Concrete Connect

Roger Line, chief executive at Structural Repairs: “Achieving full marks in such a demanding audit is a tremendous accomplishment. Structural Repairs has achieved a 100% score across all four headline areas in its latest Achilles UVDB Verify audit for the second consecutive year. The Yorkshire-based specialist contractor was assessed across health and safety, environmental management, quality and corporate social responsibility.

The Federation of Piling Specialists has established a 2025 embodied-carbon baseline using data from 63 specialist foundation projects. The Federation of Piling Specialists has established a new embodied-carbon baseline for specialist foundation construction using data from 63 UK projects completed during 2025.

HSE says basic excavation safety measures were not in place when a worker died in a trench collapse in Banstead, Surrey. Two construction companies have been fined a combined £1.15 million after a worker died when an unsupported trench collapsed at a site in Surrey. Gheorghita Arsene, 33, was working in an excavation in Banstead on 24 June 2020 when the trench walls collapsed, burying him beneath around two tonnes of soil.

Cemex says 31 concrete plants in Mexico have been independently certified under AENOR’s Zero Freshwater framework. Cemex says alternative water sources replaced 67% of freshwater used across its Mexican ready-mix operations in 2025, as the company expands efforts to reduce dependence on potable water in concrete production.

The Chartered Institute of Building has called for more detail on plans for new Vocational GCSEs after the government named Building and Construction as one of the subjects that could be included. The new qualifications are intended to sit alongside traditional GCSEs and eventually replace existing Technical Awards, with nationally set subject content and Ofqual-regulated assessment and grading.

ULMA supplied formwork, shoring and access systems for construction of the 44 m-high pylon on the Jundiaí River cable-stayed bridge. ULMA Construction supplied around 400 tonnes of formwork, shoring and access equipment for a cable-stayed bridge over the Jundiaí River in São Paulo state, Brazil. The bridge forms part of the extension of Avenida Frederico Ozanan and a wider urban infrastructure programme in Jundiaí.

Hepworth manufactures HepCem calcined clay at its Crow Edge site near Sheffield for use as a supplementary cementitious material. Hepworth has secured independent certification for its UK-manufactured HepCem calcined clay, confirming conformity with BS 8615-1:2019+A1:2026 for use as a pozzolanic material with Portland cement.

The 15th International Symposium on Concrete Roads will bring together more than 120 technical papers in Málaga in November (Image: Gomaco). More than 120 technical papers have been selected for the 15th International Symposium on Concrete Roads, which will take place in Málaga, Spain, from 3–6 November.

Water Orton viaduct spans being installed across the M42 during HS2’s September weekend closure. The Water Orton viaducts crossing the M42 as the final major span installation works progress. Roof beams being installed on HS2’s 300 m-long M42 twin-box structure near the NEC during the September closure. Visualisation of the completed Water Orton viaducts carrying HS2 across the M42 and surrounding transport infrastructure.

Tarmac and PCT Performance Chemicals UK are expanding access to Retanol accelerated screeds across London and the South East. Tarmac has formed a strategic partnership with PCT Performance Chemicals UK to expand access to Retanol performance screeds across London and the South East.