Red ribbon cut as new SEND unit at Ipswich Academy officially opens
A new Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) unit has officially opened at Ipswich Academy – providing 24 places for students. The unit was delivered in collaboration between Suffolk County Council, Paradigm Trust, Concertus and SEH French, with construction starting in May 2025. The single‑storey building has been gradually welcoming students since earlier this year, […]
From apprentice to director: Paul Rodwell’s journey
The director of one of Suffolk’s largest construction firms said he would not be where he is today were it not for the apprenticeship he took on as a teenager. Paul Rodwell, Director of SEH French, took his first steps into the industry in 1978, having left school at 16 with the aim of starting […]
Movers and Shakers: The big name construction switches in late 2025
In the first instalment of our new Movers and Shakers series, we look at the big names in our region’s construction industry that made moves or rose the ranks in late 2025. The final quarter of 2025 brought with it numerous high profile stories of recruitments and promotions as firms prepped for the New Year. […]
Suffolk construction firm appoints new Contracts Director
An Ipswich-based construction company has appointed a new Contracts Director as it continues to target further growth. Simon Hubert has worked at SEH French for the past 16 years, most recently as the company’s Contracts Manager, with his accomplishments including working on the firm’s biggest project to date. He said he is excited to take […]
Councillors and partners break ground on new community centre in Witham
Building work on Braintree District Council’s multi-million-pound community centre which will provide a versatile social space for residents is underway. Councillors joined representatives from construction company SEH French and design consultancy Ingleton Wood in a traditional breaking of the ground ceremony at the site off Haygreen Road, Witham, on Thursday, June 5. The new community […]
How the region’s construction industry is tackling the skills shortage
The construction industry faces a long-running shortage of skilled workers – particularly in the east of England where demand is among the highest in the UK. There are a host of large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as high targets for housebuilding, which will need a large, skilled workforce to make a reality. However, despite the […]
‘Amazing’ construction dog Merida to embark on therapy training
A popular pooch who has become a familiar face on Suffolk building sites is set to become a certified therapy dog thanks to two local construction firms. Merida the fox red Labrador has joined her owner Steve on building sites across the county since 2023, quickly becoming popular with both site workers and the public. […]
Specialist Spotlight: Simon Girling from SEH French
There is no better place to work in construction than the East of England, says SEH French Director Simon Girling. Our reporter Oliver Sullivan spoke to him in the first of our specialist spotlight series… While a career in construction was never what a teenage Simon Girling had in mind, swapping out his football boots […]
Construction boss urges industry to ‘swap swagger for sympathy’ to tackle mental health problems
A leading construction company is tackling masculine stereotypes, offsetting stigmas and starting conversations about mental health as part of a new initiative to combat industry-wide mental health problems. Ipswich-based SEH French Building, part of One Group Construction, sent all company directors and managers, including contracts and site managers, on a two-day training course to improve […]
Builders find time capsule behind school mural
A time capsule has been found hidden behind a mosaic wall during the construction of a new SEND school in Bungay. Workers from SEH French Construction, the construction firm in charge of the conversion of Bungay Middle School into an 80-place SEND school, discovered the historic capsule while removing a corridor wall. The remnants included […]
