It feels like deja vu all over again. I was at the Bauma exhibition in 2019 when I first heard that several UK demolition companies had been raided by officers from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). That news, when it came, was a collection of rumour, speculation and gossip. Even though I asked the…Read moreRead more
Collusion
Is the CMA probing Scottish demolition?
Scotland’s “jobs for pals” scandal
Police in Scotland are investigating a leaked tape recording in which South Ayrshire’s Conservative leader appears to promise to help “pals” win multi-million pound demolition contracts. In the recording of a meeting at the council’s offices in 2023 Martin Dowey – a former police officer – states: “You will be told the quotes are coming…Read moreRead more
Four jailed in latest corruption probe
Three former Keltbray emoloyees and a labour supply specialist have been jailed for their part in yet another corruption scandal to hit the UK demolition industry. At Southwark Crown Court, Arben Hysa was convicted of bribing three Keltbray site managers to secure labour supply contracts for London-based Tony Demolition Workers Ltd worth £15 million. Bribes…Read moreRead more
The sting in the CMA tail
Industry braced for feeding frenzy. Quite why it has taken more than two years, I have no idea. Maybe if your company has a market capitalisation of almost £11 billion, the recovery of a trifling £2.4 million is something you do when you have some spare time on your hands; when you are bored; a…Read moreRead more
Carey facing post-CMA claim
Two years and a handful of days after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) handed down fines of £60 million to 10 NFDC member companies involved in a big-rigging, cover pricing and collusion scandal, it appears that the story is not yet over. Construction Enquirer is reporting this morning that Hong Kong-based developer Circadian Limited…Read moreRead more
The CMA Files – Revisited
On 23 March 2023, following a four-year probe into collusion, bid-rigging and cover pricing, the Competition and Markets Authority handed down fines totalling almost £60 million to 10 members of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors. The magnitude of those fines was unprecedented in the UK demolition sector. Yet, in the two years since, precious…Read moreRead more
BAM and Erith in legal spat
Construction News is today reporting of a legal spat between Brown and Mason and Erith over the awarding of a contract to demolish the Aberthaw Power Station in Wales. Cardiff Council has admitted that it broke procurement law when it awarded the project to Erith after Brown and Mason brought a claim over “multiple breaches”…Read moreRead more
Keltbray workers accused in bribery scandal
The boss of a worker agency allegedly paid bribes to construction site managers, including those involved in the high-profile Battersea Power Station redevelopment, in exchange for subcontracting his staff, a court heard on Wednesday. Arben Hysa, owner of Tony Demolition Workers Ltd, is accused of funnelling regular payments to three managers from Keltbray Ltd to…Read moreRead more
CMA fallout continues to spread
The Competition and Markets Authority has today announced that it has secured the disqualification of another demolition director involved in the unlawful conduct. Nicholas (Nick) Brown – a current director of Brown and Mason – has been disqualified for a period of seven years. Brown admitted being personally involved in two breaches of competition law…Read moreRead more
Similar yet so very different…
The Confederation of British Industry and the National Federation of Demolition Contractors. Both are business organisations. Both claim to speak on behalf of their members. The CBI was incorporated by royal charter ; the NFDC claims to have been created at the behest of Winston Churchill. Both find themselves embroiled in a scandal. But that…Read moreRead more
