Today's flash briefing details Volvo and Steelwrist expanding their alliance; the Scottish construction sector being lauded for its COVID-19 measures; a Sussex Council targeting sustainability; and a look back at last night's  emotional anniversary of the Didcot Disaster.

In addition, we bring you the news that Total Reclaims had been given the green light on a big contract in its  native Nottingham.   That contract will involve the demolition of existing student accommodation ahead of the construction of a new 215 bed student block.

The second episode of our new daily news show aired live this morning at 10am.

Among the key topics up for discussion were: Demolition firms on recruitment drive; Komatsu’s new midi marvel; Keltbray’s carbon commitment; and the largely meaningless statement issued by Thames Valley Police on the fifth anniversary of the Didcot Disaster.

There’s also an explanation on why I suddenly appear desperate for coffee…!

Welcome to the first episode of a new daily video AND audio show containing your daily flash briefing from the combined demolition and construction industries.

This launch episode was broadcast on Monday 22 February 2021.

Six years ago, Katie Kelleher was an apprentice crane operator who was questioning the life choices that brought her to the male-dominated world of construction.

Today, she is a vocal advocate for women in construction and construction apprenticeships.   She has been named as one of the "top voices" on the LinkedIn social media platform, has built up a substantial social media following, AND was invited to the Queen's garden party.

But she has capped it all with an appearance on the Demolition News Radio podcast.

Straight-talking demolition veteran Roy Gibbons lived and worked through the golden age of the UK demolition industry.

He rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in the sector, crossed paths with some of its biggest personalities, and considered many of them friends.

Now, as he hangs up his hard hat, Roy looks back over half a century at the cutting edge of the UK demolition business and the changes he has witnessed during a Life in Demolition.

The UK construction industry has hit the ground running at the beginning of the New Year. 

And while it failed to replicate the anomalous highs of December 2020, the latest set of monthly figures from BCLive.co.uk speak to a sector enjoying a period of prolonged positivity. 

Builders’ Conference CEO Neil Edwards looks over some pleasing figures.

C&D Consultancy's Mike Kehoe has crowned a lifetime in the demolition industry by earning a Masters Degree in Demolition Management.  

In this exclusive interview, we look back at how Kehoe came to be in the demolition industry, the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the gender imbalance within the demolition sector, and the future of the global demolition industry.

A few days ago, DemolitionNews brought you details of the report into an incident in which an excavator fell partially into an unseen underground void.

Well that report has already become our most-viewed story of the past 18 months or so, even though it was published on a Saturday when things are usually quiet.

So we decided to follow up with AR Demolition’s Richard Dolman to find out why he chose to be so open about the incident; but also to ascertain just what happened in the first place.

"...There's 250 power plants left here in the US.   There's 300 in Canada.   There's 300+ in Europe.   If we're going just by sheer averages on the 1,500 or so power plants that are going to be decommissioned and taken down, you're looking at another 150 [demolition worker] deaths..." 

Following a spate of fatal accidents on both sides of the Atlantic during the demolition of power stations and boiler houses, Joe Vendetti, Senior Vice President of Industrial Services, Integrated Demolition and Remediation Inc has expressed his fears and concerns for the future.  

In a hard-hitting interview, he calls for the creation of guidance on the demolition of power plants and boiler houses, says that clients need to allow sufficient time and money to undertake this work more safely, and urges his fellow demolition contractors to walk away from projects they believe to be unsafe.

If you would refer to watch this as a video, you can do so here:  https://youtu.be/JfueApREIok

The term hero is bandied about a little too much these days.   All too often, it is used to describe sports stars and celebrities.

But heroes and heroines DO live among us. And not al of them wear uniforms OR capes.

Some of them wear hard hats.