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.

Construction Events & Conferences 2017

Throughout 2017, you can expect to find a plethora of construction events and conferences happening across the country. Anyone who’s serious about construction would be foolish to miss out on attending these events to improve your business practice and products. Be sure to check out our comprehensive list of construction events below.

Do you have more events to add? Message Hitchcock & King on our Facebook page to let us know!

February Events

ecoSHOWCASE, 14 February
Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester

March Events

The Health &

What Does a Construction Manager Do?

A construction manager, or site manager, must coordinate and supervise a variety of operations on a construction site. They join a project at the earliest planning stages and see it right through to completion. They ensure all operations are completed on time, within budget and, above all, safely.

Construction managers are a necessity on all manner of worksites, both large and small. Whether you’re renovating a small property or constructing a large premises like a school, you’ll need a construction manager to oversee all aspects of the project. It almost goes without saying then that the roles and responsibilities of a construction manager can be vast and varied.

Top 5 Construction Industry Trends

Happy new year from all of us here at Hitchcock & King! We’re kicking off 2017 by having a look at some of the forecasted trends we’re likely to see in construction this year. Whether it’s advances in materials, new models for buildings or new skills to be learned, we’re sure 2017 is going to make an impact on the construction industry.

Virtual reality

You may have already begun to see the latest virtual reality trend that’s sweeping the nation, with the headset goggles primarily being used for gaming at the moment. But there are much more practical uses for the sets too,

Top Tips for Construction Site Safety During Winter

Working on a construction site is a hazard no matter the season, but in winter, there are even more potential dangers to think about; even working a full day in the freezing cold is a health hazard that must be countered. To help you get to grips with site safety during winter, we’ve put together some top tips for keeping the weather’s effects to a minimum.

Wrap up

First and foremost, you need to protect against the constant exposure to the weather. Spending prolonged periods of time out in the cold can lead to stiff joints,

How Building Information Modelling is Improving the Construction Industry

In 2011, the Government Construction Strategy published by the UK Cabinet Office stated that from 2016 onwards, all government projects would require BIM to be produced. With this strategy coming into play this year, we’re looking at how Building Information Modelling is improving the construction industry, as well as answering all the questions you may have about exactly what BIM entails.

What is BIM?

Building Information Modelling/Building Information Model, or BIM, is the process of creating a collaborative 3D model of a project, including information on the asset of the project and all corresponding documentation and data.

Why is it needed?

Top 9 Traits of a Successful Project Manager

All construction projects are temporary endeavors for construction workers, however the results of the build, and the lasting impression on the client, are much more permanent. For that reason, it is important to keep staff motivated and quality of work consistently high throughout the entirety of a project, which is where Project Managers can help.

There are several traits and qualities that make some Project Managers more successful than others, and it is these Project Managers that usually get the best results out of their staff.

To excel as a Project Manager, 9 traits you will need to possess are:

• Communication
• Ability to delegate
• Vision
• Enthusiasm
• A team-builder
• Empathy
• Composure
• Competence
• Ability to solve problems

Read on to find out more about the traits of a successful Project Manager –

Behaviour-Based Safety Within Construction

While construction is very much a hands-on and physical job, mentality and personality are also huge traits that need to be considered within the construction industry. The trade requires people of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels to co-operate and communicate, which can be tricky.

The wrong kind of behaviour on a construction site can be dangerous and lead to accidents and potentially fatal injuries. Because of this, behavioural psychology is often used by site managers to identify and minimise any potential risks.

If you’re unsure of what behaviour-based safety is or how you can utilise it to keep your staff safe,