More Focus – Page 467
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Features
The likely lad
At just 30, Christopher Leslie is already the consummate politician. But how much does the man in charge of the ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Regulations actually know about construction? Andy Pearson finds out.
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Features
The new hedonists
Far from succumbing to Islamic fundamentalism, wealthy Gulf clients are throwing up iconic hotels, casinos and paradise islands like there's no tomorrow. Victoria Madine and Martin Spring found out how British firms can slide into construction's new fast lane
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Features
Towering innuendo
Foster and Partner's 'erotic gherkin' tower is rising fast in the City of London
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Features
Cutting through the Bull
The Brummies are getting their city centre back. The infamous concrete mess that was Birmingham's Bullring, is no more. In its place, an accessible, pedestrian-friendly shoppers' paradise is emerging – and not a subway in sight.
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Features
Tender price forecast: Back on track
Despite a dip in orders at the end of last year, the sector is back on track with new workload spurred by generous infrastructure spending, reports Davis Langdon & Everest – but resourcing problems may undermine the sector’s attempts to sustain current levels of output
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Features
Talent scout
John Allen, chairman of engineer John Allen Consulting, talks about the imaginative ideas his firm is employing to attract young people into the industry
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Features
Appointments
ContractorsSchools and colleges specialist Bernard Ward has appointed Stuart Johnstone construction manager for the Cambridge area. Charlie Lacy Scott has rejoined the company as business development executive.Social housing contractor Frank Haslam Milan has appointed Stephen McCoy and Stephen Francis commercial manager and estimating manager respectively. HousebuildersAntler Homes has appointed Rob ...
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Features
Jarvis gets tough on agency
tax-avoidance schemesSupport services group calls on subcontractors to employ direct labour and avoid use of 'composite companies'.
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Features
Mansell to close troubled maintenance arm
Contractor Mansell is closing its loss-making maintenance arm as part of a plan to float on the stock exchange.This decision will mean the closure of four offices in Glasgow, Warrington, Cheshire, Reading, Berkshire and Leeds. The £492m group has yet to finalise details of redundancies at the division, which employs ...
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Features
Shennan in talks over key post at Bluestone
Former Kier National boss Graham Shennan could soon join Morgan Sindall's loss-making regional contracting business Bluestone.¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ understands that Shennan, who left Kier in May, has been offered a specially created role on the board of directors at Bluestone in an attempt to turn the division around.John Morgan, executive chairman of ...
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Features
When Wimpey met Wayne
Last year, fashion guru Wayne Hemingway launched a very public attack on volume housing. So housebuilder Wimpey offered him a job. Marcus Fairs found out what happened next …
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Features
Children of the revolution
IT was supposed to transform the construction industry. Over the past few years there have been incredible technological advances – but for every firm that's using online collaboration and intelligent objects, there are dozens that are sticking to tried-and-tested methods. So how did construction get stuck in the slow ...
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Features
£13m university job helps HBG stay on top in June
Dutch firm is closely followed by Australian contractor Multiplex, which nabs second place from troubled Ballast.
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Features
Who dares, wins
Interim managers are a bit like the SAS of the construction industry – they come in, clear up the mess and get out again – and construction firms are increasingly turning to them for help in difficult times. But why, asks Victoria Madine, doesn't anyone want to talk about it?
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Features
Temporary blip
Katy Butland and Elizabeth Kinloch, consultants at the ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Recruitment Company, compare the pros and cons of temporary and permanent positions
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Features
Appointments
ContractorsContrad Construction has appointed Colin Sims construction manager. He will be responsible for projects in the west London area.Construction group Morgan Sindall's fit-out division has appointed John Scott health and safety manager.HousebuildersSharron Taylor and Pamela Brown (left) have joined Furlong Homes' sales team in its office in Islington, north London. ...
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Features
Cost model: Energy savings
Following April’s budget, landlords can claim tax relief if they invest in energy-efficient technologies. But will these savings cover the extra initial outlay? Patrick Murdock, head of capital allowances consulting at Cyril Sweett, and Simon Harris, associate in the firm’s engineering services cost management team, use the case study of ...
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Features
Wish you worked here?
Earn your true potential! Engineer required to work in jungle. Must be prepared for civil unrest and tough conditions. £60,000+ tax free. Tempted? Well that's where the money is– the 2002 Hays Montrose/¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ international salary survey shows that elsewhere in the world, salaries are largely unchanged
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Features
'Michael told us he was going to go on holiday for a few weeks. We expected him to come back'
After the death of the great architect Sir James Stirling 10 years ago, his partner Michael Wilford (pictured) stepped up to steer the practice forward. Then Wilford suddenly walked out, his partners claim.
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Features
Shadow boxer
Tory construction spokesman Robert Key is something of a country gent – but don't expect him to pull any punches Gordon Brown's latest spending spree or the industry's skills crisis.