5 Pranks Apprentices Always Fall For

You might think that you’ve got all bases covered when it comes to being prepared for the first day of your construction apprenticeship – your route to work, any supplies you’ll need, what questions you’re going to ask – but there’s one thing you may not have thought about. We’re talking about the typical pranks that almost all apprentices have to suffer at some point. They’re pretty much a rite of passage. But, with the help of Hitchcock & King, you’ll be forewarned about these tricks of the trade so you can avoid looking like a tool!   

How to Avoid Waste Buildup on Construction Sites

The Hitchcock & King team will be taking a look at some ways in which you can organise your construction site, so you can help avoid the buildup of waste!

6 Ways To Avoid Business Stagnation in Construction

If there’s one worry that all construction companies share, it’s the risk of stagnation. Stagnation is a sustained period of low or no growth, and can lead to having to lay off employees or cut wages just to keep the business afloat.

The causes of stagnation are myriad, but one area of note is that periods of stagnation can ebb and flow with the market. Although stagnation affects all industries when the market fluctuates, the very real risk posed by stagnating inflows of work isn’t something that is wholly external and out of your control.

Here,

How to Fix High Staff Turnover in Your Construction Company

At the heart of a successful construction company is the workforce; having a team of professional, efficient and skilled employees is tantamount to success, or at least half the battle. The other half of the battle is retaining your amazing workforce. High construction turnover can have major repercussions to the quality of work your company produces, as well as your ability to deliver even basic services.

In this article, therefore, we’ll be looking at how you can fix high staff turnover in your construction company. In doing so, you’ll ensure that your construction company continues to succeed for years to come!

Top Tips for Growing Your Construction Company

No matter what your business is, the key to growth is an almost unstoppable ambitious drive. While you may have all the know-how in the world, if you haven’t got the motivation to push your business forward you’ll stumble at the very first hurdle.

All the largest businesses in the world, from Facebook to Virgin, Apple to Bechtel, weren’t overnight successes. Their founders all had the ambition that was needed to push their businesses toward success, plus a few key tips. You may have the ambition, too, but you’ll need the focus these tips provide to truly excel.

How to Keep Up-To-Date with Construction Industry Trends

Nowadays, our working environments are changing at a fast pace, and there is always some new gadget or trend that is helping to make our jobs more productive, safe or enjoyable. With change happening around us as we speak, it can seem like a never ending task to try and keep up with the latest trends. To help you stay ahead of the crowd, Hitchcock & King have put together some tips on how to keep up-to-date with construction industry trends.

Why stay up-to-date?

Keeping up with the latest market trends is crucial for having the cutting edge on your competitors,

How to Start a Career in Construction

A career in construction can be highly rewarding for the right individual, with a renowned, friendly work environment and each day offering a different challenge, many flourish in a construction career path.

In 2015, builders saw the highest pay rise than any other sector, netting an average of a whopping 10.2% salary growth, so as well as an exciting and challenging role, there’s a fantastic pay packet to be earned within the construction industry too.

With all the benefits of the industry coming to light, it comes as no surprise that interest in the field is increasing.

C16 & C24 Timber Properties & Strengths

C16 and C24 are the most common used softwood timbers within the UK. They are widely used in both domestic and commercial projects, but with the two timbers ideally suited to different and specific loads, it can be difficult to know whether you are using the best timber for your construction. Here we have a rundown of the qualities of the two timbers to help you evaluate the whether C16 or C24 timber selection for your project.

Grading Timber – Properties & Strengths

The strength of timber is evaluated after the wood has been kiln dried to below 20% moisture content.

Top 12 Tips for Motivating Construction Staff

If you’re at a loss on how to keep your workforce productive, we’re here to help! Read our top tips for keeping builders happy and productive.

Lead by example with a good attitude

As the business owner, it’s up to you to lead by example. Be motivated, hardworking and present to give the right impression to your staff. If you’re being lazy or negative towards your work, you can’t expect anything different from your staff!

‘I’ vs ‘we’, watching your phrasing

As well as leading by example, you should make sure that your staff think of you as part of the team,