Kenneth Booth

As COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, CICV Forum issues new health and safety animation, urging workers to keep protecting themselves and others

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has issued another in its series of engaging advice videos, reminding workers how to keep themselves and others safe as the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed. The 90-second animation is the latest in a string of easy-to-follow Forum films designed to help construction workers protect

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SCAPE | ONS construction output reaction

Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, said: “Despite the sustained recovery of order books in the first half of the year, June’s fall in output is a sign that the long-term challenges facing the construction industry are starting to bite,

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PREMIER MODULAR APPOINTS NEW HIRE DIRECTOR

Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading modular building specialists, has appointed Mark Rooney as Divisional Director for its Hire operations. Mark joins the business with 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, 10 years of which have been spent in the construction hire space.  He now takes responsibility for Premier’s

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CBRE SEEKS DEVELOPMENT PARTNER FOR HISTORIC CHESTER SITE

Regeneration Of Dee House Progresses CBRE has been instructed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to seek a development partner to be part of the regeneration of Dee House, a prominent and historic building that has been vacant since the 1990s. Forming part of the Chester One City Plan, the

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STUDY INN RAPIDLY EXPANDS PORTFOLIO WITH £30M LEICESTER DEVELOPMENT

Study Inn Group, a luxury hotel-style student accommodation owner, developer, and operator are set to convert Reynard House, a former office block in Leicester, into a 267-bed high quality purpose-built student accommodation centre. The £30million redevelopment will increase the overall square footage of the existing Reynard House by 50% with

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Care home completion is double landmark for Brymor and Care UK

An independent construction firm has completed its largest care home development to date, including a cinema, bar and accommodation for up to 75 residents.  Brymor Construction Ltd designed and built Care UK’s new Ancasta Grove home in Sarisbury Green, near Fareham, after demolishing the former dentists’ surgery on the site.

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5 Questions To Ask Before Renting Cranes

If you’ve never rented heavy equipment like cranes before, you might not know what to expect. Renting a crane is essential in large-scale projects as it increases productivity, especially if there’s too much heavy lifting. Without cranes, it’s impossible to move around heavy materials.   If you don’t have a budget

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Latest Issue
Issue 344 : Sep 2026

Kenneth Booth

As COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, CICV Forum issues new health and safety animation, urging workers to keep protecting themselves and others

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has issued another in its series of engaging advice videos, reminding workers how to keep themselves and others safe as the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed. The 90-second animation is the latest in a string of easy-to-follow Forum films designed to help construction workers protect themselves and their colleagues, customers and families after Scotland moved out of Level 0 this week (Monday 9 August). It follows the Forum’s warning last month that the sector is “not out of the woods yet” and that each worker has a vitally important role to play in continuing to maintain good hygiene. Among the practical advice, the animation reminds construction professionals to make sure they’re vaccinated, register with Test and Protect, take regular lateral flow tests and familiarise themselves with the rules around self-isolation. While on-site, it also reminds them to carry out thorough risk assessments, keep work spaces ventilated, wash hands, tools and surfaces regularly, continue to observe physical distancing and wear appropriate face coverings where required. Rebecca Crosland, Chair of the Forum’s Health and Safety group, and Head of Health & Safety at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), said: “With the recent relaxation of COVID-19 rules, we are now entering a new phase where it is still vitally important to be careful both in our professional and personal lives. “This video is designed to remind construction professionals that it’s vital not to forget the lessons learned so far, and of the practical steps they should all keep taking to protect themselves and their customers, colleagues and loved ones. “Make no mistake – COVID-19 is still a very real threat and we can’t afford to relax yet. However, hopefully this will serve as a practical reminder to familiarise themselves with the latest government advice and continue carrying out the safe working practices that have been adopted over the past 18 months.” The new guidance follows a range of other informative Forum videos that have helped to steer the sector through the pandemic, including advice on face coverings, guidance on travel and information for those carrying out domestic work. The video was developed by Iain Mason, Chair of the Forum’s Communications sub-group and Director of Membership & Communication at SELECT, another leading member of the Forum. He said: “Since the CICV Forum began in March 2020, our animations have proved to be highly effective in delivering vial health and safety messaging, and we hope this new video will continue to get more important advice across to construction professional everywhere. “It’s been heartening to see how people across the industry have pulled together to get us through the past 18 months, and as we enter this new phases we must ensure that we all continue with this level of cooperation and collaboration. “This latest animation continues the Forum’s key message that we are all #InThis Together and the importance of workers taking personal responsibility to protect themselves, their colleagues and the wider community.” The CICV Forum is made up of 29 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies. Since its inception, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and speaking with government ministers. Last month it issued a secure site risk assessment template and close working checklist to help construction professionals plan for projects, with both available to download for free from the Forum website. Watch the new video…

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Beard completes work on £20m redevelopment project at St Hilda’s College, Oxford

Family-run construction firm Beard has completed one of the biggest contracts in its history with a major redevelopment at St Hilda’s College, in the University of Oxford. The city’s famous skyline and its dreaming spires, have another architectural gem added to them with the completion at St Hilda’s, and the crowning of its tower in gold foliage. The £20m Front of College project also represents the largest redevelopment of the college in its history, having been completed to mark its 125th anniversary. Described as ‘architecturally stunning’ by the College, key aspects of the estate have been altered as part of the project, including the entrance, the street-view and the riverside frontage. The brief was to provide student accommodation (54 bedrooms), and to bring together key College administration functions into one place. The specifics of the work include: New main entrance to the college New accommodation for students New Boundary Building to house the Middle Common Room, Chapel and Porter’s Lodge New high-quality teaching and office space New riverside pavilion for entertaining Crowning of the tower using aluminium gold leaves mounted around a steel frame, painted by hand with bespoke St Hilda’s Gold. The new accommodation is a key element in the redevelopment as it relieves both the financial pressure for students of finding accommodation in the private rental market, and also eases some demand for accommodation in the city. Dean Averies, director at Oxford-based Beard, said the construction firm was successful in its bid for the work due to its track record in the education sector and especially with the University of Oxford. He said: “St Hilda’s has been a fantastic project for Beard to work on, especially as it marks a special anniversary for the College. “We understood the constraints of the College from the start, so the two-stage procurement route gave us time to work through issues before we got to site. “There were some challenges along the way as we had identified a number of significant gaps in the design information, which we had to fill to enable the project to progress. Of course, we subsequently had the ongoing restrictions due to coronavirus, which we were able to absorb and work around. “However, we were able to hand over on schedule and delivered on the original vision to create an inspiring place to live, work and study, for the next 125 years.” Neil Hyatt, Head of Buildings, St Hilda’s College added: “Beard has worked tirelessly with the novated design team and subcontractors, to ensure that the best possible outcome was achieved for St Hilda’s College. “Despite the challenges due to Coronavirus, as promised, our study rooms were ready on time for the start of the academic year. This was a collaborative project and the successful outcome was driven by contracts manager Steve Lambourne and his team. “Everyone is stunned by the architecture, the quality of finish and above all Beard’s commitment, to meeting client expectations.”

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SCAPE | ONS construction output reaction

Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, said: “Despite the sustained recovery of order books in the first half of the year, June’s fall in output is a sign that the long-term challenges facing the construction industry are starting to bite, with material and labour shortages inflating costs and extending project timelines. Inflation is tipped to continue rising until the end of the year at least, which has the potential to hamper the impact of increased government spending, as it looks to modernise infrastructure and stimulate a construction supercycle. “The support provided to SMEs in the coming months will be key to mitigating any negative long-term effects – particularly for those businesses with restricted buying power or weaker order books post-Covid. Larger contractors can play a key role by ensuring SMEs are able to plan effectively whilst supporting their cashflow through fair payment practices.”

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BARRATT PEDALS ITS SUPPORT FOR ROYAL BRITISH LEGION INDUSTRIES IN 150 MILE CYCLE RIDE

Housebuilder Barratt Homes has contributed £10,000 for the veteran’s charity Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), following Regional Director Mark Bailey and his Wife participating in the charity’s annual Cycle Ride recently (16th-18th July). Mark Bailey supported this event for the second time, whilst RBLI is a charity with whom Barratt has a longstanding partnership. The challenging route saw participants cycle from RBLI’s village in Aylesford, Kent to Meriden, West Midlands, the historical centre of England and home to the National Cyclists Memorial, which was installed 100 years ago and honours cyclists who lost their lives in both World Wars. On arrival, the RBLI party along with the local Member of Parliament and Parish Councillors hosted a wreath laying ceremony and a full-size ‘Tommy’ soldier figure was presented to Meriden Parish Council. During the cycle ride, the riders stopped at Barratt North Thames’ Kingsbrook development in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where Mark Bailey officially presented Steve Cherry, Managing Director of RBLI, with a £10,000 cheque on behalf of Barratt. Mark comments: “We are proud to be a corporate partner of RBLI, which plays a vital role in supporting our service veterans. The annual Cycle Ride is a further opportunity to fundraise for the charity, and it is an honour to cycle amongst participants ranging from veterans to serving soldiers and even a Chelsea Pensioner. “Tracey [Mr Bailey’s wife] and I have previously cycled with the veterans, a number of whom have had bikes specially adapted due to their injuries enabling them to complete the challenge.  It is always a humbling and emotional experience which Tracey and I are delighted to be associated with.  It was a pleasure to present the donation to RBLI on behalf of Barratt Developments and we look forward to continuing to work with the charity and provide opportunities for veterans.” Natalie Sweeden, Corporate Partnerships Manager at RBLI, comments: “Time and time again, our amazing partner Barratt Homes has been there, generously supporting RBLI and helping to change the lives of the country’s most vulnerable veterans. We are incredibly proud to have them represented once again at our latest fundraising challenge. “Mark and the team at Barratt are extremely loyal supporters and the funds they raised through this ride will make a significant difference to military veterans and their families who are struggling as a result of the pandemic. We cannot thank them enough for their support.” Barratt announced a multi-layered partnership with RBLI in 2019, which began with a £750,000 donation to RBLI’s Centenary Village with total fundraising to date approaching £1million. The £22million development will be made up of assisted-living accommodation, family homes, specially-adapted apartments and a community centre for injured veterans and their families. The housebuilder has also supported a number of veterans with employment opportunities at its developments in the South East. Most recently, Barratt installed hundreds of Tommy figures across the country at its new homes developments to commemorate the lives of soldiers who fought in WWI, and thank the veterans of today. To find out more about Royal British Legion Industries, visit www.rbli.co.uk. To find out more about Barratt Homes, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk.

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PREMIER MODULAR APPOINTS NEW HIRE DIRECTOR

Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading modular building specialists, has appointed Mark Rooney as Divisional Director for its Hire operations. Mark joins the business with 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, 10 years of which have been spent in the construction hire space.  He now takes responsibility for Premier’s highly successful Hire Division, from business development and project delivery to managing and developing the company’s expanding fleet of modular buildings for hire. According to David Harris, Managing Director of Premier Modular, “The Covid-19 pandemic has really put the modular industry in the spotlight. It has given us the opportunity to demonstrate the responsiveness of modular construction and in particular of our hire solutions. We have worked on some really high-profile projects in the past year, to incredibly challenging programmes to help the Government in its response to the pandemic.” “To help meet the increasing demand for our temporary building solutions in every sector, we invested £12m in our hire fleet in just 12 months and have an extremely high degree of fleet utilisation. As the economy is starting to return to normal levels, we are pleased to report a very strong order pipeline.” Mark Rooney, Divisional Director – Hire, added, “This is a really exciting time to join the business, which has made tremendous progress in the past year. There is enormous growth potential for Premier’s hire solutions, particularly in healthcare and education, where we are well placed to provide larger, more complex temporary buildings which may be on hire for a number of years. These projects range from decant education facilities for use during school redevelopment works to acute healthcare buildings to help NHS trusts rapidly increase capacity – from specialist ward buildings to theatre blocks.” “We also have ambitious plans to increase our market share in the provision of high quality project offices for major construction and infrastructure projects, not just in the South East but across the UK.” “Our aim is to provide additional space very quickly and with levels of quality, fitout, and comfort that make every building feel bespoke.” Premier is currently working on a number of multi-million pound contracts to provide project offices for HS2 in the South East and a £3m hire project for Kier is nearing completion at Royal Cornwall Hospital to rapidly increase ward capacity. The hiring of modular accommodation is a fast, flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective way for organisations to expand capacity or relocate services, particularly on constrained sites. The approach also gives customers greater flexibility as the facilities can be dismantled and removed for use on other sites if local needs or business requirements change. Premier specialises in more complex hire building solutions which can include facilities spanning six storeys and built on gantries on constrained city centre sites. David Harris previously held the position of Divisional Director for Hire until he was appointed Managing Director of Premier Modular in 2020, following the retirement of Eugenio de Sa. For further information, visit www.premiermodular.co.uk, call 0800 316 0888 or email info@premiermodular.co.uk.

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Strong pick-up in European construction workloads but cost pressures intensifying

Construction activity in Europe continues to shift up a gear, with positive output growth being reported within all sectors, according to the RICS Global Construction Monitor (GCM). Feedback from survey respondents points to a pickup in activity across virtually all European markets, with the RICS’ European Construction Activity Index rising to +34 in Q2 from +16 in Q1. The latest reading is in complete contrast to the reading of -25 at this point last year. This improvement was particularly evident in Portugal and the Netherlands, with both recording a reading of over 50. Similarly, the UK, Germany and Ireland all registered comfortably stronger readings in Q2 compared to Q1. Furthermore, expectations regarding the 12 months ahead moved further into growth territory over the quarter, led by robust projections across the private housing and infrastructure sectors. Meanwhile, employment in the construction sector in Europe is expected to grow, with a net balance of +28% of respondents projecting an increase in headcounts across the industry over the year ahead (rising from a net balance of +13% in Q1). But respondents in Europe were less optimistic about profit margins. Although expectations for profit margins did improve over the quarter (as the net balance moved from -10% to +7%), expectations are only marginally positive. This is no surprise given that material cost pressures have escalated of late, with 78% of respondents across Europe citing this as an issue constraining construction activity. Indeed, with projections for material cost inflation rising further during Q2, it appears cost pressures are likely to become an increasing headwind, which could act to dampen momentum further down the line. Simon Rubinsohn chief economist RICS said: “The rebound in construction workloads continues to gain ground in Europe with strong housing markets playing a key role in supporting residential development. Moreover, with the cost of money expected to remain close to zero, there is little reason to believe that this key driver of activity in the industry will diminish in importance over the next twelve months. However the forward looking metrics in the RICS Construction Monitor do suggest that infrastructure will play an increasing significant role in most European countries as government programmes to rebuild economies following the pandemic begin to be more fully implemented. “As elsewhere around the world, the industry unsurprisingly faces significant challenges as it looks to lift capacity with both material and labour shortages widely being highlighted in the survey and evident in the projection of higher costs. Against this backdrop, the hoped for rebound in profitability is likely to be a little more drawn out with tender prices struggling to keep pace.”

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CBRE SEEKS DEVELOPMENT PARTNER FOR HISTORIC CHESTER SITE

Regeneration Of Dee House Progresses CBRE has been instructed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to seek a development partner to be part of the regeneration of Dee House, a prominent and historic building that has been vacant since the 1990s. Forming part of the Chester One City Plan, the redevelopment of Dee House is a key aspect of the scheme and the Council is moving the project forward this year. CBRE’s UK Development Advisory team has been appointed to seek the right partner to bring the site back to life, with a shared vision to create a development of excellence to contribute to the long-term regeneration of Chester. Both Dee House and the site on which it sits have significant historical value. The site covers part of the area of the unexcavated Roman Amphitheatre discovered in 1929 and provides excellent views over the visible section of the amphitheatre, whilst the building is Grade II listed due to its special architectural and historic interest. Dee House is located to the south east of Chester City Centre adjacent to the City Walls and within close proximity to St John’s Church, the Roman Gardens and Grosvenor Park. The River Dee lies 100m south of the site. Its central location adjacent to the A5268 ring road (Vicar’s Lane) makes the site highly accessible and desirable. To help facilitate redevelopment and safeguard the integrity of the building, Cheshire West and Chester Council will be instructing vital works to stabilise key parts of the building. These are scheduled to commence this autumn and complete during early 2022.  Alex Andrews, Associate Director, at CBRE Manchester, commented; “We are delighted to be appointed to work with Cheshire West and Chester Council to bring this exciting project forward. The preservation of historically significant sites is key to the long term regeneration of Chester and breathing life back into a site that has been redundant for over thirty years will not only enhance the immediate area, it will also add to the wider attraction of the city itself encouraging both tourists and locals alike to enjoy Chester City Centre at its very best.” Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The Council and the Dee House and Amphitheatre Working Group have the collective view that Dee House is an important historical asset for the city of Chester and should be redeveloped and modernised for the 21st Century, while retaining its historic appearance and unique characteristics. “It is a building with great potential in a prominent location in the centre of a well-known and historic city. Anyone who chooses to join the Council in investing in its future is sure to benefit, helping to transform it into a place visitors and residents can enjoy for many years to come.” Andy Foster, of Dee House and Amphitheatre Working Group, said: “After more than a year of deliberations and taking guidance from experts in the field of archaeological and historic building preservation, the working group concluded that Dee House should be saved and redeveloped. “We are keen to see progress this year and the plan is to prepare a planning application to seek permission to begin stabilisation work as soon as possible in the autumn, which will enable a long term end-use to come forward.”

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STUDY INN RAPIDLY EXPANDS PORTFOLIO WITH £30M LEICESTER DEVELOPMENT

Study Inn Group, a luxury hotel-style student accommodation owner, developer, and operator are set to convert Reynard House, a former office block in Leicester, into a 267-bed high quality purpose-built student accommodation centre. The £30million redevelopment will increase the overall square footage of the existing Reynard House by 50% with additional new build space, totalling 73,550 sq. ft.  The brand-new 7-storey student accommodation scheme will provide a mixture of studios and en-suite serviced apartment rooms, all within a 3-minute walk from the De Montford University’s main campus. Construction is well underway, with opening scheduled for September 2022. Facilities will follow the same enhanced specification as Study Inn’s 2nd generation of properties, including 24×7 onsite management; room cleaning and linen services; and state-of-the-art communal facilities such as extensive study space; wellness spa; sauna; steam room; hot beds; gym; yoga studio; games room; lounge; big screen cinema room; and an atrium conservatory for additional natural light. Commenting on the new development, Jack Jefferson, acquisitions director at Study Inn, said: “We are very pleased to add another fantastic city to our fast-growing portfolio. As both a developer and an operator, it is testament to our confidence in the continuing purpose-built student accommodation letting ability in Leicester.” In addition to Leicester, Study Inn is currently building its latest properties in Exeter, opening in September 2021 and Leeds, opening in September 2022 to add to its operating properties in Bristol, Loughborough, and Nottingham. https://www.studyinn.com/

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Care home completion is double landmark for Brymor and Care UK

An independent construction firm has completed its largest care home development to date, including a cinema, bar and accommodation for up to 75 residents.  Brymor Construction Ltd designed and built Care UK’s new Ancasta Grove home in Sarisbury Green, near Fareham, after demolishing the former dentists’ surgery on the site. The £8.5m purpose-built development in Barnes Lane provides residential, nursing, respite and dementia care, with more than 80 new jobs created locally.As well as a cinema and bar, Ancasta Grove includes a hair and beauty salon, lounges, dining areas and landscaped grounds with a sensory garden and water feature. The development is the largest care home project in Hampshire-based Brymor Construction’s 34-year history and Care UK’s 125th home. Stephen Morton, chairman of 150-strong Brymor, said: “With an ageing population in the UK, the care sector is assuming an increasingly important role in our communities. “The high quality of facilities at Ancasta Grove, including a cinema and hair and beauty salon, show just how dramatically residential and nursing homes have evolved over recent years.” Brymor, which is headquartered at Denmead, near Portsmouth, with an office in Dorset, works in a wide range of sectors. The £85m turnover company is a collaborative and flexible business with a seamless approach from conception to completion, with the focus on innovative solutions, quality, safety and transparency. Ancasta Grove is Care UK’s 125th home. Since 2013, it has opened more than 50 new homes. There are about 17,600 care homes in the UK with 490,326 residents, according to industry source CareHome.co.uk. In 2018, 18 per cent of the total UK population was aged 65 years and over, compared with 10.8 per cent in 1950, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is expected to rise to 24.8 per cent in 2050. Visit https://www.brymor.co.uk/ for more details.

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5 Questions To Ask Before Renting Cranes

If you’ve never rented heavy equipment like cranes before, you might not know what to expect. Renting a crane is essential in large-scale projects as it increases productivity, especially if there’s too much heavy lifting. Without cranes, it’s impossible to move around heavy materials.   If you don’t have a budget to buy a crane, you can rent one. Be smart with which crane rental company you’re going to choose before you sign on the dotted line. To ensure you get the right crane rental services for your project, here are some questions you need to ask a crane rental company before hiring them. 1. How Much Experience Do You Have? Normally, you should ask a crane rental company about their experience in providing rental services before you hire them. The crane rental company you’re going to hire should have years of experience in the relevant field so they can be considered for the job.  Experience is important because there are many different types of cranes. The best company will help you choose the perfect type of crane that’s best suited for your building or construction project, which is what one Calgary crane company does for their clients. Upon your first meeting with the crane rental firm, be sure to start the conversation by asking them about their experience, as this is the most important thing you need to know about them. 2. What Types Of Cranes Do You Provide? You may not know this, but there are many different types of cranes. It can be quite challenging for someone who doesn’t know about cranes which one is best suited for their construction project.   Here are some of the most common types of cranes rental companies offer: Loader cranes Overhead cranes Mobile cranes Rough terrain cranes Telescopic cranes Tower cranes The type of crane you’re going to choose all depends on what you’re looking for. It’s best if you go with a crane rental company that has a large selection of cranes available. They can walk you through different types of cranes, and help you choose the one best suited for your project needs.  3. Do You Provide Crane Operators? If So, Are They Licensed And Trained? Obviously, a crane won’t operate on its own. You’re going to need someone to operate it, which is why you need to ask a crane rental company if they provide operators.  Fortunately, most rental companies understand the need for these workers. There are some companies that offer rental services wherein crane operators are already included in the package.  You also need to make sure the crane operators are fully licensed and experienced. If mistakes are made in large construction projects, it can be extremely dangerous for everyone in the site. This is especially true when operating a crane.  To guarantee that all health and safety guidelines are followed when operating a crane, be sure to hire operators that are fully trained and qualified. In this way, you can rest assured the job will be done on the right way, on time, and within the budget. 4. What Are Your Rental Rates? Cranes are very expensive, especially if you’re going to buy them outright. Not all construction companies or builders can afford a crane. As a result, they rely on rental companies so they can use one for their projects.  Although renting a crane can save your business a lot of money, it’s still wise to check the cost of crane rentals beforehand, so you can find the best value for your money. Take some time to shop around and compare quotes when searching for a reliable and reputable crane rental service providers who’s willing to rent you heavy equipment within your budget.  5. Do You Provide Insurance? Keep in mind that if you’re going to simply rent a crane, you’re also responsible for the insurance. This is why it’s important to ask a crane rental company if they provide insurance for you, especially if you’re going to hire an operator from them.  Final Thoughts By asking these questions before signing a contract, you can protect yourself from problems later. Another reason why you should ask these questions is because there are some crane rental companies that aren’t honest, especially when it comes to their services and reputation.  Knowing what questions to ask before renting a crane will help you get the most out of the deal. It is always better to rent a crane from a reliable and reputable company who you can trust to give one that is in good working condition. 

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