Cardo Group has stepped in to acquire the roofing division of Breyer Group following the contractor’s collapse into administration earlier this month, securing close to 100 jobs and ensuring continuity of key public services. The housing maintenance specialist has entered into an asset purchase agreement to take over Breyer Roofing,
REGIONAL businesses have joined forces to expand education and training opportunities, tackling the growing construction skills gap and creating new entry routes for both young people and those upskilling across Yorkshire and the Humber. Stakeholders spanning building services, housing, construction, engineering, and manufacturing, alongside government agencies, charities, and training providers,
HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), has welcomed its 500th apprentice, Kordell Carty. The 26-year-old Aston resident started his early career on house-building sites and supporting loft and garage conversion projects. Now, Kordell is helping to deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway as an apprentice formworker.
CBRE has announced that Ciaran Bird, Chief Executive of its UK & Ireland advisory business, will be stepping down from his role. The global real estate services firm has begun the process of identifying his successor. Bird, who has led the advisory division through a period of strong growth and
United Living Group, the provider of infrastructure, affordable housing, property services, and telecoms, is pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Kershaw as CEO of its subsidiary United Living Property Services. Claire is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in the social housing sector, covering property maintenance, refurbishment,
Many governments across the globe are starting to invest heavily in artificial intelligence because of the many benefits this technology provides. For example, AI has the potential to completely revolutionise public services and reduce costs by fully automating routine tasks and performing them much quicker than humans. In other words,
Cardo Group has stepped in to acquire the roofing division of Breyer Group following the contractor’s collapse into administration earlier this month, securing close to 100 jobs and ensuring continuity of key public services. The housing maintenance specialist has entered into an asset purchase agreement to take over Breyer Roofing, and in a separate deal, has assumed responsibility for Breyer’s responsive repairs and maintenance contract with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The acquisition follows Breyer Group’s move into administration on 1st April 2025, affecting its three divisions: Breyer Roofing, Breyer Repair, and Breyer Renew. Glen Carter, partner at RSM UK and joint administrator, commented: “We are pleased to have secured a sale of Breyer Group’s roofing division and, in a separate transaction, the continuity of the company’s contract with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to Cardo. These transactions have preserved a significant number of jobs and allow vital services to continue for clients.” Cardo Group’s CEO, Liam Bevan, said the company acted swiftly to stabilise the situation: “We are deeply aware of the impact a sudden collapse can have—on residents, local authorities, and the dedicated people delivering frontline services. “Our focus has been on reassurance, continuity, and a seamless transition. Acquiring Breyer Roofing and key contracts like Kingston means we’re not only keeping homes maintained but also preserving the skills and livelihoods that underpin the sector.” Bevan added that Cardo is working closely with local authorities and partners to support both clients and the new team members joining the business. The rescue arrives as both firms reported near-equal revenues in their most recent accounts: Breyer with £83m to May 2023, and Cardo with £84m to February 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
REGIONAL businesses have joined forces to expand education and training opportunities, tackling the growing construction skills gap and creating new entry routes for both young people and those upskilling across Yorkshire and the Humber. Stakeholders spanning building services, housing, construction, engineering, and manufacturing, alongside government agencies, charities, and training providers, came together last week at Leeds College of Building for the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Green Skills Advisory Panel (GSAP) in the region. GSAP is a UK-wide member-led initiative, with regional panels established to support the delivery of green skills and employment pathways needed to meet the national net zero targets. The Yorkshire and the Humber panel is the latest to launch, forming a dedicated hub to drive collaboration and impact locally. Founding members of the panel include EN:Able Communities, the charitable arm of housing consortium Efficiency North, Barnsley College, Leeds College of Building, Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd, and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Simeon Perry, head of operations at EN:Able Communities, said: “It should come as no surprise that some of the sectors most in need of levelling up are those with the fewest opportunities. While it won’t happen overnight, real change is essential, especially in regions like ours, where the ambition is high but the solutions are few. “By joining forces with key construction businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber, we’re able to harness the power of collaboration to address the industry’s future capacity challenges. That means not just increasing headcount but also investing in and supporting the existing workforce.” With more than 13,000 new construction workers needed in North Yorkshire & York by 2031 to meet government targets, on top of West Yorkshire Combined Authority aiming to retrofit all social housing by 2038, requiring 838,000 heat pumps installed, 205,000 homes connected to heat networks and 569 megawatts of rooftop solar installed, the panel’s work is both timely and necessary. The group’s inaugural meeting marked the start of a collaborative journey to strengthen regional green talent pipelines, create accessible career routes, and support a workforce equipped to deliver a net zero future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), has welcomed its 500th apprentice, Kordell Carty. The 26-year-old Aston resident started his early career on house-building sites and supporting loft and garage conversion projects. Now, Kordell is helping to deliver Britain’s new high-speed railway as an apprentice formworker. When work slowed down during and after Covid-19, Kordell began to explore new career opportunities. He learned about the formworking apprenticeship through a friend, who had applied for a steel fixing apprenticeship on HS2, and was keen to work on a large-scale project that would contrast with his house-building experience. Although the profession of formworking – creating the foundation elements used to make temporary and permanent concrete structures – was not an area of work he was familiar with, Kordell was drawn by the fact that he would be working on the prestigious HS2 project. With a level 2 apprenticeship qualification now underway, Kordell is currently based at the site of HS2’s River Blythe bypass bridge, working for Galldris as part of the BBV supply chain. Here, he is part of a 35-strong team building a structure that will allow the high-speed line to pass above a brook and a bypass channel of the River Blythe in Warwickshire. Kordell said: “The highlight of working on HS2 is being able to see first-hand the progress of the project. I’m taking in as much as possible – I’ve never worked on a construction site of this scale, and I was intrigued to see what it would be like! “My colleagues are great, and I really enjoy working onsite. In the future, I’m looking forward to seeing the finished railway and being able to say that I helped to build it.” As well as learning on the job, Kordell studies at BBV’s Warwickshire-based apprenticeship training hub. The dedicated hub was developed in direct response to a skills gap in the project, and the wider industry, and plays a pivotal role in ensuring workers are accredited and job-ready to support the construction programme. The facility opened its doors in 2023 to deliver steel fixing and formwork apprenticeship training. It has supported over 30 local jobseekers so far. BBV’s 100th apprentice, Benjamin Richards-Moss, who is based at the joint-venture’s Skills Academy in North Warwickshire, has gone on to secure a permanent job on HS2 following completion of his apprenticeship in business administration. Promoted to the role of Training Coordinator, Benjamin plays a key role in the administration function supporting the Skills Academy. He said: “Working for HS2 is one of the best things anyone can do. My advice would be to talk to people around you, get to know what the project is about and this way you will build a great support network. “The project is very exciting, and I believe it will transform the local economy and enhance social mobility between Birmingham and London.” HS2 will underpin the construction industry for years to come, bringing thousands of newly skilled people into the workforce. To date, 1,865 apprentices have joined HS2 and its supply chain – putting the project firmly on track to meet a target of generating at least 2,000 apprenticeships over the lifetime of the programme. Julie Venn-Morton, Senior Skills and Inclusion Manager at HS2 said: “Apprenticeships are crucial in helping us to deliver HS2 and integral to our drive to leave a lasting skills legacy for people in the West Midlands and beyond. “We are very proud to see BBV reach this milestone, which supports our mission to upskill the next generation of construction workers. We wish Kordell a very warm welcome to the project and congratulate Benjamin on successfully securing a permanent role on HS2.” HS2’s construction is now supporting more than 31,000 jobs – including apprenticeships, graduate trainees and through dedicated skills and employment programmes that support unemployed people back into work. Once operational, HS2 will improve connections between London and the West Midlands, with trains running further north on existing lines. The new high-speed railway will create quicker and more reliable journeys, driving economic growth while freeing up space for more local trains on the most congested part of the existing West Coast Main Line. For details about career and employment opportunities available with HS2 and its supply chain partners, visit hs2.org.uk/careers Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE has announced that Ciaran Bird, Chief Executive of its UK & Ireland advisory business, will be stepping down from his role. The global real estate services firm has begun the process of identifying his successor. Bird, who has led the advisory division through a period of strong growth and transformation, will continue to oversee the business alongside the UK Advisory Executive Committee until a new leader is appointed. Having joined CBRE in 2005 following its acquisition of retail specialist Dalgleish—where he spent 16 years—Bird has become a central figure in shaping the company’s strategy and expanding its presence across the UK and Ireland. Reflecting on his tenure, Bird said: “Our business has grown and prospered in ways I could never have imagined back in 2005. As I prepare to hand over the leadership reins, I do so knowing that the next chapter looks just as promising.” CBRE has a significant footprint in the UK and Ireland, with offices in major cities including London, Dublin, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Belfast, among others. The company’s UK advisory team currently comprises over 3,000 professionals. Chris Kirk, Global Chief Operating Officer of Advisory Services at CBRE, praised Bird’s impact on the firm: “CBRE holds a market-leading position in the UK advisory sector, thanks in large part to the leadership of Ciaran and the calibre of our team. We are grateful for his many contributions. The business is in a strong position for the future.” He added: “Ciaran and the UK Executive Committee will remain fully focused on driving the business forward, ensuring a smooth leadership transition as we search for the right person to build on our momentum.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
United Living Group, the provider of infrastructure, affordable housing, property services, and telecoms, is pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Kershaw as CEO of its subsidiary United Living Property Services. Claire is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in the social housing sector, covering property maintenance, refurbishment, and regeneration. She has held a variety of leadership roles in companies such as Mitie, Willmott Dixon, and Kier where she led business strategy and delivered operational, customer experience, work winning and procurement improvement programmes. Luke Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of United Living Group, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Claire to the team. Her professional credibility and strong leadership will be instrumental in driving our successful Property Services business forward, ensuring we continue to provide high-quality, innovative and sustainable solutions for our clients and communities and deliver on our ambitious growth plans. “We are also pleased to announce that Vlad Nedelcu will be joining Claire’s Senior Leadership Team as COO of United Living Property Services. Vlad has played a pivotal role in PiLON’s journey, which United Living Group acquired in 2024, growing the business from the ground up into the successful and respected organisation it is today. As PiLON continues to thrive under the United Living Group’s Property Services pillar, Vlad will bring his proven track record and deep sector knowledge to enhance our operational capabilities and support our continued growth.” Both Claire and Vlad are Members of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIHM) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Many governments across the globe are starting to invest heavily in artificial intelligence because of the many benefits this technology provides. For example, AI has the potential to completely revolutionise public services and reduce costs by fully automating routine tasks and performing them much quicker than humans. In other words, thanks to AI-powered tools, systems, products, and services, public services become quicker and far more efficient. Let’s dive straight in to discover some of the other main reasons why the UK government is keen to improve investment in the AI sector. Why does the UK believe that more investment is needed in the AI sector? The UK government has decided that investing heavily in the development of artificial intelligence systems will not only help improve the delivery of public services across government, but also it will help the economy grow when the technology is applied to various key sectors, all while reducing costs. The UK’s AIAP (Artificial Intelligence Action Plan) is a pioneering initiative that’s expected to drive £47 billion to boost the economy. It’s also expected to boost productivity by up to 1.50% each year, and the key sectors that will benefit from or completely transform include healthcare and infrastructure, as well as reduce administrative burdens for teachers. Which key sectors benefit from AI? AI-powered tools and systems are also greatly benefiting and improving the following key sectors: Which other key sectors will also benefit from AI? Artificial intelligence can also be used in the education sector to provide students with personalised learning experiences and individualised support. Plus, it can help teachers and lecturers plan out their lessons and monitor students’ academic progress. In the cybersecurity sector, AI is helping to safeguard users in many ways by detecting and preventing cyber attacks and other digital threats, and in the digital entertainment and media sector, AI-powered tools can monitor/analyse audience/user behaviour to improve their services and provide more personalised/tailored experiences. What are the biggest AI companies in the United Kingdom? The United Kingdom is home to numerous AI companies, and some of the most notable ones that you may already be familiar with by now are DeepMind (acquired by Google), Wayve, Graphcore, Synthesia, Darktrace, Quantexa, Multiverse, and Lendable. Others include DataToBiz, OneTrust, AlphaSense, Klaviyo, Pixelette Technologies, and Stability AI, to name just a few. These companies specialise in a range of AI products and services that can help businesses grow by enabling them to make more strategic business decisions. Some specialise in creating AI-powered autonomous driving technology, video synthesis technology, and data management, and others specialise in developing Intelligence Processing Units (IPUs), stable diffusion image-generating software, marketing automation platforms, and so much more. Final thoughts To ensure the UK doesn’t fall behind its rivals, the government must continue to support startup AI companies via research and development, initiatives, continued investment, and education. Using AI to bolster the UK economy will eventually provide jobs for the future and lead to a safer, more efficient, highly functioning society in which people can live.
