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Articles by Tom Fitzpatrick
Actuate Awarded Early-Stage Grant to Accelerate Commercialization and Agentic AI Development
Actuate Awarded Early-Stage Grant to Accelerate Commercialization and Agentic AI Development We’re excited to have support from Colorado to expand development and to solve the problems of energy and maintenance waste in the 80% of commercial buildings without an onsite facilities manager.”DENVER, CO, UNITED STATES, November 24, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Actuate, a Denver, Colorado-based start-up working to disrupt the energy, facilities, maintenance and asset management functions of...
Vanuatu Voices
Description Cite the source of the dataset as: Lana Takau, Mary Walworth, Aviva Shimelman, Sandrine Bessis, Tom Ennever, Iveth Rodriguez, Hans-Jörg Bibiko, Daria Dërmaku, Murray Garde, Marie-France Duhamel, Giovanni Abete, Laura Wägerle, Kaitip W. Kami, Tihomir Rangelov, Russell Gray. 2025. Vanuatu Voices.
Simplifying HW/SW Co-Verification With PSS Led UVM And C Tests
By Todd Burkholder, Wael Abdelaziz Mahmoud, Tom Fitzpatrick, Vishal Baskar, and Mohamed Nafea The complexity of system on chips (SoCs) continues to grow rapidly with the integration of more functionality onto a single chip. As a result, traditional verification methodologies struggle to keep pace with the growing complexities, leading to longer development cycles and increased risk of design errors.
Welcome To EDA 4.0 And The AI-Driven Revolution
By Dan Yu, Harry Foster, and Tom Fitzpatrick Welcome to the era of EDA 4.0, where we are witnessing a revolutionary transformation in electronic design automation driven by the power of artificial intelligence. The history of EDA can be delineated into distinct periods marked by significant technological advancements that have propelled faster design iterations, improved productivity, and furthered the development of intricate electronic systems.
Welcome To EDA 4.0 And The AI-Driven Revolution
By Dan Yu, Harry Foster, and Tom Fitzpatrick Welcome to the era of EDA 4.0, where we are witnessing a revolutionary transformation in electronic design automation driven by the power of artificial intelligence. The history of EDA can be delineated into distinct periods marked by significant technological advancements that have propelled faster design iterations, improved productivity, and furthered the development of intricate electronic systems.
Welcome To EDA 4.0 And The AI-Driven Revolution
By Dan Yu, Harry Foster, and Tom Fitzpatrick Welcome to the era of EDA 4.0, where we are witnessing a revolutionary transformation in electronic design automation driven by the power of artificial intelligence. The history of EDA can be delineated into distinct periods marked by significant technological advancements that have propelled faster design iterations, improved productivity, and furthered the development of intricate electronic systems.
An Update On Accellera's UVM-AMS Standard Development
By Tom Fitzpatrick and Peter Grove SoC teams can be divided up into design and verification groups. For digital designs, the Universal Verification Methodology (UVM), initially developed by Accellera and now standardized as IEEE 1800.2, has been the industry standard for the past decade. Since most SoC designs also have analog and mixed-signal IP blocks, it would be ideal for verification engineers to be able to extend the UVM standard to handle Analog/Mixed-Signal (AMS) designs.
Sublethal Supraphysiological Shear Stress Alters Erythrocyte Dynamics in Subsequent Low-Shear Flows
Abstract Blood is a non-Newtonian, shear-thinning fluid owing to the physical properties and behaviors of red blood cells (RBCs). Under increased shear flow, pre-existing clusters of cells disaggregate, orientate with flow, and deform.
Highways England can learn plenty from rail
Highways England officially launched last week to a room full of cheery contractors, all of whom no doubt welcomed its longer-term spending plans and commitment to collaboration. The new body will now have a monitor overseeing its work, in the form of the Office of Rail and Road (formerly the Office of Rail Regulation). What Highways England learns from the rail industry and its relationship with the ORR could end up being critical to its future success.
NG Bailey and VolkerWessels among the new firms backing #loveLIVES campaign
Two more of the biggest contractors in the UK joined the #loveLIVES campaign this week as pledges hit £175,000 in three weeks. After Kier became the fifth contractor to pledge £20,000 last week, NG Bailey and VolkerWessels have also offered their backing to the campaign. The #loveLIVES campaign seeks to raise £400,000 to secure the short-term future of almost 200 people wanting to become apprentices through Building Lives.
Parliament restoration demands only the bravest contractors
With an incredibly challenging site and the prospect of intense public scrutiny, restoring the Palace of Westminster will require courage from those contractors tasked with tackling the crumbling estate. With an incredibly challenging site and the prospect of intense public scrutiny, restoring the Palace of Westminster will require contractors with courage.
Laing O'Rourke wins race for Derwent's Brunel Building redevelopment in Paddington
Derwent has chosen its preferred contractor for the redevelopment of the Brunel Building in Paddington. Laing O’Rourke will create the new 16-storey office in 55-65 North Wharf Road in Paddington W2, for which it first received consent in 2008. The scheme will have two basement levels and two large roof terraces, consisting of a solid concrete core along the length of the building with floor plates on either side. Glenigan estimated the project value at £50m.
CN Summit 2016 editorial advisory board revealed
Industry leaders from Argent, the Cabinet Office, Heathrow and UK Regeneration will be among a 10-strong advisory board for this year’s CN Summit. Chief executives from Mace, Morgan Sindall and VolkerWessels UK are also among the 10 industry leaders who will advise on the content and speakers for this year’s event. Head of construction at the Cabinet Office David Hancock will also offer a public sector perspective on the CN Summit’s content (see box for full list of advisers).
Multiplex lines up Byrne Group to replace Dunne Group on 100 Bishopsgate and 1 Blackfriars
Exclusive: Brookfield Multiplex has lined up Byrne Group to replace Dunne Group on two of its high-profile London jobs. Exclusive: Brookfield Multiplex has lined up Byrne Group to replace Dunne Group on two high-profile London jobs. Contractors started scrambling to secure replacements for Dunne Group on jobs across the UK after the firm went into administration this week.
BBC Newsnight exposé puts CSCS under spotlight as CITB shuts down training centres
The CITB has suspended applications from firms seeking to become qualified CSCS testing centres in the wake of a BBC exposé. CITB delivery and customer engagement director Carl Rhymer told Construction News the move was “prudent” as the testing centres come under national scrutiny. The training body has already shut down five internet testing centres and is investigating another eight as part of an ongoing probe after the BBC revealed construction workers were paying cash to pass CSCS tests.
Sir Robert McAlpine begins search for new CEO as Tony Aikenhead departs
Sir Robert McAlpine has announced the shock departure of its chief executive Tony Aikenhead, just nine months after his appointment. Mr Aikenhead, who joined SRM in 2007 to lead the company’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Stadium deal, will depart at the end of the month. He was only confirmed as chief executive in November 2015 and had planned to retire in 2018. Construction News understands that Mr Aikenhead does not have a new role to move into.
BBC Newsnight; CSCS; CITB; health and safety
The industry’s reputation has taken another battering thanks to BBC’s Newsnight revealing that some construction workers have been paying cash for CSCS cards. As health and safety is at stake, you won’t hear many people complaining about the investigation (albeit the fact that 13 testing centres have been shut down or are under investigation by the CITB probably warranted a mention).
Didcot missing three set to increase fatalities in construction as 43 die in 2015/16
A total of 43 construction workers died in the year to the end of March, with that figure set to rise further following the collapse at Didcot Power Station. The Health and Safety Executive confirmed 43 people had died between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, up from 35 the year before and equal to the five-year average for construction. However, the figures do not take account of the three men still missing at Didcot Power Station.
We did it: #loveLIVES campaign raises £400,000 in 50 days
The #loveLIVES campaign has reached its target, raising an incredible £400,000 in 50 days to save Building Lives and the future of budding London apprentices. On Monday, the final day of the campaign, an astonishing £90,000 was raised, with housebuilder Bellway, KPMG and Mace among those to pledge their support. “This will make a real difference to thousands of people now.
Severfield reveals £1m Cheesegrater bolt costs
Severfield has revealed it has spent almost £1m on the programme of bolt replacement works at the Cheesegrater. In a trading update, the steel specialist said the programme of works was taking place on the Leadenhall Building in conjunction with British Land, Laing O’Rourke and Arup and was likely to continue until the end of the calendar year. It said: “While these works progress, all parties continue discussions to agree where the liability for the costs of the programme should rest.
Ministry of Defence to claim £500m through sale of 12 sites for housing
The Ministry of Defence will sell 12 sites to provide land for around 15,000 homes. The government expects the sales to generate £500m, which will be put back into defence budgets. These are the first sales in MoD’s plans to reduce its estate by 30 per cent and generate £1bn in revenue during this parliament. The MoD’s estate spans 1 per cent of all UK land and covers 452,000 ha.
Kier cuts headcount by 4% and reduces debt despite overall loss in 2015/16
Kier has hit its debt reduction target a year early, despite acquisition costs leading to a pre-tax loss in 2015/16. In its preliminary results for the year to 30 June 2016, Kier said it recorded an £8m pre-tax loss when factoring in costs such as £50m for its Mouchel integration and £35m costs incurred on two waste collection contracts. The accounts also reveal Kier paid out £4.5m for its role in the blacklisting scandal through the Construction Workers Compensation Scheme.
Whitehall official claims no 'detailed response' on Gatwick and Heathrow options from Davies Commission until Christmas
Government ministers will not make a decision on their preferred airport for expansion until Christmas, according to reports. The Davies Commission will report this month on a recommended airport for expansion, with London’s Gatwick and Heathrow airports battling to secure new or extended runways. However the FT quoted a Whitehall official as saying there would be no detailed reaction until “before Christmas”.
Construction News visits Building Lives' Camden Academy, one year on from #loveLIVES
Construction News deputy editor Tom Fitzpatrick and features editor Daniel Kemp visited Building Lives’ Camden academy recently to find out what the future holds for the organisation. Building Lives was kept afloat last year after the #loveLIVES campaign by Construction News, the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and KPMG raised £400,000 in 50 days. Since then, the money raised has helped to keep staff in permanent employment and send young people into full-time careers in construction.
M3 fatality highlights need for change
The tragic death of a Balfour Beatty road worker on the M3 yesterday offers a stark reminder of the dangers faced by construction workers in live environments. An investigation is underway into how the victim, said to have been in his 20s, lost his life. Too many construction workers have lost their lives on the nation’s roads in recent years.
Battersea Power Station's transformation over the years
Apple has signed up to take six floors at Battersea Power Station’s iconic Boiler House building, bringing some much-needed confidence to developers in the area. Aerial photographer Jason Hawkes has been capturing the stunning evolution of Battersea Power Station and its surroundings over the years. Aerial footage over London 2016 from JasonHawkes on Vimeo.
Balfour Beatty posts £206m loss in 2015 results as wait goes on for 'industry-standard' margins
Balfour Beatty made a total loss of £206m in 2015, with chief executive Leo Quinn warning it could take years before it records “industry-standard” margins. The group said it was on course to meet its target of “£200m cash in and £100m of cost out” through its Build to Last programme, implemented last year following years of profit warnings and under-performance.
#loveLIVES: Our 50-day challenge to save Building Lives
I wrote last month about the public’s perception of big business and how company failures and funding disputes reflected badly on the construction industry. But I also wrote about how perceptions could utterly change if one such business failure or funding dispute could be resolved. Today, Building Lives is threatened with closure. This is an organisation which provides support to an industry that is constantly exploring ways to address skills shortages and a negative public perception.
Leicester City; Claudio Ranieri; Balfour Beatty; Leo Quinn; Heathrow
Leicester City fans, you may want to look away now. Balfour Beatty’s CEO Leo Quinn told me this morning he wants the club’s manager to come and speak to Balfour Beatty’s leadership team ”once Leicester win the Premier League”. The Balfour boss is reaching out to Claudio Ranieri, who once earned the nicknamed the Tinkerman for consistently rotating his teams, to sprinkle some of his title-chasing stardust on the contractor’s staff.
Laing O'Rourke pledges £20,000 to #loveLIVES and urges construction firms to join campaign
Laing O’Rourke chief executive Anna Stewart has said the contractor is backing the #loveLIVES campaign because organisations like Building Lives are “fundamental to the future growth of our industry”. Laing O’Rourke - one of the largest direct employers in the UK construction industry - has pledged £20,000 towards the campaign to save Building Lives’ short-term future. Ms Stewart, who became CEO in 2013, urged other firms to come forward and support the campaign.
Commercial Estates Group names Wates for Kirkstall Forge first phase
Wates has been named as the contractor for a £400m mixed-use development in Leeds. Commercial Estates Group has appointed a team of contractors (see box) to deliver the first phase of its Kirkstall Forge development. The 23 ha site will comprise 1,050 new homes, 300,000 sq ft of offices and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and community space. Wates has been appointed as principal contractor for the first phase, which will see completion of a 5,534 sq m seven-storey office building.
Laing O'Rourke wins 21-31 New Oxford Street development as Mace loses out
Mace has missed out on its second major job in a week after it was pipped to the deal to build the former Royal Mail sorting office in central London, Construction News can reveal. Brockton Capital and Oxford Properties are the 50:50 joint venture progressing the scheme, which has a development value of around £500m. Laing O’Rourke is understood to have won the contract, the construction value of which is believed to be in the region of £150m.
Brandon Lewis keeps housing as Cameron appoints transport, northern powerhouse, communities ministers
Prime minister David Cameron is continuing to set out his ministerial team following the Conservative Party’s victory in last week’s general election. Brandon Lewis has been confirmed as continuing in his role of housing minister following confusion over the appointment yesterday afternoon. At one point yesterday, according to his Department for Communities and Local Government biography, Mark Francois was given responsibility for housing.
Construction News Summit; Essential Living; Anthology; HS2; Land Securities; Patrick McLoughlin
With great power, comes great responsibility. With great power, comes great responsibility: this was among the central themes of today’s Summit. He may not have said those words exactly, but Anthology managing director Mark Dickinson was quick to point out that the balance of power in the supply chain right now will at some point be flipped, as is the nature of the cyclical market contractors work in.
Revealed: Why Highways England was forced to retender A14 work
Highways England is retendering a package of work on the £1.3bn A14 improvement scheme due to concerns over contractors’ ability to meet long-term targets on issues including passenger safety. A Costain-Skanska joint venture was last week appointed to the first two lots of the programme, at an expected construction cost of around £600m. The scheme is still subject to a development consent order being granted next year and transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s approval.
Building Lives to close as long-term funding discussions fail
Award-winning construction training charity Building Lives has put staff on redundancy notice, after it failed to find long-term funding to keep afloat. It is understood all 16 staff employed by the organisation have been put on redundancy notice as it prepares to close its doors on 30 June. Managing director Sian Workman told Construction News it was “incredibly sad and frustrating” that the organisation was having to close.
Nicolas James Group chooses Bouygues for Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa
Bouygues has continued its run of hotel wins with deals to deliver a mixed-use scheme for Nicolas James Group in Southampton. Following contract wins with citizenM, Gansevoort and the Manhattan Loft Corporation, Bouygues UK’s latest scheme is for an 85-bedroom spa hotel and 12 apartments. It will be built on a headland that was used to moor the region’s yachts and cross-channel ferries coming into the marina at Ocean Village.
Efforts to raise funds fail as GB companies fall into administration
Administrators have been formally appointed to GB Group Holdings Ltd and GB Building Solutions Ltd with 350 employees made redundant. BDO LLP business restructuring partners Tony Nygate and Graham Newton were today appointed as joint administrators of the firms. A statement from BDO read: “In recent months, the companies experienced trading and cash flow issues, including three substantial claims on contracts, which contributed to a deterioration in their working capital position.
Servest acquires energy efficiency business Llewellyn Smith
Suffolk-based Servest, the M&E and FM provider, has acquired energy efficiency business Llewellyn Smith. Servest, which has worked with tier one contractors including Balfour Beatty, Carillion and Laing O’Rourke, has acquired the consultant for an undisclosed fee. Llewellyn Smith provides compliance and consultancy services in commercial and domestic markets, including for the big six utility companies, and energy efficiency installers within the Energy Companies Obligation initiative.
CITB survey reveals parents' preference for university over apprenticeships
Nine in ten parents think apprenticeships are a good option for young people, but less than a third say they’re the best option for their own children, according to CITB research released today. Research from Demos, commissioned by the CITB, found that while 92 per cent of parents surveyed think apprenticeships are a good option for young people, less than a third (32 per cent) think they are the best option for their own son or daughter.
Lakehouse chief executive Sean Birrane quits
Lakehouse chief executive Sean Birrane has quit just a month after the housing maintenance specialist issued a profit warning. Mr Birrane, who has been with Lakehouse for 20 years and moved from his role as MD to CEO in October 2014, will also resign from the board, but will remain with the company for an interim period. Current executive chairman Stuart Black will take over as CEO. Senior non-executive director Chris Geoghegan will fill Mr Black’s role as non-executive chairman.
16 people to watch in 2016
The client leaders, contractor chiefs and political big beasts that will have the greatest influence on your business next year. The client leaders, contractor chiefs and political big beasts that will have the greatest influence on your business. Tony Aikenhead CEO Sir Robert McAlpine Tony Aikenhead CEO Sir Robert McAlpine After a turbulent year at Sir Robert McAlpine, its first non-family leader Tony Aikenhead was appointed to a newly created CEO role.
Granton Harbour regeneration gets Edinburgh council approval
Plans for the regeneration of Granton Harbour in Edinburgh, including a new hotel and housing, have been given planning consent. The City of Edinburgh Council planning committee granted consent, subject to further conditions, for the revised Edinburgh Marina masterplan, which includes a 300-berth marina, residential and retail units, and a spa hotel. Developer Granton Central Developments estimates the project will bring more than £300m of new investment into the city.
Sahaviriya Steel Industries to cut 1,700 jobs at Redcar plant on Teesside
The steelmaking industry has suffered a blow this morning with the news that 1,700 jobs will go as Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK (SSI) ends production at its iron and steel-making facilities on Teesside. The company had announced 10 days ago that operations at its Redcar plant would be “paused” due to “ongoing issues with the supply of raw materials and services”.
Coleman & Co to be replaced as contractor for recovery of missing men at Didcot Power Station
Coleman & Co’s managing director has expressed his disappointment after the company was replaced in the ongoing recovery operation at Didcot Power Station. Construction News has learned Dartford-based demolition contractor Brown and Mason will replace Coleman to continue recovery attempts at Didcot and will be on site within a month. Coleman & Co managing director Mark Coleman tweeted that he was “so disappointed… a decision which prevents us recovering our men, Chris, John and Kenny”.
Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s takes part in his first PMQs as we wait to hear more detail on how he would shake up housing and infrastructure spending. 12.23pm: That’s all folks. Who won? I’m calling it as a 0-0 draw, with the tie decided in Mr Corbyn’s favour by virtue of a coin toss. Here’s the BBC political editor’s view: 12.22pm: The housing agenda will take centre stage in the next five years, not unexpectedly, perhaps. But the housing associations question may have been the only slip by the PM.
Speller Metcalfe wins contract for £35m Atkins headquarters in Epsom
Speller Metcalfe will build a £35m headquarters for Atkins in Epsom, Surrey. The three-storey office by Henry Boot Developments will house more than 1,000 Atkins workers in a 10,000 sq m building when complete. Speller Metcalfe will build a reception area that will sit within a trapezoidal atrium, reaching the full height of the building and incorporating two feature glass and steelwork staircases running either side. The building will incorporate three floors of office space and a cafeteria.
CITB levy grant review to conclude in 2016 as it cuts 40 funding streams to two
The CITB is set to revamp its levy grant system in 2016 as it begins to overhaul its funding streams, Construction News can reveal. Two new funding pots have been established to help dole out around £20m in ‘flexible’ and ‘structured’ support to construction organisations (see box), replacing 40 previous non-grant streams. The £140m the CITB distributes via grant funding is not affected by the announcement but is under review.
Didcot recovery to take 'many weeks' as families of missing three return home
The recovery of the three people still missing following the collapse of a building at Didcot Power Station could take “many, many weeks”, according to police. The families of the missing people have returned home following last Tuesday’s incident, with the rescue operation now being described as a ”recovery of the bodies”. Emergency services are working on the recovery while trying to maintain the safety of workers on what is being described as a “highly unstable site”.
GB Group board expresses regret as buyers sought for GB Development Solutions and Oxford GB2
Exclusive: GB Group is seeking buyers for its development arms that are not in administration, as the board revealed their “devastation” at ongoing events. Construction News has learned that GB Group Holdings Ltd and GB Building Solutions Ltd administrators BDO are attempting to find buyers for its subsidiaries GB Development Solutions and Oxford GB2, which have not been placed in administration.
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