Zoopla has released its housing market predictions and says that UK house prices are expected to fall 2% over 2024. The number of homes on the market has reached a five year high and in turn, led sellers to think more competitively about asking prices. If house prices continue to fall and incomes increase or if mortgage rates fall back, Zoopla forecasters believe that homes will become more affordable for those in the market to buy. 

The report revealed that 4 in 5 housing markets are registering annual price falls, up from less than 1 in 20 just six months ago however the scale of these price falls is believed to be modest with no markets currently registering annual price falls of more than 5%. In 2024, Zoopla suggests that there will be an increase in markets registering 5% falls with sellers needing to adjust asking prices to counter weaker buying power.

On the whole, the report highlights that the risk of a major price collapse is becoming 'less of a concern, and an improvement in sales hinges more on buyers’ financial ability to move when mortgage rates are in the 4-5% range'. 

The National Federation of Builders has announced two free half-day workshops to complement its Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards. The workshops aimed at women and allies will feature a range of expert speakers, activities and the chance to meet others and share experiences. It is hoped that these events will help to build confidence and create positive change in a largely male-dominated industry. 

The first will take place on 15 November at Gloucester Rugby Club and the second on 21 November at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle.

To register, head to the following link.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is inviting small and micro-sized businesses to apply for its Skills and Training fund to help equip workforces for the future. Eligible businesses could be awarded from £2,500 to £10,000 depending on number of employees and are now are able to apply twice a year – previously CITB were only able to accept one application in a 12 month period.

To be eligible, you must: have up to 99 directly employed staff (including yourself); be a CITB-registered employer and up to date with your Levy Returns and if you've had any previous money from the Skills and Training fund, these projects must be complete.

Funding options are divided into four tiers:

• Employers with CIS only (no PAYE) can receive up to £2,500
• Employers with 1 to 49 directly-employed staff can receive up to £5,000
• Employers with 50 to 74 directly-employed staff can receive up to £7,500
• Employers with 75 to 99 directly-employed staff can receive up to £10,000.

For further information and to apply, please visit CITB online.

Edward Smith has been announced as the new managing director for Caesarstone UK and ROI. Smith joins from Jewson where he worked for nearly 30 years, latterly as the programme director. He was also the managing director of ironmongery, security and fire door safety business, George Boyd and will now be leading Caesarstone's strategic vision.

On his appointment, Smith said: “I’m thrilled to be part of such a respected innovative global brand. I’ve enjoyed watching Caesarstone’s extraordinary growth since it launched in the UK in 2017 and look forward to continuing to invest in and develop the business across the UK and ROI. I’m also excited to continue building our relationship with our Irish partners following the launch of our new distribution centre and showroom in Dublin earlier this year. It was a key step in Caesarstone’s expansion to solidify our presence in this important market.”

Burlington Stone, part of the Holker Group, have unveiled plans for a £5m redevelopment of Kirkby Quarry in Cumbria. Founded 170 years ago, Burlington Stone supply stone products for projects around the world and this investment will help to remove overburden and provide better access to reserves.

In addition to investing in the quarry itself, a further £300,000 has been spent on CNC machinery and £250,000 on solar panels to deliver one third of the quarry's electrical supply.

Managing director Richard Page of Burlington Stone says: “We are using CNCs in ways that fit with Burlington’s values. We will never come away from the high levels of craftsmanship and hand-finished quality of our products that we are renowned for – it’s to supplement the craft element, not replace it.”

The company has also recently acquired the remaining part of its 50 per cent stake in Burlington Aggregates from Neil Price Construction Services. This has made Burlington Stone one of the largest construction materials groups in the North West.

Moulton College, one of only a handful of colleges in the country that run specialist stonemasonry courses, is appealing for funding to help with the opening of a new heritage centre.

The Northamptonshire college has been training students in skills associated with the natural, built and recreational environment for more than 100 years and has identified a space in heritage training. It has has secured a donation from a local employer but needs more funds in order to create a teaching environment that will further enhance the experience for its stonemasonry students.

Matt Smith, executive director of skills and business development at Moulton, told Stone Specialist: "As a specialist further education college with a long track record of supporting the stonemasonry industry, we have recognised the significant shortage of training opportunities for those students wishing to specialise in the heritage sector.

"We have significant demand from potential students as well as our employer partners and so are looking to work with potential supporters to develop an industry leading heritage specialist workshop at our Holcot Campus. Only by developing this dedicated space can we provide the high-quality learning opportunities our students deserve and our employers need."
 
If you are interested in being involved with the project, please contact Matt via email on: Matt.Smith@moulton.ac.uk

Organisations which were to benefit from funding to support heritage crafts from the Hamish Ogston Foundation have announced plans to sever relationships amidst allegations in The Sunday Times that founder Hamish Ogston has been involved in human trafficking and exploitation of young women.

In a statement on its website, the National Trust, awarded £6.2m from the Foundation in 2022 for a new Heritage Crafts Apprenticeship programme, says: “Given the severity of the allegations published in The Sunday Times, we have suspended our work with the Hamish Ogston Foundation. We have reassured the twelve apprentices already on the apprenticeship programme that they will continue to receive training and professional development opportunities as they complete their apprenticeships and one-year post apprenticeship placements with us."

The Foundation had also committed a donation of £11.2m in 2022 for English Heritage's heritage skills programme, of which £667,000 had already been received. In response to the allegations, English Heritage revealed that it had placed the funds received to date into a "separate bank account where they are clearly identifiable and we are returning them to the Foundation. We are not using any of the funds received from the Foundation to apply against any spend we've incurred to date on our heritage skills programme – those costs are being paid from English Heritage’s own unrestricted funds. Nor will English Heritage draw down on any further funds committed by the Hamish Ogston Foundation.
English Heritage has also filed a serious incident report with the Charity Commission."

It was also keen to stress that it was committed to delivering its heritage skills programme despite the  setback "as it will not only secure countless historic buildings and ensure the survival of many endangered heritage skills but – through the key apprenticeships element – also provide fulfilling careers for young people, now and in the future."

Historic England and the Historic England Foundation revealed that it was also severing ties with the Hamish Ogston Foundation. “We will not be accepting their funds for future work relating to the Heritage Building Skills Programme and will be returning £50,000 which we had received towards research and development for a national expansion of the programme,” a spokesperson said.

Further funds, totalling £700,000, were pledged to the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship, which comprises nine Anglican cathedrals, to aid its own heritage skills work. It has responded to the news with the following comment:  "We are aware of the recent Sunday Times investigation into the private life of Hamish Ogston and are deeply concerned by the serious allegations relating to human trafficking and the exploitation of young women. As the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship (CWF) is a recipient of funding from the Hamish Ogston Foundation, the Board of Trustees is taking advice on how to proceed. We have no further comment at this time."

It is understood that other organisations are reviewing relationships with the Foundation. 

British Safety Council's full day Annual Conference will take place on 17 October and is free to attend. Now in its 13th year, this is the first year the conference has been an online event – the theme is: 'Ensuring your organisation is resilient and future-proofed'.

Numerous speakers from a variety of sectors, industries and specialisms will be in attendance and sessions will focus on technology and the workplace, sustainability, education and training, modern slavery, and how to deal with air pollution.

Mike Robinson, chief executive of British Safety Council, said: “We are excited to be holding our Annual Conference online for the first time and looking to the future to address how organisations can be more resilient. In a fast-moving and changing world, this event will look at how your organisation can stay ahead of the curve and remain resilient in the face of a myriad of challenges, including climate change and future technology. We look forward to a packed day spent with some of the best brains in the business.”

To register for a free ticket, head to the British Safety Council website.