Operatives across the building services contracting sector will receive salary increases of more than 5% by 2020, following the latest round of national wage negotiations between employers and the trade union Unite. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) – representing the industry’s employers – settled on an hourly rate increase of 2.5% from this October followed by a further 2.75% […]

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has welcomed promises made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to tackle late payment and support apprenticeships. In his Spring Statement, Philip Hammond told the House of Commons that he would take on the “scourge of late payment”, which undermines SMEs and puts thousands of jobs at risk. He also pledged to release £80m […]

The liquidation of construction giant Carillion could lead to potentially catastrophic losses for thousands of SMEs, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the electrotechnical and engineering services trade body ECA. According to its latest set of accounts, Carillion was holding over £800m in retentions payments owed to sub-contractors. There is growing alarm that much of this money […]

The ductwork manufacturer and installation contractor E Poppleton & Son has been acquired by its Managing Director Tim Hopkinson and Sales Director Nigel Edwards-Hughes. Hopkinson, who is also President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), and Edwards-Hughes, who has been with Poppleton for more than 42 years, will now run the business as joint owners/directors. They said it would […]

Following a recent cycling accident, Paul McLaughlin is stepping down as Chief Executive of the Building Engineering Services Association. Tim Hopkinson, BESA President commented that “whilst Paul is expected to make a full recovery, following complications to injuries received in a cycling accident where he broke several vertebrae, he is stepping down from his role as Chief Executive of BESA […]

Excellence within the heating and ventilating industry has been celebrated at the eighth annual HVR Awards, held in London, when a host of companies and individuals took the honours. Tim Hopkinson, President of lead sponsor, Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), spoke about the importance of the event during the current period of political uncertainty. He said: “It is a reflection […]

Companies must give their young engineers space and time to think, innovate and share their ideas in order to help the industry solve its productivity problems, according to the President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Tim Hopkinson, pictured, told the Association’s annual President’s Lunch that young engineers must be allowed to “set the agenda”; improve collaboration and spearhead […]

Presentation of awards to six of the industry’s most talented young people took place at a luncheon which followed this year’s annual general meetings of the specialist groups of the Building & Engineering Services Association. Jordan Youngs, of Hargreaves Ductwork, Bury, Lancashire, was named Harry Hobbs Ductwork Trainee of the Year. Alfie Steadman, of J S Wright & Co, Aston, […]