In today’s digital-first world, news platforms play a crucial role in shaping perceptions, influencing decisions, and disseminating critical information. Within the UK’s bustling construction industry, Construction Enquirer has carved a niche as one of the most-read online sources for industry news, updates, and opinions. With a loyal readership that includes contractors, suppliers, engineers, architects, and policymakers, Construction Enquirer holds substantial sway over the sector.
But who owns Construction Enquirer? Who stands behind its editorial decisions, its growth trajectory, and its reputation for reliable, to-the-point news coverage?
This article explores in depth the ownership, leadership, and influence of Construction Enquirer—revealing how it operates, who runs it, and what makes it such a vital part of the UK’s construction media landscape.
Construction Enquirer is a UK-based online construction news platform. It provides daily updates on a wide array of topics relevant to the construction industry, such as:
Project wins and losses
Contract awards
Business news and company performances
Industry trends and regulations
Health and safety alerts
Major appointments and leadership changes
It is widely recognized for its straightforward reporting style, often delivering short, punchy news updates that busy professionals can consume quickly. This user-friendly approach has led to its popularity among site managers, estimators, consultants, and senior leadership across the construction industry.
Construction Enquirer was founded in 2010 during a period when many traditional construction publications were struggling with print-to-digital transitions. Unlike competitors that began in print and later migrated online, Construction Enquirer was born digital, positioning it perfectly for an evolving media environment.
The platform was launched to provide fast, reliable news tailored for busy professionals in construction who didn’t have time for long-winded reporting or heavily advertorial content. The goal was to become the go-to online news source for the industry—accessible, trustworthy, and consistently updated.
Construction Enquirer is independently owned and operated, which sets it apart from many large trade publications often controlled by corporate media groups. The platform is published by Construction Enquirer Limited, a private company registered in the United Kingdom.
The key individuals behind Construction Enquirer are Aaron Morby and Grant Prior, two journalists with extensive experience in construction media. They serve as both co-founders and editors, and have been instrumental in shaping the tone and growth of the platform.
Aaron Morby is a seasoned construction journalist who previously worked at Contract Journal, a well-known UK construction publication that ceased operations in 2009. After the closure of Contract Journal, Morby and his colleague Grant Prior saw an opportunity to fill the news vacuum for construction professionals, leading to the birth of Construction Enquirer.
Morby is known for his sharp industry insights, quick reporting, and strong network of contacts across the UK construction sector. He plays a leading editorial role and is involved in content creation and platform strategy.
Grant Prior, like Morby, also previously worked for Contract Journal and brought a strong editorial background to the Enquirer. He co-manages the daily news output and contributes to the platform’s growth through digital innovation and partnership building.
Together, Morby and Prior represent a blend of journalistic integrity and entrepreneurial drive. Their shared background gives the publication a clear editorial vision: focused, accurate, and built around the needs of the industry.
The legal entity that owns and publishes Construction Enquirer is Construction Enquirer Limited, incorporated in the UK under company number 07292072. The company is classified under "Publishing of newspapers" and operates as a privately held business.
As of the latest publicly available records:
Directors: Aaron Morby and Grant Prior
Ownership: Both co-founders hold significant ownership stakes
Location: The company is based in the UK, with no affiliations to larger multinational publishing houses
The private nature of the company allows it to maintain editorial independence, free from the pressures of shareholders or corporate media agendas.
Unlike subscription-based platforms, Construction Enquirer operates on a free-to-access model, meaning anyone can read the content without a paywall. Its revenue primarily comes from:
A significant portion of the platform’s revenue is generated from display ads. Construction Enquirer offers advertising space to:
Construction suppliers and manufacturers
Recruitment firms
Training providers
Equipment and machinery companies
With a large daily readership of construction professionals, advertisers see value in reaching a highly targeted audience.
The platform occasionally publishes sponsored posts or partner content. These are clearly marked to distinguish them from editorial news and are typically focused on promoting new technologies, services, or projects.
Construction Enquirer also features job listings and recruitment services targeted at construction roles. These listings are either promoted directly or via partnerships with specialist recruitment firms.
The combination of free access, targeted readership, and high visibility for advertisers makes it a sustainable and appealing business model.
One of Construction Enquirer’s major strengths is its editorial independence. Since the platform is privately owned and operated by experienced journalists rather than a corporate conglomerate, it has the flexibility to report fearlessly on industry matters.
The editorial tone is:
Unbiased and fact-driven
Concise and practical
Transparent and objective
Readers trust Construction Enquirer for its no-nonsense approach. It rarely indulges in sensationalism and avoids fluff reporting, making it a reliable source of information.
Today, Construction Enquirer is considered one of the most influential online construction publications in the UK. Its daily news updates are widely read, shared, and referenced within the industry.
Over 100,000 unique monthly users
Thousands of newsletter subscribers
High engagement on LinkedIn and Twitter/X
Strong readership among contractors, consultants, developers, and suppliers
Construction Enquirer’s news often gets cited by larger media platforms and discussed in boardrooms and on construction sites across the UK.
The UK construction media landscape includes several well-known names, such as:
Building Magazine
Construction News
The Construction Index
New Civil Engineer (NCE)
What differentiates Construction Enquirer is its:
Digital-first strategy from inception
Free access model
Lean editorial team with a journalistic background
Focus on practical, brief, and business-relevant news
While Building Magazine and Construction News focus more on long-form features, research, and policy debates, Construction Enquirer zeroes in on fast, actionable news.
While the platform is widely respected, it is not without its challenges and critiques:
Due to its focus on short-form content, some critics argue that the Enquirer does not dive deep enough into investigative journalism or sector analysis.
As with any ad-supported platform, there’s always the question of how advertising partnerships might impact editorial freedom. However, the Enquirer has largely maintained a reputation for neutrality.
Being a small, tightly run operation has its pros and cons. While it's agile, it can also limit the volume of content produced daily compared to competitors with larger teams.
With its established reputation, loyal readership, and robust business model, Construction Enquirer is well-positioned for future growth. Areas where the platform could expand include:
Multimedia content (videos, podcasts)
More regional coverage across UK cities
Interactive features such as data dashboards
Expansion into sustainability and tech coverage
Given the constant evolution of the construction sector—especially in areas like digital transformation, net-zero commitments, and supply chain modernisation—Construction Enquirer has plenty of room to grow while staying true to its roots.
To answer the question: Who owns Construction Enquirer? — it is independently owned by Aaron Morby and Grant Prior, two experienced journalists and entrepreneurs who have built the platform from the ground up. Operating under Construction Enquirer Limited, they continue to lead the editorial and business direction of the publication.
What sets Construction Enquirer apart is not just its ownership structure, but its unique value proposition: fast, accurate, and accessible construction news tailored for industry professionals. In an age where trust in media is constantly scrutinized, Construction Enquirer stands out as a transparent, reader-first platform that has earned its reputation through hard work, consistency, and clarity.
Whether you're a contractor, architect, quantity surveyor, or policy advisor, Construction Enquirer remains a trusted name—thanks to the dedication of its independent founders and its clear mission to serve the UK construction community.
