Blog


Construction news, industry updates and an insight into SHMS Contracting behind the scenes.

HMRC IR35 Self Assessment Tool

HMRC admits no evidence surrounding IR35 tool accuracy

By Stephen Humphreys | 05/04/2018

HMRC have admitted that they have no detailed information with regards to whether their IR35 Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool actually produces accurate tax bracket designations.  Contractors use the tool as a self-assessment test to see whether or…

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Beast from the East causes decline in construction

Beast from the East causes biggest drop in construction activity since Brexit vote

By Stephen Humphreys | 04/04/2018

Thanks to the severe weather faced in the UK in March of this year, the UK construction industry saw a huge drop in activity. This is the biggest drop since the Brexit vote in late June 2016.  Civil engineering also…

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Carillion sign

Total number of Carillion job losses passes 1700

By Stephen Humphreys | 26/03/2018

A further 123 job losses at engineering giant Carillion this week has brought the total number up to over 1700.  Following the collapse of the company in January of this year, more than 9,000 employees have been found ongoing employment.…

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Encouraging Women In Construction

How can we encourage women into the construction industry?

By Stephen Humphreys | 22/02/2018

“Women from a young age need to be more aware of the roles available within construction. There is a preconceived idea that the industry is predominantly boots and muck but there is much more to us than just that.”

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Pimlico Plumbers inflatable van

Pimlico Plumbers workers’ rights case draws to close in Supreme Court

By Stephen Humphreys | 21/02/2018

The highly-reported Pimlico Plumbers case will draw to a close today in the UK Supreme Court.  The case, which disputes workers’ rights after Pimlico Plumbers engineer Gary Smith claims he was unlawfully dismissed, has brought about much-needed discussion over the divide…

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Waverly Hills Sanitorium

6 Spookiest Haunted Buildings EVER!

By Stephen Humphreys | 24/10/2017

Having a contracting company dealing mainly with the construction industry, the fact that we love buildings hopefully comes as no surprise! What might shock and spook you, though, are some of the most haunted buildings EVER!

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