The Construction Edition Official Sticker Album, featuring collectable images of construction machinery, is expanding distribution from more than 3,000 UK and Ireland supermarkets into plant and tool hire shops and dealer outlets. Publisher Paul Buist aims to use point-of-sale exposure at firms such as Shire Plant Hire to encourage customers to buy albums and sticker packs for children and young relatives, promoting early interest in plant and equipment. Interested hire shops and equipment dealers are invited to become stockists via The Construction Index contact channel.

Procurement delays on major schemes cut McLaughlin & Harvey Holdings’ turnover by 30% to £612.1m for the year to 30 June 2025, from £870.4m, as multiple large civil engineering and construction projects slipped into mid-to-late 2025/26. Despite the volume hit, operating profit rose to £12.8m and pre-tax profit to £18.2m, with both the Northern Ireland and Scottish construction arms contributing positively. The group reports net assets of £67m, cash of £148m and says most 2025/26 budgeted turnover is already secured in the order book.

Premier Forest Products has acquired Arnold Laver’s Manchester and Reading branches from the administrators of National Timber Group England, immediately safeguarding 36 jobs and planning to expand headcount at the two sites to more than 100. Both locations will now trade under the Premier Forest brand, with operations to be rebuilt and re-staffed to maintain continuity of structural timber and panel product supply into key regional construction markets. The deal follows National Timber Group’s collapse into administration in November after sustained financial pressure across UK timber and construction supply chains.