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  <author>
    <name>Speedcrete</name>
    <email>nathan.dod@speedcrete.co.uk</email>
  </author>
  <updated>2012-02-07T09:53:41Z</updated>
  <title>Speedcrete news</title>
  <link rel="self" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk" />
  <id>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk</id>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bacteria1.jpg</icon>
    <title>Bacteria Repairs Concrete</title>
    <id>2782</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/bacteria-repairs-concrete-i2782.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Students at Newcastle University have genetically engineered a bacteria called Bacillus Subtilis to enable it to repair cracks in concrete]]></summary>
    <updated>2011-01-05T14:12:53Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bonfire_night.jpg</icon>
    <title>Having a ball with concreting tools on Bonfire Night</title>
    <id>2726</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/having-a-ball-with-concreting-tools-on-bonfire-night-i2726.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[November 5th is Bonfire Night - and  concreting tools  could help to make sure that the evening's festivities go with a bang.  Already in 2010 fire crews have had to deal with bonfires burning out of control.  One crew from St Neots in Cambridgeshire was called out as early as October 30th to a bonfire lit on open ground on Hardwick Road in Eynesbury.  A spokesperson for the service said: &quot;Bonfires can easily spread to nearby hedges, trees and even houses, putting the lives of those nearby...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-05T18:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/slickwork_005.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concreting tools applied to more cement in Q2 2010</title>
    <id>2725</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concreting-tools-applied-to-more-cement-in-q2-2010-i2725.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[New figures for deliveries of cement in the second quarter of 2010 show  concreting tools  were put to work on a greater amount of the building material.  In its latest official update, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) sees a sequential rise of almost a quarter (24 per cent) in deliveries of cementitious materials of all types.  Almost three million tonnes of cement were laid using  concreting tools  in the second quarter of the year, up from 2.35 million in the first...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-05T18:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/thinkbrick.gif</icon>
    <title>Excellence with bricklaying tools could help with school estate updates</title>
    <id>2724</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/excellence-with-bricklaying-tools-could-help-with-school-estate-updates-i2724.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Construction of new schools could be made better through changes to the rules applying to people working with  bricklaying tools  on new educational buildings, it is suggested.  On October 28th, the Herts &amp; Beds Constructing Excellence Club hosted a meeting entitled The Good, The Bad and The Radical to debate improvements to the Partnership for Schools programme.  Among the good aspects of the existing scheme was the high standard of construction from those working with  bricklaying tools ...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-05T18:00:01Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/vat-20.jpg</icon>
    <title>VAT increase 'could impact users of concreting tools in a negative way'</title>
    <id>2723</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/vat-increase-could-impact-users-of-concreting-tools-in-a-negative-way-i2723.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The increase in VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent from January 2011 is likely to impact on professionals working with  concreting tools  in a negative way, based on comments from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).  According to the FMB, the direct impact of the VAT rise on domestic renovations and maintenance work will be a two per cent drop in work.  That could include jobs carried out with  concreting tools , ranging from flooring in houses undergoing renovation to laying new...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-04T17:00:37Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/chic-museam.gif</icon>
    <title>Bricklaying tools go to work on Chichester District Museum expansion</title>
    <id>2722</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/bricklaying-tools-go-to-work-on-chichester-district-museum-expansion-i2722.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The expansion of Chichester District Museum is well underway at Tower Street, according to Chichester District Council, which may have seen  bricklaying tools  put to work on the venue's new facilities.  However,  bricklaying tools  may not only be required on the construction itself; they could also help in moving some of the exhibits.  Anne Bone, arts and heritage development manager, says: &quot;Packing techniques differ for each type of object in the collection.  &quot;This is due to some...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-04T17:00:37Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/industrial_unit.jpg</icon>
    <title>'Safer' concrete formwork unveiled by JP Concrete</title>
    <id>2721</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/safer-concrete-formwork-unveiled-by-jp-concrete-i2721.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A supplier of precast  concrete formwork  claims to have created portable walls that offer improved safety over previous similar products.  JP Concrete's new  concrete formwork  consists of a range of walls, corners and other enclosure panels designed for the creation of agricultural bays, silage stores and bunkers.  The units can be bolted down, ensuring safety and robustness in the finished structure, while they can also be reinforced, the manufacturer says.  Each also has forkholes to allow...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-04T17:00:35Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/green-brick.jpg</icon>
    <title>Green Deal could enlarge market for eco-friendly bricklayers tools</title>
    <id>2717</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/green-deal-could-enlarge-market-for-eco-friendly-bricklayers-tools-i2717.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Bricklayers tools suitable for undertaking energy efficiency home improvements could be in renewed demand thanks to the government's Green Deal.  The initiative aims to make the entire UK housing stock more eco-friendly, including both privately owned and rented accommodation.  Stephen Radley, director of policy and external affairs at manufacturers' forum the EEF, says the scheme &quot;for the first time&quot; gives some small firms access to energy-saving measures.  &quot;It also has the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-03T17:00:20Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/public-loss.jpg</icon>
    <title>Public sector redundancies could go to work with concreting tools</title>
    <id>2716</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/public-sector-redundancies-could-go-to-work-with-concreting-tools-i2716.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[More people made redundant from the public sector could put  concreting tools  to work by getting a job with a small to medium-sized construction firm engaging on government contracts.  Earlier this week, the Cabinet Office announced plans for a quarter of public sector contracts to go to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all industry sectors, bolstered by a pledge to pay funds within 30 days to keep good cashflow conditions in small firms.  Richard Diment, director general of the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-03T17:00:20Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bricklayer.jpg</icon>
    <title>'Huge opportunities' for users of bricklaying tools</title>
    <id>2715</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/huge-opportunities-for-users-of-bricklaying-tools-i2715.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[While the recession may have resulted in some negative trends within the construction sector, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) suggests that those training in how to use  bricklaying tools  at the moment could face brighter prospects.  &quot;The Green Deal to retrofit all our 26 million homes in the country will provide huge job opportunities for people in the construction sector,&quot; says director of external affairs Brian Berry.  He adds: &quot;For those entering college now, we will...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-03T17:00:20Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/lite-man.jpg</icon>
    <title>Lighting towers could be needed at A1 Gateshead bypass</title>
    <id>2713</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/lighting-towers-could-be-needed-at-a1-gateshead-bypass-i2713.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Work on the A1 Gateshead and Newcastle Western Bypass is likely to be carried out with the assistance of  lighting towers  as the Highways Agency looks to minimise disruption to daytime traffic on the road.  The organisation is putting its  concreting tools  to work installing new signage alongside the roadway, advising motorists of a change to the speed limit.  From Birtley Interchange to Blaydon Viaduct, a permanent limit of 50 mph is to be enforced in order to help maintain traffic flows and...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-02T18:00:24Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/multitrack_groover.gif</icon>
    <title>Concrete groovers 'an economical route to aesthetics'</title>
    <id>2712</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-groovers-an-economical-route-to-aesthetics-i2712.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Concrete groovers  can offer a simple way to make a driveway look aesthetically appealing in the autumn, says The Concrete Network.  The information provider on all things relating to cementitious surfaces has published a guide to economical, mid-range and advanced techniques in overhauling existing driveways.  Advanced methods involve hand finishes, staining, borders and intricate patterns, while mid-range approaches include engraving and two-colour surfaces.  For an economical way of getting...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-02T18:00:24Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/brick-tools.jpg</icon>
    <title>More SMEs could put bricklaying tools to work in public sector</title>
    <id>2711</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/more-smes-could-put-bricklaying-tools-to-work-in-public-sector-i2711.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Despite planned spending cuts, more small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could find their  bricklaying tools  in demand on public sector projects in the months to come.  The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is calling for better access to public sector contracts for SMEs in light of their substantial contribution to the UK workforce.  Some 60 per cent of jobs and half of the nation's gross domestic product is contributed by SMEs, the FMB says.  Director general Richard Diment says:...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-02T18:00:22Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bl526-2.jpg</icon>
    <title>Masonry brushes could extend low dust levels throughout construction</title>
    <id>2708</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/masonry-brushes-could-extend-low-dust-levels-throughout-construction-i2708.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[With mineral products suppliers taking action to reduce their dust levels,  masonry brushes  could allow end-users of their materials to do the same.  Dust levels are one of the environmental criteria included in the Mineral Products Association's (MPA's) 2009 UK Cement Performance Report, which has just been published.  Per tonne of cement produced during the year, dust emissions dropped by almost a third (31 per cent) compared with 2008.  This is in spite of the previous year's strong...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-01T15:00:13Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/money_bags1.jpg</icon>
    <title>Cost of concreting tools could be a concern for many</title>
    <id>2707</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/cost-of-concreting-tools-could-be-a-concern-for-many-i2707.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The cost and availability of  concreting tools  could be two of the main concerns faced by builders at the moment.  According to Rod Bennion, non-executive chairman of the National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS), a representative organisation for procurement in the building, plumbing, timber, hardware and heating industries, stock and pricing levels are key factors in meeting customer demand at present.  Speaking at the recent NMBS Strategic Sales Conference, he explained that each issue is...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-01T15:00:13Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/rt6-roller-screed.jpg</icon>
    <title>Roller screed could prepare paths for protective gravel</title>
    <id>2706</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/roller-screed-could-prepare-paths-for-protective-gravel-i2706.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Householders taking the advice of the Association of British Insurers could find a  roller screed  a useful way of levelling concrete paths ready for a crunchy top layer of gravel.  Malcolm Tarling, spokesman for the insurance industry association, says a gravel path is one way of improving home security since the clocks have gone back.  The loose upper covering offers a crunchy warning when somebody is approaching the property - and could alert homeowners to intruders during dark winter...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-11-01T15:00:12Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/diamond-concre5te.jpg</icon>
    <title>Textured concrete could lower workplace risk</title>
    <id>2698</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/textured-concrete-could-lower-workplace-risk-i2698.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Correctly  textured concrete  could help to increase grip in industrial workplaces without introducing trip hazards into the surface of the floor.  A survey from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) places slips, trips and falls among the greatest health and safety risks, according to workplace representatives.  The concern ranks alongside more commonly cited worries including bullying, harassment and stress.  With  textured concrete , employers could give a practical demonstration that they are...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-29T11:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/fb-pro.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete frost blankets could allow DIYers to get some sun</title>
    <id>2697</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-frost-blankets-could-allow-diyers-to-get-some-sun-i2697.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[As the clocks go back on Sunday, October 31st, more home improvement enthusiasts might want to invest in  concrete frost blankets  to allow them to continue working on landscaping the garden and getting some all-important winter sun.  Bridget O'Connell, head of information at mental health charity Mind, warns that some people react badly to the change in time - and the change in light levels that typically accompanies it.  She advises finding exercise wherever possible, even if it means working...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-29T11:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/straightedge-using.jpg</icon>
    <title>Using a straightedge could meet geometrics trend</title>
    <id>2696</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/using-a-straightedge-could-meet-geometrics-trend-i2696.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The smooth grey face of a concrete surface finished to a high standard using a professional  straightedge  could be more on-trend than people might think.  According to Janet Eavenson, owner of Leonard Provence Interiors, there is growing demand for decorations that carry many of the same properties as a  straightedge -finished cementitious surface.  For instance, she notes the desire for geometric lines and shapes in accessories, but also in flooring materials like carpets.  However, it is the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-29T11:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/brushed_finish.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete brush finish could avoid same-level falls</title>
    <id>2695</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-brush-finish-could-avoid-same-level-falls-i2695.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Elderly people who live in bungalows could benefit from a  concrete brush finish  on any exposed floors in their home.  When moving from a cement floor - such as in a laundry room or pantry - on to a different surface, such as carpet, the risk of tripping and falling can be higher.  Sheila Merrill, home safety manager for England at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, says this risk is substantial in terms of the total number of recorded incidents.  &quot;Although the most...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-29T11:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/homebuild.jpg</icon>
    <title>More home starts could see bricklaying tools in demand</title>
    <id>2694</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/more-home-starts-could-see-bricklaying-tools-in-demand-i2694.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Bricklaying tools  could be in greater demand throughout the coming four years as construction industry analyst AMA Research foresees growth in new home starts and completions.  In issue four of its quarterly Housebuilding and RMI Forecasts Bulletin, the research organisation predicts steady positive growth for the coming four years.  During 2009, at the height of the economic turbulence, fewer than 100,000 new properties were started, although completions reached in excess of 140,000.  By...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-29T11:00:02Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/graduate-con-jobs.jpg</icon>
    <title>Constructing Excellence urges members to give graduates experience with concreting tools</title>
    <id>2691</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/constructing-excellence-urges-members-to-give-graduates-experience-with-concreting-tools-i2691.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Constructing Excellence has asked that its members promise to do what they can to give graduates the chance to experience working with  concreting tools ,  bricklaying tools  and other equipment essential to the skilled carrying out of their trade.  The organisation explains that all of the unemployed graduates looking for work in the built environment sector together account for the equivalent of about two per cent of the full-time employed workforce.  As a result, if each company were able to...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-28T17:00:11Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/Bricks+and+tools_2977_19833079_0_0_7017604_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Putting bricklaying tools to work could boost microgeneration</title>
    <id>2690</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/putting-bricklaying-tools-to-work-could-boost-microgeneration-i2690.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Getting to work with  bricklaying tools  could have a knock-on effect for the UK's ability to employ microgeneration to produce electricity on-site at people's homes, suggests the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).  Rather than referring to the direct construction of microgeneration facilites, the industry organisation explains that there is also a need to put  bricklaying tools  to work on the building of modern housing capable of supporting the energy-producing technology.  Director of...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-28T17:00:11Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/navright_prod_power_trowells.jpg</icon>
    <title>Power float users told not to withhold retentions</title>
    <id>2689</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/power-float-users-told-not-to-withhold-retentions-i2689.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The concept of giving a cash retention to secure the services of a professional  power float  user or other flooring contractor is outdated and should not continue, says the Contract Flooring Association (CFA).  According to the CFA, its members are permitted to negotiate terms within their contracts if they so choose; however, they should no longer accept cash retentions.  This is because the association has signed up to the National Specialist Contractors' Council's (NSCC) No Retention...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-28T17:00:11Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/floor_10_1.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete floor saws may be in demand to fit bathroom pods</title>
    <id>2688</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-floor-saws-may-be-in-demand-to-fit-bathroom-pods-i2688.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The growing trend for floorless bathroom pods to be used in construction could see  concrete floor saws  required in order to achieve a good fit of the rooms.  Bathroom and kitchen pods are commonly used in modern buildings to reduce the risks of breakages due to assembling functional rooms on-site, reports AMA Research.  More recently, however, a greater number have been supplied without their own floors, allowing them to be incorporated into the destination building with a level walking...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-28T17:00:10Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/Bricklayer_2977_19705777_0_0_7017601_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Good bricklaying tools could return DIY confidence</title>
    <id>2687</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/good-bricklaying-tools-could-return-diy-confidence-i2687.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Having the right  bricklaying tools  could bring back the confidence of Britons whose previous DIY exploits have left them reluctant to try again.  Research from Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank shows more than a quarter (26 per cent) of disastrous DIYers wish they had called a qualified tradesman in the first place.  One in ten have had to shell out as much as &pound;500 to have their work put right after something went wrong.  But whether building a barbecue or a kitchen extension, having...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-28T17:00:10Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/eco-concrete-formwork.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete forms could help gain access to eco-mortgages</title>
    <id>2686</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-forms-could-help-gain-access-to-eco-mortgages-i2686.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[New eco-mortgages designed to cover the cost of sustainable construction could be available to projects making use of  concrete forms .  The lending from BuildStore aims to ensure householders do not have to cover the capital costs of sustainable construction up-front.  Instead, an extra amount can be added to the mortgage to provide the funds, based on the level of eco-friendliness incorporated into the project.  Everything from energy generation and energy performance to the fabric of the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-27T17:00:32Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/forms.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete formwork 'should be crack-free'</title>
    <id>2680</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-formwork-should-be-crack-free-i2680.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[An expert in older homes has warned that crack-free  concrete formwork  is a must in modern properties.  Roger Hunt, co-author of Old House Handbook, explains that older properties were designed to crack and shift over time.  Lime mortars and renders allowed for this - meaning buildings can experience fairly substantial bulges and cracks without becoming unstable.  Modern structures, however, are often built using  concrete formwork  which can be more resistant to some shocks, but less able to...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-26T18:00:39Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/speedtents_009.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete surface protection could avoid weather interruptions</title>
    <id>2675</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-surface-protection-could-avoid-weather-interruptions-i2675.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Concrete surface protection  may have avoided interruption to construction work in Peterborough during a recent period of bad weather.  Heavy rain meant the planned work to the city centre could not go ahead, reported the BBC.  In particular, the planned special cement surface for St John's Square could not be laid during inclement weather over the summer months.  With rain and frost blankets, cementitious surfaces can be protected against the elements, ensuring that they set naturally through...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-25T18:00:11Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/cemex-truc.jpg</icon>
    <title>CEMEX aims to use concrete tools in support of biodiversity</title>
    <id>2668</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/cemex-aims-to-use-concrete-tools-in-support-of-biodiversity-i2668.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Building materials supplier CEMEX is undertaking an initiative to identify ways of using its  concrete tools  without harming biodiversity in its operating environment.  Through collaboration with environmental organisation BirdLife International, more than 500 of CEMEX's cement and aggregates sites have been assessed to determine those which are located close to sites of particular significance in terms of biodiversity.  &quot;Our ability to operate and access raw materials in a given location...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-22T15:00:13Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete_formwork.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete formwork could help maintain professional standards</title>
    <id>2665</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-formwork-could-help-maintain-professional-standards-i2665.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Concrete formwork  could be the key to keeping good professional standards in the use of ready-mix concrete.  A new publication from Companies and Markets entitled Ready-Mix Concrete: A Global Strategic Business Report looks at different economies and the role that the building material plays in each.  Within the UK, the study claims that ready-mix concrete is of vital importance to the construction industry.  It is ideal for applications where a relatively small amount is required, or where...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-21T17:00:46Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/RO221.jpg</icon>
    <title>Bricklaying tools at work again in Wycombe</title>
    <id>2664</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/bricklaying-tools-at-work-again-in-wycombe-i2664.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Wycombe District Council has been putting its  bricklaying tools    to work once again as it converts Desborough Road's St John's church   buildings into the new Centre for Arts, Creativity and Enterprise.  The buildings are just round the corner from Desborough Avenue, where  bricklaying tools  are already being used in the construction of a new Lidl store.  Now the council is working on bringing the church buildings up to scratch for their new use.  Work has already been done to improve their...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-20T18:00:09Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bricklayers.jpg</icon>
    <title>Users of bricklaying tools told to work leanly for prosperity</title>
    <id>2663</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/users-of-bricklaying-tools-told-to-work-leanly-for-prosperity-i2663.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The turbulent times have placed new demands on users of  bricklaying tools  to collaborate in new ways while adopting lean, sustainable working practices, it is suggested.  Constructing Excellence, which held its annual convention last week, is leading the way on this by bringing its local, regional and national operations under a single governing structure.  Ian Reeves heads up the organisation as chairman for at least the next year, with subsidiaries including the Building Research...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-19T18:00:07Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/tool_hire.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete tool hire could form part of collaborative working</title>
    <id>2661</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-tool-hire-could-form-part-of-collaborative-working-i2661.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[&quot;Collaborative working&quot; in the construction industry could see companies make the most of opportunities within their wider supply chain, such as  concrete tool hire , to deliver projects they might otherwise not be able to complete.  Industry standards organisation Constructing Excellence reports on discussions that took place recently at the Herts &amp; Beds Constructing Excellence Club.  Experts debated whether collaborative working - potentially with open-book accounting and...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-18T16:00:16Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bad-weather2.jpg</icon>
    <title>Unsettled forecast hints at need for rain protection for concrete pours</title>
    <id>2660</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/unsettled-forecast-hints-at-need-for-rain-protection-for-concrete-pours-i2660.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Rain protection for concrete pours  could be in greater demand in the west of the UK in the coming days and weeks.  The Met Office has forecasted an unsettled weather picture for the next 30 days, with showers expected throughout the rest of October and early November.  While no severe weather is currently foreseen, the organisation reports that the north and west could also see temperatures below the usual conditions for the time of year, which could make  concrete frost blankets  a necessity...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-18T16:00:15Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/brush_finish_concrete.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete brush finish could add to floor's appeal</title>
    <id>2653</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-brush-finish-could-add-to-floors-appeal-i2653.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A  concrete brush finish  could leave a floor ready for use in commercial and retail spaces.  ConcreteNetwork.com has published the results of a new survey into attitudes relating to concrete floors - and has found widespread support for the material.  Director of communications Khara Dizmon says: &quot;People will seek out concrete as they try to find a flooring material that will last, be easy to clean, be eco-friendly and allow them the capability to design it the way they want.&quot;  A ...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-15T16:00:29Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/diy.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concreting tools could help homeowners reach DIY targets</title>
    <id>2650</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concreting-tools-could-help-homeowners-reach-diy-targets-i2650.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Ambitious homeowners could find professional  concreting tools  help them to undertake the kinds of DIY projects they have previously been afraid to attempt.  Build It editor Anna-Marie Desouza suggests that there is a balance to strike between the capabilities of the individual and the scale of project that they try to complete.  For instance, she says that most people could probably pick up a patio slab, but that laying 50 of them could prove too much for some.  &quot;Don't overestimate your...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-14T17:00:16Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/light-tower.jpg</icon>
    <title>Disclosure of light tower use may be needed in public sector</title>
    <id>2648</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/disclosure-of-light-tower-use-may-be-needed-in-public-sector-i2648.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[With an increasing focus on public sector expenditure, construction contractors working for public authorities may ultimately be asked to disclose their costs relating to equipment such as  light tower  installations.  A  light tower  can be an important element on a building site, allowing work to continue during the hours of darkness and ultimately reducing the number of days for which a project lasts.  But the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) is working towards...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-13T16:00:10Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/tamp.jpg</icon>
    <title>Lightweight tamp beams could help fit floor slabs in basements</title>
    <id>2646</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/lightweight-tamp-beams-could-help-fit-floor-slabs-in-basements-i2646.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Basement floor slabs - one of the construction materials covered by guidance under the PassivHaus energy efficiency scheme - could be fitted with lightweight tamp beams to smooth over their concrete encasement.  Speaking at the PassivHaus UK conference this week, Chris Huhne, secretary of state for energy and climate change, noted the impact that warmth and illumination have had on homes in the past.  &quot;From the earliest stone houses - complete with smokeholes - to the grandest Georgian...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-13T15:00:14Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/businessman_brick_layer.jpg</icon>
    <title>Bricklaying tools in demand in High Wycombe</title>
    <id>2645</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/bricklaying-tools-in-demand-in-high-wycombe-i2645.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The construction of a new Lidl store in High Wycombe could see  bricklaying tools  in demand in the area later this month.  From October 14th, the car park at Desborough Avenue is to close to the public, paving the way for Lidl's builders to put their  bricklaying tools  to work.  The development follows the completion of a land-sale agreement between the supermarket's owners and Wycombe District Council.  Cabinet member for property services and procurement Councillor Roger Colomb says: "Lidl...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-12T17:00:21Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/safety_gear.jpg</icon>
    <title>Users of concreting tools 'deserve praise' for safety commitment</title>
    <id>2644</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/users-of-concreting-tools-deserve-praise-for-safety-commitment-i2644.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Many members of the Mineral Products Association (MPA) may put particular effort into working safely with their  concreting tools  and plant hire on a day to day basis.  Last week, those who exhibit the highest standards of health and safety were recognised at a ceremony hosted at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, located in London.  Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA, says: &quot;The efforts our members are making to improve health and safety deserve praise and...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-11T17:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/house_slab_in.jpg</icon>
    <title>'Not all users of concrete tools are manufacturing'</title>
    <id>2642</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/not-all-users-of-concrete-tools-are-manufacturing-i2642.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[While it may seem sensible to suggest that everyone who picks up  concrete tools  to build something is working in the manufacturing sector, that may not be so.  In a blog post for the Work Foundation, Andrew Sissons explains that some roles that often get referred to as being in primary industry are actually in the services sector.  Among them are gardeners, who may use  concrete tools  in landscaping work, along with plumbers and cleaners.  His comments follow an article in the Guardian by...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-08T17:00:33Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+tools+feature+in+certificate+of+achievement_2977_800104562_0_0_7031452_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete tools feature in Certificate of Achievement</title>
    <id>2639</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-tools-feature-in-certificate-of-achievement-i2639.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A one-year Certificate of Achievement created by the Concrete Society and University of Derby Corporate covers the process from quarrying to on-site preparation of cementitious materials using  concrete tools .  Richard England, chief executive officer of the Concrete Society, explains that many professionals have previously worked with  concrete tools  for some time without the opportunity of gaining a formal title.  &quot;We realised that we had a lot of very experienced people in the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-07T17:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/homeowners+told+to+take+bricklaying+tools+into+their+own+hands_2977_800102148_0_0_7070907_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Homeowners told to take bricklaying tools into their own hands</title>
    <id>2636</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/homeowners-told-to-take-bricklaying-tools-into-their-own-hands-i2636.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Homeowners planning to renovate their kitchens could find they can cut the cost of any project by taking  bricklaying tools  into their own hands.  Tim Doherty, managing director of the National Self Build &amp; Renovation Centre in Swindon, suggests that there are two different ways to save money on home improvement projects.  The first is to take  bricklaying tools  in hand and undertake both any demolition work required and the subsequent installation of new units and appliances.  In this...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-06T17:00:20Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+tamping+could+lay+foundation+for+economic+recovery_2977_800100048_0_0_7031453_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete tamping could lay foundation for economic recovery</title>
    <id>2632</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-tamping-could-lay-foundation-for-economic-recovery-i2632.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The economic recovery of the UK could be built on a foundation formed by  concrete tamping .  According to the Construction Products Association (CPA), the best way to drive towards the recovery is by maintaining public sector spending on building projects above 2.25 per cent of the nation&#39;s gross domestic product.  This could see spending maintained on  concrete tamping  and construction in areas such as building eco-friendly housing, maintaining good-quality educational structures and...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-05T18:00:06Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/fuel+ash+quality+protocol+could+impact+on+concrete+tamping_2977_800097346_0_0_7033795_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Fuel ash quality protocol could impact on concrete tamping</title>
    <id>2629</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/fuel-ash-quality-protocol-could-impact-on-concrete-tamping-i2629.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Future  concrete tamping  operations could be affected by the Environment Agency&#39;s publication of a quality protocol for fuel ash.  As a bound application of pulverised fuel ash, a byproduct of the coal-fired power plant industry, the material is sometimes used as a cementitious element in concrete.  This can see it added to Portland cement, as a raw material in kiln feeds or used as a filler aggregate, the Environment Agency says.  All of these applications are now covered by the quality...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-04T17:00:12Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/greener+concrete+forms+could+use+fly+ash_2977_800097355_0_0_7045649_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Greener concrete forms could use fly ash</title>
    <id>2628</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/greener-concrete-forms-could-use-fly-ash-i2628.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The possibility of using fly ash in place of Portland cement could see  concrete forms  become a little greener in the future.  Eco-conscious construction resource Sustainable Build notes that existing concrete has some environmental credentials - not least because it is itself hewn from the ground as part of nature.  But scientists at Louisiana Tech University have developed a method of using fly ash in  concrete forms  that they claim could improve sustainability further during the use of...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-04T17:00:11Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+frost+blankets+could+allay+constructor+fears_2977_800097364_0_0_7071417_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete frost blankets could allay constructor fears</title>
    <id>2627</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-frost-blankets-could-allay-constructor-fears-i2627.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Construction professionals&#39; worries about the chances of another harsh winter could be allayed using  concrete frost blankets .  With  concrete frost blankets  in place, cementitious surfaces can be protected against the elements while they are left to set.  This could help to bring peace of mind to individuals and companies whose operations in recent years have been disrupted by extremes of temperature.  Ernst &amp; Young and the Construction Products Association (CPA) have published the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-04T17:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+tamping+helps+flooded+pub+prepare+for+future+risks_2977_800095368_0_0_7059351_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete tamping helps flooded pub prepare for future risks</title>
    <id>2622</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-tamping-helps-flooded-pub-prepare-for-future-risks-i2622.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A Cockermouth pub was able to make use of  concrete tamping  to lay a flood-proof floor after its previous wooden floor was destroyed in November, reports the Morning Advertiser.  The Bush, in the centre of Cockermouth, is in a conservation area, which led to the local council objecting to the idea of using  concrete tamping  to lay a new waterproof floor after water destroyed the old wooden boards.  Licensee Joe Fagan tells the publication: &quot;Mercifully, the contractors did a great job of...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-10-01T18:00:09Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/norfolk+projects+could+see+concrete+finishing+tools+put+to+work_2977_800091791_0_0_7058697_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Norfolk projects could see concrete finishing tools put to work</title>
    <id>2619</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/norfolk-projects-could-see-concrete-finishing-tools-put-to-work-i2619.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Concrete finishing tools  could see action on a number of sites in Norfolk as the county council commences work on two new projects.  The A149 Acle New Road and A149 North Quay are receiving new surfaces, while Little Plumhead Church of England School is undergoing a &pound;5 million upgrade.  At the school site, new facilities are being constructed and, on October 1st, the Rt Rev Dr Alan Winton, Bishop of Thetford, is due to take part in a ceremonial turf-cutting.  Chair of governors Jo...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-30T15:00:12Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+trowels+could+help+keep+mice+at+bay_2977_800091799_0_0_7025403_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete trowels could help keep mice at bay</title>
    <id>2618</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-trowels-could-help-keep-mice-at-bay-i2618.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[With the colder weather coming, some quick work with  concrete trowels  could help to secure homes against the invading threat of mice.  The Express &amp; Star suggests that any holes left open going into winter could prove tempting to the creatures - a problem that could be overcome with the prompt use of  concrete trowels .  However, air bricks should not be sealed; instead, grates should be fitted to make sure that the interior of a home is still well ventilated.  &quot;Mice will be looking...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-30T15:00:09Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/users+of+brick+tools+see+big+business+grow_2977_800089761_0_0_7038596_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Users of brick tools see big business grow</title>
    <id>2610</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/users-of-brick-tools-see-big-business-grow-i2610.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Users of  brick tools  have seen the biggest construction firms grow, while smaller ones are less fortunate, it has been found.  The Construction Index 100 Top Construction Companies 2010 found Balfour Beatty made 15 per cent of the total revenue earned by the best-performing 100 companies in the industry.  However, overall earnings shrank in the sector, with the aggregate turnover of the listed firms down 1.4 per cent on last year at &pound;68.4 billion.  Despite this, not all businesses made...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-29T17:00:20Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/training+must+be+given+to+future+users+of+bricklayers+tools_2977_800089279_0_0_7062755_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Training 'must be given' to future users of bricklayers tools</title>
    <id>2609</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/training-must-be-given-to-future-users-of-bricklayers-tools-i2609.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Future users of  bricklayers tools  must be given the support they need now to ensure a supply of skilled individuals in the construction industry, it is claimed.  The Cross-industry Construction Apprentice Task Force (CCATF) explains that the initial cost of hiring a trainee proves prohibitive for some construction companies.  &quot;The government is demanding the successful and swift transition to a low-carbon economy but, to achieve this, it must create an environment where training is as...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-29T15:00:24Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+forms+could+inspire+poetry_2977_800087318_0_0_7045649_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete forms could inspire poetry</title>
    <id>2608</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-forms-could-inspire-poetry-i2608.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[With National Poetry Day approaching on October 7th, the Chartered Institute of Building is calling for examples of when  concrete forms , sunlight in a new structure or the growth of a property from among the scaffolding has inspired an artistic response from those involved in its construction.  A selection of poems are due to be published on the institute&#39;s website on the day itself, with submissions welcomed until October 5th by email.  Members are asked to identify themselves as such in...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-28T18:00:08Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/bricklayers+tools+used+in+bank+protest_2977_800084669_0_0_7071453_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Bricklayers tools used in bank protest</title>
    <id>2607</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/bricklayers-tools-used-in-bank-protest-i2607.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A property developer put his  bricklayers tools  to work in an unusual way when he bricked up the door to a bank in protest at lending conditions in the UK.  Cameron Hope admits that the branch was not his intended target, as he planned to stage the protest at his local NatWest in Westbourne, Dorset.  But as police were already there responding to an incident, he instead took his  bricklayers tools  to Barclays - who had never rejected him for a loan application.  &quot;It was Plan B and we...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-27T18:00:06Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/chichester+concreting+tools+could+be+put+to+work+on+new+car+parks_2977_800082317_0_0_7043062_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Chichester concreting tools could be put to work on new car parks</title>
    <id>2605</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/chichester-concreting-tools-could-be-put-to-work-on-new-car-parks-i2605.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The publication of a ten-year strategy to enhance car parking in Chichester could have  concreting tools  at the ready for builders in the region.  Chichester District Council explains that it does not intend to do more than is necessary to deliver a good quality of parking facilities.  However, it believes that 60 more spaces are needed in Midhurst and 500 car parking spots in Chichester itself to deal with expected traffic rises in the coming decade.   Concreting tools  could help to deliver...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-24T18:00:02Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/green+deal+could+keep+concrete+tools+in+hands+of+competent+builders_2977_800079235_0_0_7017603_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Green Deal could keep concrete tools in hands of competent builders</title>
    <id>2600</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/green-deal-could-keep-concrete-tools-in-hands-of-competent-builders-i2600.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[As the Green Deal sees  concrete tools  put to work in retrofitting properties nationwide for improved energy efficiency, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) warns that focus must be given to making sure competent professionals carry out the work.  Director of external affairs Brian Berry says: &quot;It is important that those charged with carrying out the energy efficiency improvement work are recognised as competent in order to safeguard householders as well as reputable builders.&quot; ...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-23T15:00:10Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/concrete+finishing+tools+could+offer+acoustic+advantages_2977_800079238_0_0_7067042_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Concrete finishing tools could offer acoustic advantages</title>
    <id>2599</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/concrete-finishing-tools-could-offer-acoustic-advantages-i2599.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[With a preference reported for integrated acoustic design in schools,  concrete finishing tools  could be one way to add noise-diminishing effects to new buildings without the need for costly sound insulation.  Acoustic specialist Ecophon reports discussions which took place at the recent Remodelling Education Spaces conference in Manchester.  Susan Witterick, principal acoustic consultant for Capita Symonds, led the talk entitled Integrated acoustic design in remodelled schools.  The general...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-23T15:00:09Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/london+bricklayers+tools+could+be+kept+busy+by+boris_2977_800079243_0_0_7066415_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>London bricklayers tools could be kept busy by Boris</title>
    <id>2598</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/london-bricklayers-tools-could-be-kept-busy-by-boris-i2598.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced plans that could keep  bricklayers tools  firmly in the hands of the capital&#39;s builders for some time to come.  First Steps for Families aims to make housing affordable to residents of the city who might otherwise be trapped indefinitely in rented accommodation.  The first 250 homes are planned for delivery by next summer, which could keep London builders busy with their  bricklayers tools  over the coming months.  However, the work is not due to...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-23T15:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/best+examples+of+concrete+tamping+could+make+tta+awards+shortlist_2977_800077514_0_0_7050033_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Best examples of concrete tamping could make TTA Awards shortlist</title>
    <id>2596</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/best-examples-of-concrete-tamping-could-make-tta-awards-shortlist-i2596.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[With nominations open for The Tile Association Awards (TTA Awards) 2011, the best examples of  concrete tamping  when preparing a floor to be tiled could be in line for recognition.  A strict deadline of December 17th 2010 is in place for nominations, as the award ceremony itself is due to take place earlier than in previous years.  The projects category could be of particular interest to anyone who has undertaken high-quality  concrete tamping  in the past 12 months.  Awards include a title...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-22T18:00:09Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/floor+saw+blades+may+have+helped+damp+proof+project+at+oxford+university_2977_800077534_0_0_7005749_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Floor saw blades may have helped damp-proof project at Oxford University</title>
    <id>2595</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/floor-saw-blades-may-have-helped-damp-proof-project-at-oxford-university-i2595.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Efforts to improve damp-proofing at a University of Oxford hall of residence may have benefited from the use of  floor saw blades .  The accommodation at Christ Church College had developed an unpleasant smell and a damp problem due to a poorly sealed previous installation.  Oxford Asphalt was tasked with repairing the problem and opted to lay levelling screed with cellular glass insulation, on top of which Permanite Asphalt flooring was set.  &quot;Cellular glass insulation is totally...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-22T18:00:01Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/hotel+verta+may+have+demanded+high+quality+concrete+finishing+tools_2977_800074668_0_0_7063142_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Hotel Verta may have demanded high-quality concrete finishing tools</title>
    <id>2594</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/hotel-verta-may-have-demanded-high-quality-concrete-finishing-tools-i2594.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[The demand for high-quality  concrete finishing tools  in London appears to be stemming from the opening of new hotels catering for high-profile residents.  PricewaterhouseCoopers recently suggested the top-end hotel industry is a sustainable sector that could offer a more reliable long-term revenue stream for London hoteliers than the 2012 Olympic Games.  Now, with the opening of Hotel Verta, it seems the capital&#39;s builders have put their  concrete finishing tools  to work on a structure...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-21T16:00:02Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/careful+concrete+tamping+could+help+prepare+for+climate+change_2977_800072359_0_0_7043670_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Careful concrete tamping could help prepare for climate change</title>
    <id>2593</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/careful-concrete-tamping-could-help-prepare-for-climate-change-i2593.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[As the Committee on Climate Change calls for adaptation in the construction industry in order to prepare for future weather trends, a fresh approach to  concrete tamping  could be part of the solution.  The committee says that ensuring surfaces are able to cope with run-off water, including through the best use of green space, is among the steps that can be taken to ensure the resilience of the UK&#39;s housing stock.  While some of the suggested measures, such as retrofitting older buildings...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-20T16:00:21Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/masonry+brushes+could+help+green+properties+reach+their+potential_2977_800072365_0_0_7017598_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Masonry brushes could help green properties reach their potential</title>
    <id>2592</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/masonry-brushes-could-help-green-properties-reach-their-potential-i2592.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[New-build or refurbished properties being scored under schemes such as the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) could benefit from the use of  masonry brushes  to ensure their brickwork is performing its ecological function.  Figures from Pike Research estimate that, by 2020, 25 billion square feet of buildings will have been refurbished under green assessment criteria - almost as much as the new-build property expected to be constructed to environmental...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-20T16:00:21Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/spenders+and+sports+stars+keep+london+builders+with+bricklayers+tools+in+hand_2977_800072369_0_0_7060265_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Spenders and sports stars keep London builders with bricklayers tools in hand</title>
    <id>2591</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/spenders-and-sports-stars-keep-london-builders-with-bricklayers-tools-in-hand-i2591.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Many London builders could be spending more time with their  bricklayers tools  in hand through until 2012 thanks to the combined effect of the Olympics and the resurgence of the luxury hotels market.  According to figures from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), more than 4,300 new rooms could be built in 2011 - almost twice as many as in an ordinary year.  Even if not all of those planned go ahead, there are likely to be a significant number of  bricklayers tools  being put to work in the capital. ...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-20T16:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/fmb+joining+construction+forum+users+of+brick+tools+told_2977_800069715_0_0_7067883_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>FMB joining construction forum, users of brick tools told</title>
    <id>2587</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/fmb-joining-construction-forum-users-of-brick-tools-told-i2587.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Users of  brick tools  and others working in the construction industry may be interested to learn the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has signed an agreement to work with three other industry organisations in a new alliance.  Consisting of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, the Scottish Building Federation and the National Federation of Builders, the partnership will coordinate their efforts on the Strategic Forum for Construction.  Operating as a round-table for issues in the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-17T13:00:01Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/workers+using+concrete+tools+to+benefit+from+balfour+beatty+roads+project_2977_800069569_0_0_454_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Workers using concrete tools to benefit from Balfour Beatty roads project?</title>
    <id>2586</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/workers-using-concrete-tools-to-benefit-from-balfour-beatty-roads-project-i2586.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Users of  concrete tools  could be about to benefit from a new road-building contract secured in Ireland by Balfour Beatty.  Worth &pound;250 million, the public-private partnership (PPP) deal was awarded by the country&#39;s National Roads Authority and will see work carried out on the N17 and N18 Gort to Tuam highways.  Balfour Beatty chief executive Ian Tyler said he and his organisation are &quot;delighted&quot; to have been chosen for the initiative.  He said: &quot;[This venture] will...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-17T12:00:07Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/user+of+brick+tools+galliford+try+announces+encouraging+year_2977_800067501_0_0_7066816_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>User of brick tools Galliford Try announces 'encouraging' year</title>
    <id>2583</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/user-of-brick-tools-galliford-try-announces-encouraging-year-i2583.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Housebuilder and user of  brick tools  Galliford Try has revealed it experienced a strong year in the construction industry, despite challenging economic conditions.  In the company&#39;s year-end report, it noted pre-tax profits of &pound;19.2 million and a 30 per cent increase in sales currently reserved, news that those in the building sector may find encouraging.  Chief executive of the organisation Greg Fitzgerald stated the firm is &quot;on track&quot; to achieving its housebuilding...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-16T12:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/the+development+could+be+good+news+for+brick+tools+users_2977_800067032_0_0_7070370_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Brick tools users to benefit from Kent housing investment?</title>
    <id>2582</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/brick-tools-users-to-benefit-from-kent-housing-investment-i2582.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Brick tools  users could be about to benefit from the announcement of funding for the delivery of more than 180 new properties in Kent and Medway.  Over &pound;15 million in financing has been provided by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) through its National Affordable Housing Programme and other initiatives.  HCA director in the south-east David Edwards stated: &quot;The HCA funding will attract private sector investment and will provide people more choice and opportunity when it comes...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-16T08:00:02Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/construction+largely+responsible+for+employment+rise+in+scotland_2977_800066821_0_0_7066812_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Construction 'largely responsible for employment rise in Scotland'</title>
    <id>2580</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/construction-largely-responsible-for-employment-rise-in-scotland-i2580.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A boost in the number of people taking on work in the construction sector in Scotland has been largely responsible for employment rates rising in the country.  This is according to Grahame Smith, general-secretary for the Scottish Trades Union Congress, who said the news was welcome.  While he described the growth in the industry as &quot;strong&quot;, he said it is unlikely this performance could carry employment figures for the foreseeable future.  According to Mr Smith, potential weaknesses...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-15T18:00:01Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/new+concrete+tools+guide+available_2977_800064934_0_0_7045649_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>New concrete tools guide available</title>
    <id>2579</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/new-concrete-tools-guide-available-i2579.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[A new guide to  concrete tools  and construction techniques has been published by an international information supplier for the building sector.  KHL Group announced the release of the directory today (September 14th), advising it included features on mining raw materials, mixing, paving and demolition.  In this way it gives a &#39;cradle to grave&#39; view of the subject for contractors as well as for those in other parts of the cement and concrete industry.  Additionally, there will be a...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-14T18:00:05Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/users+of+concrete+tools+should+be+permitted+to+build+more+houses_2977_800063228_0_0_7066857_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Users of concrete tools 'should be permitted to build more houses'</title>
    <id>2575</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/users-of-concrete-tools-should-be-permitted-to-build-more-houses-i2575.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Users of  concrete tools  should be building more houses, one expert has said, suggesting government schemes could actually reduce the construction of abodes.  Director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders Brian Berry argued plans to give communities control over the creation of homes in their region may lead to a greater shortfall in available property.  &quot;A lot of people don&#39;t want new housing developments in their local area,&quot; the specialist asserted, stating...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-13T18:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/users+of+brick+tools+saved+by+morgan+sindall_2977_800061399_0_0_7066624_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Users of brick tools saved by Morgan Sindall?</title>
    <id>2573</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/users-of-brick-tools-saved-by-morgan-sindall-i2573.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Users of  brick tools  may have had their jobs safeguarded today by Morgan Sindall, which announced it had acquired a number of contracts from troubled homebuilder Connaught.  The firm appointed Richard Fleming, Richard Hill and Richard Heis of KPMG as administrators when it went into liquidation on Wednesday (September 8th).  Although it was announced today that 700 people would be made redundant from the Partnerships branch of the business, as many as 2,500 roles have been safeguarded by the...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-10T18:00:03Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/600+jobs+for+users+of+concrete+tools+could+be+created+with+m4+work_2977_800059561_0_0_6042_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>600 jobs for users of concrete tools could be created with M4 work</title>
    <id>2570</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/600-jobs-for-users-of-concrete-tools-could-be-created-with-m4-work-i2570.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[As many as 600 jobs could be made available for users of  concrete tools , when millions of pounds are invested in a link for the M4.  In a development worth &pound;107 million, a 4.8 km road will be provided in Neath Port Talbot, connecting the town to junction 38 of the motorway.  The project is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union and is expected to ease traffic and attract investment.  Economy and transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones stated the money would be made...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-09T18:00:11Z</updated>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <icon>http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/images/users+of+concrete+tools+to+build+m+s+in+ellesmere+port_2977_800057573_0_0_607_300.jpg</icon>
    <title>Users of concrete tools to build M&amp;S in Ellesmere Port</title>
    <id>2569</id>
    <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.speedcrete.co.uk/users-of-concrete-tools-to-build-ms-in-ellesmere-port-i2569.html" />
    <summary><![CDATA[Users of  concrete tools  are set to begin work on the construction of a new Marks and Spencer (M&amp;S) store in the north-west.  According to the Ellesmere Port Pioneer, the 150,000 sq ft development has been nicknamed the &quot;Marble Arch of the North&quot; and is expected to create over 350 jobs.  The store will be the company&#39;s largest outside of London and will include a 950-space car park.  Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Andrew Miller told the newspaper: &quot;I understand...]]></summary>
    <updated>2010-09-08T18:00:04Z</updated>
  </entry>
</feed>


