¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ

Features

Alun Michael

2005-10-14T00:00:00Z

Once upon a time, the government saw construction as a vital lever for regulating the economy, and gave it an entire minister. These says it gets an average of seven minutes of Alun Michael’s day. So what can he accomplish in that time?

Features

Top 200 Consultants 2005: Class acts

2005-10-14T00:00:00Z

It’s Friday night and that means it’s time for … erm, ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ’s eagerly awaited annual consultants’ league. Before we count down the top 200, Katie Puckett and Richard Heap pick out the highest climbers, hottest new entries, bestselling acts – and a rather familiar group in the number one spot ...

Features

The blame game

2005-10-14T00:00:00Z

As soon as Mowlem’s accounting difficulties hit the news last month the race was on to find the person responsible. ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ reports on the unseemly row between the past three chief executives over their financial problems and the impact they have had on the company …

Features

¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ intelligence Q2 2005: Ups and downs

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Construction was a mixed bag in the second quarter of this year, reports Experian Business Strategies, as new work orders went up 12%, output dropped 13%, London’s R&M output declined and everywhere else’s increased …

Features

Driving force

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Five thousand workers lost their jobs in the tragic, well-publicised closure of MG Rover’s Longbridge factory. Now, there is a scheme to retrain them that could also help ease the construction industry’s skills crisis. A brilliant solution – so why won’t more firms jump on the bandwagon?

Features

Good wood

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Timber is an ideal construction material for housing: warm and inexpensive as well as low in carbon emissions. ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ looks at four homes in the frame for this year’s Wood Awards

Features

Appointments

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Movers and shakers this week...

Features

I’ll be seeing you …

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Stephen Williams has just been appointed head of construction at the Health and Safety Executive. As ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ discovered, he is a man with an intense interest in the industry – and plans personally to visit as many sites as possible.

Features

The defeated champions

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Tessa Jowell has become the ministerial design champion. ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ asks how she can succeed where so many have failed, while Peter Stewart, assesses if government is now wise to design

Features

Private sector housebuilder of the year: Winner St James Homes

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Cultural values may not be at the top of every private housebuilder’s priorities but they are at St James Homes – which is why it won this award sponsored by Home Service (GB)

Features

Affordable Housing Provider of the Year: Winner Dominion Housing Group

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

A high satisfaction rate among tenants is just one indication that Dominion can hold its own against its competitors in the private sector and it well deserved this Fusion ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Systems-sponsored award

Features

Best supply chain or partnering innovation: Winner Widacre homes and circle anglia

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Widacre Homes and Circle Anglia jointly took the prize for their dedication to partnering which has led to much faster completion times

Features

Best Training Innovation : Winner Keepmoat

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Keepmoat walked off with this Technical Resourcing-sponsored award for the innovative way it has tied business expansion to its commitment to training

Features

Best Technical, IT or product innovation: Winner United House

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

United House got the green light with this Smart New Homes-sponsored award for its colour-coded online housing refurbishment programme

Features

Best off-site innovation: Winner pace timber systems

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

To win this Mtech Group-sponsored award Pace Timber Systems has produced a whole even greater than its parts

Features

Customer service team of the year: Winner midas homes

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Midas Homes’ zero-tolerance of defects and its personal touch gave it the edge over strong rivals to win this Rationel Windows UK-sponsored award

Features

Energy-efficient housebuilder of the year: Winner persimmon homes

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Persimmon has been rewarded for its wide range of energy-aware policies, both for today and for the future, in this Energy Saving Trust-sponsored category

Features

Urban Housing Development of the Year: Winner The Matrix, entered by Davis Duncan Architects

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

Davis Duncan’s distinctive design transformed a bleak urban triangle and won it this award

Features

Rural housing development of the year: Winner Charlton Down, entered by Bellway Wessex

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

A clever use of traditional detailing in a modern setting won Bellway Wessex this award, sponsored by Powergen

Features

Best public-private partnership: Winner Midas Homes/Devon & Cornwall HA

2005-10-07T00:00:00Z

A practical attitude to partnership brought triumphant results from Midas Homes and Devon & Cornwall Housing Association, who won this award