Sir James Wates to step down as Wates chairman




He will be succeeded by his cousin Tim Wates, who is currently deputy chairman.

Sir James said: “I have enjoyed my 10 years as chairman enormously, and the time is now right to pass the baton over to my cousin Tim.

“I look forward to continuing to serve on the board and being actively involved in the business, including representing Wates in external forums.”

Tim Wates said: “It is an honour to be named the next Chairman of our 125-year-old enterprise and continue our tradition of maintaining a long-term perspective and commitment to business as a force for good in society.”

Tim joined Wates in 1993 after starting his career in banking with Cazenove & Co, and has served on the board from 2006 to 2008 and since 2011.

He was appointed deputy chairman in October 2022 and has served as the lead family director on

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Tilbury Douglas poaches Ferrovial commercial chief




With more than 25 years of experience, most recently as commercial director at Ferrovial, Smith has extensive knowledge of the sector and industry.

Prior to Ferrovial Construction, Smith also held senior positions at other leading construction companies including Kier, Costain and Vinci.

Paul Gandy, CEO at Tilbury Douglas, said: “Martyn will be responsible for the development and implementation of the business’ commercial strategy, which supports the sustainable growth of Tilbury Douglas.”

Smith said: “I am very excited to be joining Tilbury Douglas at such an important stage of the company’s development, having become a standalone major contractor in 2022. I look forward to playing an active part in delivering growth for the business.”






Aaron Morby

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BAM Nuttall names new chief




He replaces Ian Parish who retired as senior director of BAM Nuttall at the end of 2022.

John Wilkinson, COO, BAM UK & Ireland, said: “Following a detailed recruitment process I am delighted to announce Huw Jones as the new executive director for the BAM Nuttall business.

“Huw has brought huge success to our rail division over the last decade and he brings a fresh approach and a real appetite to deliver for our stakeholders, as he takes up his new role leading our civil engineering business.”

Jones, a chartered civil engineer joined BAM in 2009 following previous roles with both contracting and client organisations in construction.

He initially joined as a project manager in the South West of England before moving on to various roles across the rail division.

Jones subsequently became the division director for rail in 2017 before being promoted to his current

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Plasterboard prices set for major New Year hike




The Enquirer understands that major manufacturers have been informing the industry of price rises of more than 15% in the New Year.

That is on top of a near 100% rise during 2022.

One concerned contractor said: “The excuse for the price rises this year has been soaring demand and raw material price rises.

“But that’s not the case any more.

“We were expecting prices to actually come down but have now been hit with this.”

Another construction director added: “You only have to look at raw materials prices to see that virtually everything bar gas is coming down in price while container shipping rates are at all time lows as supply chain pressures ease as demand slows across the economy.

“This has left me angry and bemused so now I’m looking at sourcing board from abroad.

“The big players dominate the UK market and this

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Balfour Beatty backs US mini nuclear reactors for UK

The US firm is presently working with Hyundai Engineering and Construction to advance projects using its SMR-160 pressurised water reactors in the UK, which generate 160MW.

Under the new agreement, Balfour Beatty will act as the main UK construction partner and collaborate with HDEC on the civil construction and installation of the mechanical, electrical and heating, ventilation and cooling systems.

The design is a smaller rival to Rolls Royce’s small pressurized water reactors. The British engineering giant is also aiming to build SMR power stations and has teamed up with a consortium including BAM Nuttall and Laing O’Rourke.

It aims to complete its first 490MW unit in the early 2030s and build up to 10 by 2035.

Now Holtec International is planning to start its UK regulatory acceptance process of its SMR-160 reactors in 2023. When granted, this could enable the start of the construction of the first UK unit

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