London: Wolseley's plight - climaxing in the resignation of chairman Chip Hornsby - is no surprise according to financial commentators.

BEDFORD: Health and Safety professionals are bombarded with data from all kinds of monitoring technology. Interpreting, disseminating and archiving this information are vital parts of the job. Now Casella CEL has simplified the task with its new data management software package that downloads and manages exposure data for a wide range of occupational hazards, including noise and dust.

LONDON: Latest figures from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply show the UK construction sector has continued to contract. 

LEICESTER: The domestic (PTS) and industrial (BSS Industrial) divisions of The BSS Group plc are ready for the amended Part G building regulation, thanks to its BOSSmix range which already meets the new standard. Part G, which was amended in May 2009, means that as of October this year all new buildings will be required to feature valves which limit hot water temperature

LONDON: The building industry took the biggest hit in the recession according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

ABERDEEN: DeWalt has given its support to Repairing Britain, the campaign to secure 250 000 jobs in the construction sector at risk during the recession.

Repairing Britain is designed to boost the UK economy by stimulating the construction industry and encouraging the public and local authorities to take an interest in the maintenance of their homes and community buildings.

COLCHESTER: International Timber has seen a significant increase in demand for Accoya, with sales up 200 per cent in the first five months of 2009. This surge represents the growing popularity of Accoya as a durable, aesthetically pleasing and more sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood.

LEAMINGTON SPA: Build Center has launched a new and improved Timber and Joinery Product Guide following customer feedback on the format. Build Center, Wolseley’s national construction materials merchant, has combined its Timber Guide and Joinery Guide to offer one user-friendly format with an improved layout, making product selection easier.

MILTON KEYNES: Privilege Plus, Plumb Center’s and Parts Center’s discount and account card, has marked its first anniversary by rewarding loyal customer Roger Billings, selected at random in a draw, with £500 credit on his account and a bottle of champagne.

HARTLEPOOL: Expamet Building Products is setting a new standard in product development and level of service with the launch of a new ‘Construction Division’.

WATFORD: Research recently conducted by BRE social scientists demonstrates the business benefits experienced by companies and organisations who operate from low carbon buildings.

SWORDS, Ireland: Ingersoll-Rand today announced that John W. Conover IV has been named president of Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Sector, effective immediately. In addition, he has been elected senior vice president of the company. Conover previously was president of Ingersoll Rand’s Trane Commercial Systems, Americas, business. He will report directly to Michael W. Lamach, president and chief operating officer.

DERBY: Baxi, the boilermaker, is close to agreeing a 1.7bn euro merger with De Dietrich Remeha Group, its smaller Dutch rival. The move would allow the Derby-based group to address its mounting debt problem.

SWORDS, Ireland: Ingersoll-Rand announced today that it has completed its reorganization changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the parent company of Ingersoll Rand from Bermuda to Ireland.

LONDON: The sale of construction products continues to decline despite talk of ‘green shoots' in other parts of the economy, according to the latest Ernst and Young/ Construction Products Association activity barometer, which has delivered a figure of zero for the very first time. 

READING: Wolseley has announced that Chip Hornsby has stepped down as group chief executive with immediate effect and that Ian Meakins will succeed Mr Hornsby with effect from 13 July 2009.

LONDON: Regeneration will stall for many years unless councils are allowed new ways to raise money to kick-start development, a new report claims today.

LOCKERBIE: One of Scotland's largest independent sawmillers, James Jones & Sons, is pleased to announce that construction of its new £22.5m state of the art sawmill, at Lockerbie in South Scotland is at an advanced stage. Designed to complement and enhance existing on-site infrastructure and wood processing capabilities the new 'super-site' establishes Lockerbie as one of the UK's largest timber processing sites.

LONDON: Last night it emerged that the just under half the extra £1.5bn pledged by government for its house building programme will come from reallocation of existing spending.

ITALY: Twenty-eight regions have now had Natur-kraft 6mm biomass pellets confiscated following a warning issued by the Italian Government earlier this month. The pellets, originally from Lithuania, have been found to contain radioactive cesium-137. When heated, the ash could prove to be a hazard to health, the Italian Government stated. 

LONDON: Investment advisers, Barclays Wealth, think Travis Perkins' shares worth a premium. 

Andrew Miller at Barclays Wealth said: "The price is justified by the group's strong management team, its leading position in both the DIY and building merchants markets, its superior margins and consequently its ability to discourage price competition."

LONDON: Figures from the Bank of England yesterday confirmed that the banks and building societies remain reluctant to lend to any but the most secure of businesses and home buyers. 

CARSHALTON: Walkers Builders Merchants will be Carshalton Athletic's new front-of-shirt sponsor this season.

LONDON: Builders, contractors and diy stores showed some of the largest profit falls in the Sunday Times Top Track 1900 ranking of Britain's biggest private companies published yesterday.

LONDON: There is a large market for refurbishing 1960s flats to achieve a 60% reduction in carbon emissions, says a new report.

LONDON: The market for eco home improvements products has been set back with a planned requirement for homeowners to include eco measures in home improvements.