The Working Time Regulations (1998) specify the maximum hours that employees should work in a set period. For workers over 18 years of age, this is 48 hours a week on average, while younger workers are limited to eight hours a day and 40 hours each week. However, workers can opt out of the 48 […]

Writing tenders is an important task for any contractor in the construction industry because they’re a basis for a lot of your future work. So, putting the time and effort into ensuring you prepare them properly is vital. A badly drawn out tender can result in a big financial loss, so you need to be […]

Workers in the UK, except those of compulsory school age, are entitled to the national minimum wage (NMW). This is currently set at: £6.08 per hour for those aged 21 or over (due to rise to £6.19 from 1st October 2012) £4.98 per hour if aged 18-20 £3.68 per hour if 16-17 (above school leaving […]

Accountants are often deemed to be an unnecessary expense, especially in the construction industry. You may even think that keeping accounts is easy and your monthly PAYE returns and annual records only have to be done occasionally. This is true to some degree, but it’s important that you keep complete and accurate accounts. Why? Because […]

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand why health and safety laws in UK construction is a big topic. The industry makes up 5% of the UK’s workforce yet accounts for 27% of all employee fatalities. For companies, ensuring that contractors they hire have the necessary health and safety standards can be […]

What is a contractor? A contractor is any industry person who is self-employed or runs their own business that carries out, manages or co-ordinates construction work. Often, construction contractors establish their services as a limited company. Contractors can specialise in many different areas of construction, some focus on general project management, taking responsibility for the […]

Self-employment is a popular career choice amongst UK construction workers. Working for yourself in construction can be beneficial, as the nature of the work can be very flexible. What qualifications and experience do I need? If you choose to become self-employed you must be confident that you possess: Skills and competence in your construction field […]

What is the HSE and how can their information help me? The HSE are an independent organisation that monitor and enforce work related health and safety. They are an influential force in the construction industry and if you are a construction worker you will be working in compliance with HSE standards. Familiarising yourself with HSE […]

Why is a construction contract necessary? Before a contractor enters into any construction work with a client/owner, he or she should always put their agreement down in writing. A construction contract, like any other type of agreement, is a legally binding document that protects the rights of both parties and defines their expected services and […]

Self-employment registration If you wish to work for yourself, whether it be planning to start up your own sub-contractor business or being a sole trader, you will need to register with the Her Majesty’s Revenue Customs (HMRC) as self-employed. When you are registered you will the need to register with the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). […]