Google's January 2026 Core Update: What UK Construction Firms Need to Know

Google rolled out a major core algorithm update this week, and early data shows significant ranking shifts in the construction sector. If your website suddenly lost visibility for key tender-winning terms like "civil engineering contractor" or "M&E services London," here's what happened and how to fix it.

What Changed in This Update

Google confirmed on January 8th that they're doubling down on E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). For construction firms, this means Google is now better at distinguishing between:

• Real contractors with track records vs. lead generation sites masquerading as tradespeople
• Technical expertise demonstrated through content vs. generic "we do groundworks" filler pages
• Legitimate business entities vs. thin affiliate sites

The update has hit hardest on service pages that lack demonstrable proof of experience. If your "Structural Steel" page is just 300 words of keyword stuffing with no project examples, case studies, or technical depth, you've likely dropped in rankings.

Why Construction Firms Are Vulnerable

Most UK construction websites we audit have a fatal flaw: they assume expertise without proving it. Google's algorithm now actively penalizes:

• No author attribution: Pages without named authors (e.g., "Written by [Your Technical Director]")
• No credentials shown: Missing CSCS cards, accreditations, memberships (CHAS, Constructionline, etc.)
• No evidence of work: Service pages with zero case studies, project photos, or technical specifications
• Thin content: Pages under 800 words that don't answer searcher questions in depth

"Google wants to see that you've actually swung a hammer, not just optimised for 'commercial fit out contractors near me.'"

3 Immediate Actions to Recover Rankings

1. Add Author Bylines and Credentials

Every service page should have a clear author with expertise signals:

• Name and job title (e.g., "Written by John Smith, Senior Civil Engineer")
• Qualifications (e.g., "MEng Civil Engineering, 15 years experience")
• Link to LinkedIn profile or company bio page

2. Beef Up Service Pages with Real Experience

For each service you offer, add:

• Case studies: "We delivered X project for Y client, overcoming Z challenge"
• Technical detail: Specifications, methodologies, compliance standards
• Visual proof: Project photos, site progress images, completed works
• Third-party validation: Client testimonials, industry accreditations, awards

3. Update Schema Markup

Add structured data to help Google understand your legitimacy:

• Organisation schema: Legal business name, address, founding date
• Service schema: Specific services offered with service areas
• Review schema: Aggregate ratings from Google Business Profile or third-party review sites

How We're Helping Clients Adapt

At Market Maestro, we're conducting emergency audits for construction firms hit by this update. Our recovery strategy includes:

1. Content depth analysis: Identifying thin pages that need 500-1000 additional words of technical expertise
2. Authority signal mapping: Finding where to add credentials, certifications, and project portfolios
3. Author entity optimisation: Creating proper author profiles linked to LinkedIn and company bios
4. Technical SEO cleanup: Fixing crawl errors, improving Core Web Vitals, optimising page speed

Construction firms that quickly add detailed project case studies and author credentials to their key service pages can see meaningful ranking recovery within 7-14 days as Google re-evaluates the improved E-E-A-T signals.

Key Takeaways

• Google's January 2026 update rewards sites that prove expertise, not just claim it
• Add author bylines, credentials, and technical depth to every service page
• Include case studies, project photos, and third-party validation
• Update schema markup to signal business legitimacy and service offerings
• Act fast — rankings can recover in 7-14 days with proper E-E-A-T optimisation

What to Do Right Now

If you've noticed ranking drops this week:

1. Check Google Search Console for traffic dips starting January 8-10
2. Audit your top 5 service pages for thin content (under 800 words)
3. Add author credentials and project case studies to those pages
4. Monitor rankings daily for the next 2 weeks

Need a second opinion? We're offering free 15-minute audits to identify which pages need urgent E-E-A-T fixes. Book below.