Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

Monday, 15 December 2025, 6:10 pmPress Release: SEAB Painting New Zealand’s painting and decorating services industry is navigating changing market conditions, with non-residential construction driving growth as residential building activity slows. According to IBISWorld New Zealand Industry Analysis 2025, the sector is estimated to reach $2.0 billion in 2025-26 with 1.7% annual growth, with Auckland maintaining the highest concentration of painting enterprises nationwide.The shift in market dynamics is prompting painting contractors to emphasise maintenance and renovation work alongside new construction projects. SEAB Painting, a certified Master Painters firm operating in the Auckland region, has positioned itself to address both residential…

Recently while performing some plumbing repairs, I realized that my abilities had become a little rusty (no pun intended). After a few mistakes and re-dos, I finally got the process right. I was working with CPVC pipe coupled with joints of varying angles and threaded connectors, both metal and CPVC. It had been 20 years since I did any plumbing repairs and regretfully I forgot some of the CPVC basics. After the first mistake it started coming back to me quickly. The first thing I remembered was when all the joints are finally glued together and the water system is…

Allcott Hire Pty Ltd has been fined $90,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.The proceedings arose from an incident on 18 May 2022, when Allcott Hire Pty Ltd hired out two sets of incomplete and unsafe scaffolding to a licensed builder for use.The hired scaffolding had no toe boards and an inadequate number of horizontal braces, trapdoor platforms and stabilisers.The incomplete scaffolding had the potential to expose workers to a risk of falling from a height greater than 2 metres while undertaking work on and from the scaffolding.Allcott Hire Pty Ltd…

THE Duchess of Sussex reportedly has no plans to see her dad again – just days after Thomas Markle’s leg was amputated. The 81-year-old underwent life-saving treatment after his left leg was amputated below the knee. Sign up for the Royals newsletter Thank you! Meghan Markle reportedly has no plans to see her dad Thomas again following his amputation The Duchess of Sussex is not expected to fly out to see him in hospital in the Philippines Meghan has not spoken to her dad since before her 2018 wedding to Prince HarryCredit: Getty He was rushed to hospital in the…

Fired Earth, a tiles, bathroom and interiors specialist operating out of Adderbury, near Banbury, closed all 20 of its branches in October, which resulted in 133 job cuts, after it reported operating losses of £1,662,361 for the financial year up to September 2024. Now, Topps Tiles has revealed that it has snapped up the Fired Earth brand, IP, website and around £2.5 million worth of stock amid a slower growth at the start of its financial year. READ MORE: Former private school employee accused of sexually assaulting pupils The Leicestershire-based company said it paid around £3 million to snap up…

A teenager has been jailed for the manslaughter of a father-of-three in West Sussex. Paul Lawrence, 51, died following an assault in Gladonian Road, Littlehampton, on 28 January 2024. A 17-year-old … A teenager has been jailed for the manslaughter of a father-of-three in West Sussex. Paul Lawrence, 51, died following an assault in Gladonian Road, Littlehampton, on 28 January 2024. A 17-year-old … For more information, visit MyTradeLinks.

As the UK gets a taste of warmer summer weather, Brits have been advised to keep doors, windows and curtains shut – and here’s whyNicola Roy Trends Writer and Chloe Dobinson09:50, 18 Aug 2024This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn morePeople are being urged to protect their homes against the heat(Image: Getty Images)The recent warm spell across the UK has led to uncomfortably hot homes and a surge of unwelcome pests. But as the nation finally gets a taste of summer, even late into August, residents are being advised…

East Sussex County Council is forecasting a £54 million shortfall and will consider savings proposals at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, December 16. A report for the meeting sets out new savings totalling a little under £3.1 million, in addition to £3.2 million in ongoing savings due in 2026/27. A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: “It is clear that we continue to experience sustained higher demand for services, more complex needs amongst those seeking support and increased costs, particularly in children’s services and adult social care, beyond our best estimates at the time of planning for the current…

Image caption, Concerns have been raised about an older version of the box made from black plasticArticle InformationAuthor, Katie HunterRole, BBC Scotland2 October 2025A piece of electrical equipment found in hundreds of thousands of homes across the UK could pose a safety issue, according to industry documents seen by BBC Scotland News.Every home has a small box called a cut-out which links the mains electricity cable outside a property with the wires inside.Guidance issued to meter operators highlighted concerns that an older version, made from black plastic, could overheat in some circumstances.A retired engineer told the BBC the units had…

UK residents send around 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging to landfills during the Christmas period, due to improper recycling [1]. Online shopping, which surges in the leadup, creates five times more packaging emissions than in-store purchases, with delivery boxes, bubble wrap, and protective materials adding to the waste mountain[2]. Read more here: Click Here