Dean Westmoreland

Great to see SHUFFLEBOTTOM LIMITED featured by the BCSA - British Constructional Steelwork Association for our work at Caerphilly Leisure and Wellbeing Hub. c.450 tonnes delivered in collaboration with Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales - a strong example of what our team can achieve. We’re proud to be supporting a facility that will serve the community when it opens in 2027. We’re continuing to grow our capacity and capability and look forward to partnering on more major projects across Wales.

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In the book ‘Beyond Entrepreneurship’ , Jim talks about the importance of personal touch and being hands on. At Marble Italia®️ and Quarix Stones™️, every single block imported is inspected by one of the directors to ensure consistent quality at all times.. Close relationships with the quarry owners also is so important.. and these close relationships develop because we as company’s leaders invest our time in helping to shape these relationships.. And these quarry visits have an upside- to go to these remote places of the world and to see these picturesque towns having these beautiful mountains is perhaps the most exciting part of our journey… Marble Italia®️ Quarix Stones™️

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Vistry sees open market sales improvement Vistry Group has reported an improvement in its open market sales rate over the past eight weeks, expecting “this trend to continue”, while partner transactions have remained “relatively low”. Issuing a trading update covering the period from January 1 2025 to date, the housebuilder said the improvement in private sales in the past two months was thanks to better mortgage availability and affordability, with borrowing rates reducing in anticipation of further expected interest rate cuts. Vistry expects open market volumes for its full year to be similar to FY24. It said the increase in its open market sales rate was offsetting its reduction in sales outlets as it worked through sites in its former Housebuilding division. In FY24, Vistry’s open market completions totalled 4,592 homes, down 15% on 2023. Since March, when it reported its full year results, Vistry’s sales rate to date has notably lifted from 0.59 – which reflected a “low volume” of partner funded transactions in the first quarter - to 0.91, similar to the 0.94 achieved during the equivalent period last year. In the past eight weeks, its sales rate has averaged 1.32 against 2024’s 1.17. Meanwhile, “as expected”, Vistry’s partner funded transaction activity for the year to date continued at a “relatively low level”. The housebuilder said this reflected registered providers’ investment constraints ahead of the next tranche of affordable homes funding becoming available. It anticipates similar partner funded volumes to last year – these completions totalled 12,633 in 2024 – “with strong momentum going into FY26”. It said it expected increased demand from its affordable housing partners following June’s Spending Review, in which it is anticipated the government will provide clarity over the allocation of affordable homes funding. It also said it had been working with its partners to identify opportunities to secure funding after the government’s announcement of an additional £2 billion for affordable and social housing. Vistry also anticipates” low single digit” build cost inflation for FY25. And it expects to achieve an increase in profits for its full year after reporting a 64% collapse in pre-tax profit for 2024. This was from the impact of cost errors in its South division as previously reported. #vistrygroup #newhomes #newbuild #rsrrecruitment

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🔧 Construction Business Owners: Your Monthly 10 Step Finance Routine (Built for the Trade) 💼 If you're running a construction business, you know the groundwork behind the scenes is just as important as the work on site. Here’s your monthly finance checklist tailored specifically for construction and trade business owners across the UK. Tick these off each month to keep your finances solid and stress-free. 1️⃣ Reconcile Bank Transactions Match your bank and credit card activity with your accounting software. Make sure no supplier payments or client receipts have slipped through the cracks. 2️⃣ Review Income and Outgoings Ensure all materials, subcontractor costs, fuel and equipment hire are correctly categorised. HMRC won’t accept guesswork when it comes to business expenses. 3️⃣ Chase Outstanding Invoices Unpaid invoices hurt your cash flow. Set clear payment terms and follow up regularly, especially on long jobs or staged payments. 4️⃣ Sort and Store Receipts From timber to tool hire, keep every expense recorded. Digital copies are best and make you audit ready at any time. 5️⃣ Monitor Cash Flow Construction businesses are cash heavy and delays are common. Know what is coming in and going out so you are never caught off guard. 6️⃣ Compare Budget to Actuals Labour, materials and overruns can quickly eat into profits. Regular reviews help keep each project financially on track. 7️⃣ Set Aside Tax Money CIS, VAT and Corporation Tax add up fast. Move a portion of every payment into a separate account so you are always covered. 8️⃣ Review Financial Reports Run a monthly Profit and Loss and balance sheet. It gives you a clear view of where your business stands financially. 9️⃣ Manage Business Debt If you are using loans or asset finance, make sure repayments are well managed and costly interest is avoided. 🔟 Plan Ahead Looking to invest in new kit, grow your team or save for downtime? Set goals and align your finances to make it happen. 🧱 This routine helps keep your business financially solid. But we get it. You are focused on running sites, managing teams and winning work. Staying on top of the numbers every month is a big ask. That is why smart construction business owners work with us. At SKP, we specialise in accounting for UK builders, subcontractors and trade businesses. Whether you are VAT registered, CIS registered or scaling fast, we speak your language and understand your industry. Let us handle the financials so you can stay focused on building your business. 👉 Ready to get started? Let’s talk.

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What have the Romans ever given us......??!! Now many of you will now be thinking what has this got to do with development and planning and I grant you it is tangental but I thought it would do two things: first, cheer up your Monday morning and; two, introduce a younger generation to the brilliance that can be the Monty Python team. So what is the tangental link - well it's utilities! In the Romans case - water and sanitation (foul sewage). I have also attached a really good piece by our very own Samuel Stafford entitled Water Palava on the very real issues being created within the planning system by the failure of the water industry and its regulators since privatisation to ensure adequate investment was made in both foul sewage capacity and renewing the combined network which is now overwhelmed in circumstances of extreme rainfall events. This is now a very major issue where the planning system is effectively allowing the Water Industry to avoid its statutory responsibility to both provide capacity and to ensure that it protects the environment. However, I wanted to take this further, hence the use of the word utilities earlier. We have another issue which is electricity capacity. I frequently hear from members regarding the timetables provided to them from providers to supply power to site, often 3 years + (and the industry is blamed for landbanking!!) and the issue is accentuated by the move away from gas to electric for heating, together with the charging infrastructure for cars. Whilst, the commercial development sector does not suffer the issues of housing with regard to water / wastewater it is greatly impacted by the inability of electricity companies to provide power capacity. So overall here, we have the economy of the nation being held back by the failure of nearly 40 years to invest sufficiently in the utilities systems of this country. How can it be a surprise that our GDP does not grow when we cannot build enough houses or provide employers with the new and existing premises they need to expand and grow? Government have identified this - see Starmer's intervention with the regulators - but is it being done as firmly and at speed as is necessary? It clearly doesn't appear so.....hindsight is a wonderful thing, but perhaps the money that was invested in HS2 would have been far better spent in renewing an infrastructure which is failing to cope now and is clearly constraining our economy going forward. Government needs to act quickly if it is to ensure it meets its goals of growing the economy. #buildmorehomes #buildemploymentspace #growoureconomy https://lnkd.in/eJpjvqdE

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The debt market for the dental sector is as competitive as I can remember it but still some big differences in the offers we receive for funding a clients project - the devil as always is in the detail and pays to use a competitive tender which we have found to ensure the best results #LilyHeadFinance #HealthcareFinance Abi Greenhough Andy G. Christian Reilly Paolo Lepore

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UK construction manufacturers see Q1 sales surge New figures show the average small-medium UK construction manufacturer registered a 130% increase in sales revenue in Q1 2025 than Q4 2024, and a 42% rise year-on-year. https://lnkd.in/eZyZVC_m

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Most people know GA Interiors for SFS framing, drylining, fire stopping, screeding, render and cladding packages. But we are not limited to one lane. On projects like this, we support our clients beyond our core packages, assisting with smaller refurbishment and structural works where needed. It is not about size. It is about capability, trust and long-term relationships. Some scopes may be newer for us, but the fundamentals remain the same. Planning properly, building safely, delivering to standard. We grow with our clients. Step by step. #ConstructionUK #Refurbishment #Roofing #BuildingWorks #UKConstruction #GAInteriors #TeamGrowth

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Why is the UK introducing CBAM and why should Northern Ireland care? A steel beam made in Birmingham pays a carbon cost. A steel beam made overseas might not. Until now, both could enter the UK market at different real environmental costs. From January 2027, that changes. The UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)will put a carbon price on certain imports including in Northern Ireland. For NI businesses, this isn’t just environmental policy. It’s: • Supply chain policy • Agricultural cost policy • Trade complexity policy And preparation starts now

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I recently attended the Oxfordshire Innovation Showcase on Advanced Manufacturing, hosted by Advanced Oxford and Oxfordshire County Council at Portcullis House in Westminster.   One message from the companies and from Olly Glover MP was unmistakable: R&D is essential, but manufacturing is what turns ideas into economic value. It moves prototypes into production, and research into exports.   Yet companies across the county face shared challenges - power, infrastructure and access to talent - that require a collective response.   At Harwell Campus, we’re working to remove those barriers: delivering flexible tech-box buildings, expanding our development pipeline, and investing in a smart grid to support future growth.   I’ve shared a few more thoughts here on why this next chapter of advanced manufacturing really matters: https://lnkd.in/dkaNq-up

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We are delighted to announce the establishment of a unique partnership with BSW Timber, Glennon Brothers and James Jones & Sons Ltd in conjunction with Confor: Confederation of Forest Industries (UK), as we join forces to champion UK timber and reduce the reliance on imported materials.   In an industry first, the UK’s three largest sawmilling businesses have teamed up to promote the use of domestically grown and manufactured timber, through a landmark collaboration backed by Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh CBE MP.   The Minister said: "Our Plan for Change is focussed on creating new, green jobs, planting more trees, increasing access to nature and reducing carbon emissions". "We currently import 80% of the timber we use and that needs to change". "Our Timber in Construction Roadmap and the C16 campaign will boost the use of UK timber to help build the homes and schools we need faster and more sustainably." Through joint advocacy, public engagement, and cross-industry alignment, this campaign represents a pivotal step in creating a stronger, greener future using one of the UK’s most underutilised natural assets: our forests. Timber Development UK Structural Timber Association Ltd Forestry and Land Scotland Scottish Forestry Forestry Commission Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Builders Merchants Federation Ltd Construction Products Association Timber Trades Journal Builders'​ Merchants News Builders Merchants Journal Alexanders Timber Design DTE Manufacturing Ltd BALCAS #FromForestToFrontDoor #SustainableBuilding #TimberFrameConstruction

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A TOR DE FORCE FOR BREEDON👷👷‍♂️🪨🤝🇬🇧: Breedon Group plc has announced the acquisition of Glastonbury, Somerset-based TOR MULTIMIX LIMITED as part of its ongoing investment in the region. The acquisition will strengthen the building materials major’s regional offering, giving construction materials firm Tor Multimix access to the support, logistics and resources of a national brand, while maintaining a strong local presence. Steve Rowland, Sales and Operations Manager at Tor Multimix, said: “We’re delighted to be joining the Breedon family – one of the industry’s most recognised, trusted names." Ian Darroch – General Manager South Wales & South West England at Breedon said: “We’re pleased to welcome Tor Multimix into the Breedon family. This acquisition supports Breedon’s strategy to strengthen our position and make a material difference, while allowing us to expand our product offerings." For the full story🗞️, click here👉🖱️: https://lnkd.in/dHzrP33V Julie Daintith Tom Houghton

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Bespoke Kitchen Business Growth, CNC Cabinet Vision and Hand Painted Finishes with Brandon Collins In this episode of Yours for the Making, I speak with Brandon Collins of Crabtree and Hargreeves about building a profitable bespoke kitchen and furniture business in the UK. Brandon shares how he transitioned from antique restoration with his father into high end bespoke kitchens, how he named his company for brand positioning and search clarity, and why hand painted finishes outperform spray finishes in durability and long term maintenance. He explains how investing in CNC machinery and Cabinet Vision software improved accuracy, efficiency and client communication, and he discusses pricing, managing growth, recruiting skilled cabinet makers and protecting craftsmanship in a technology driven world. This episode will resonate with furniture makers, joiners, kitchen designers, cabinet makers and small workshop owners who want practical insight into scaling a bespoke furniture business while maintaining quality and creative control. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on all major podcast platforms - just search ‘Yours for the making’ Never want to miss an episode? Hit that subscribe button wherever you watch or listen to the channel #CraftCommunity #cabinetmaking #yoursforthemaking #Podcast

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Six years ago I started ACG Property Letting’s & Management with one clear goal: To offer landlords a more personal and proactive service than the large corporate agents. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of managing some fantastic properties and working with great landlords across Derby. What I’ve learned in that time is simple: - Communication is everything. - Landlords want to know their property is being looked after. - Tenants want quick responses and well-maintained homes. - When both sides are looked after properly, everything runs smoothly. That’s what we aim to deliver every day at ACG Property. If you’re a landlord looking for a more hands-on and communicative letting agent, feel free to connect. #Entrepreneurship #PropertyManagement #DerbyBusiness

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Most small business owners think profit determines value. It doesn’t. I’ve seen profitable businesses sell for less simply because the accounts didn’t give buyers confidence. Messy or unclear financials = higher risk Higher risk = lower multiple The frustrating part? It’s often fixable with a few simple changes. I’ve broken it down here (quick read): https://lnkd.in/ebudN7Ab #BusinessValuation #SmallBusinessUK #BusinessSale #SMEUK #EntrepreneurUK #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusinessValuationTool

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