In this article, Richard Tonkinson, Executive Director of Offsite Solutions, a UK-leading bathroom pod manufacturer, looks at the impact of Brexit on the construction industry and how taking an off-site approach can mitigate some of the economic uncertainty.

Hard or soft, Brexit will have wide-ranging impacts throughout the construction industry, many already flagged up and others which have yet to be seen. Given that innovation in construction products often outpaces the development of corresponding standards and regulations, the lead up to – and post- – Brexit has the potential to throw curve balls when it comes to accepted product standards for new ideas. Lack of guidance on the performance of new solutions could be an issue for all throughout the build process, from architects to building control.

In recent years, the world of construction has seen significant growth in the number of Special Purchase Vehicles (SPV) set up by a number of large businesses to deal with one-off projects.

John Dunnington, Head of Marketing at architectural cladding specialist Booth Muirie, provides insight into the fire performance of rainscreen cladding systems on buildings over 18m, following the most extensive fire testing the cladding industry has witnessed.

An architect's practice thrives on the skills, creativity and knowledge of its workforce and empowering employees to keep delivering top-quality work is important. For practice owners who may be thinking about succession plans, finding a structure which allows the business to continue to grow and develop can be difficult. Seeking alternative solutions to the traditional sale route is now becoming more popular, and the trend towards employee ownership (EO) structures is quickly gaining pace in the industry.