Build-Online.com, the Irish-founded website aimed at the construction industry, launched in the UK this week. It will now target the £62.5 billion sterling (€102 billion) UK construction industry for business-to-business e-commerce activity. It is estimated the potential savings of online trading for the European construction sector could be around £18 billion.

Build-Online says it now has more than 50 per cent of Irish construction industry buyers signed up to its service. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is using the site's project collaboration tools to manage the renovation and redevelopment of the £23 million Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.

The tools link five of the Republic's principal design teams - including a number of specialist consultants - to allow the contract for renovation to be awarded by May 2000. Participants can access and submit information, including spreadsheets and drawings, at one central point.