Naylor Drainage has granted long service awards to six employees who have clocked up a combined total of 210 years' service.

Two Irish builders' merchants and DIY groups, Associated Hardware and National Hardware, have joined up to increase their purchasing power.

A rise in Government-funded construction work and a surge in utilities projects are helping to stabilise the flow of construction projects starting on site, according to industry forecasts.

Building materials supplier Hanson has been certified with the Responsible Sourcing of Materials (RSM) standard for two complete product lines - ready-mixed concrete and aggregates - covering nearly 300 UK production sites.

Builders merchant Keyline, part of Travis Perkins, has helped pre-school toddlers in Swindon by helping transform their play area.

Housing minister John Healey this week gave the go-ahead for construction of 2,000 council homes for rent, in the biggest local authority housebuilding programme in almost two decades.

No buyers have been found for the Cheshire tool manufacturer Caldwells manufacturing which has closed down with the loss of 28 jobs.

Plumbers merchant Graham, sister company builders merchant Jewson, has appointed David Gledhill to the role of managing director, replacing Simon Carin, from October 1 2009.

Some 21 people connected with the building sector were arrested in raids yesterday by HM Revenue & Customs officers investigating a multi million pound construction industry fraud.

A builders' merchant from Dungannon in Northern Ireland has pleaded guilty to 17 years of income tax and VAT fraud.