fast‑charge, high‑cycle underground mining vehicles. The work directly informs electrical protection coordination, battery pack architecture and risk assessments for diesel‑to‑battery conversions.

A 19-year-old worker at Sheridan Skips Burnley’s Smiths Yard site in Burnley suffered life-changing crush injuries on 12 March 2024 when a reversing telescopic handler, operating without rear-view mirrors, pinned him against a brick wall while he was hand-sorting waste. A Health & Safety Executive investigation found no effective vehicle–pedestrian segregation, no physical barriers or refuges, and routine concurrent yard operations with mobile plant and manual pickers. Sheridan Skips Burnley Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £24,000 plus £4,777 costs at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court.

Skills card data from the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) show the proportion of under‑30s holding cards has risen from 17% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2025, challenging long‑standing concerns over an ageing UK construction workforce. CSCS chief executive Sean Kearns attributes the shift to verified digital registration data that track who is actually working on site and entering the industry. The key issue now is retaining these younger workers through structured upskilling to maintain a flexible, long‑term site workforce.