Careers features
The state of play 02: Consultancy
In the second of our sector-by-sector reports, Ian Withers looks at the strategies consultants are adopting to meet the challenges of uncertain times
Careers in sustainability: Pioneers of the eco economy
Behind initiatives such as the London 2012 legacy and the Regeneration Project lies a fundamental rethinking of the way that society and economic systems need to work. And that’s going to need an entirely re-skilled construction industry
Feature: Colombia is open for business
Poor, dangerous and corrupt is the image many of us have of Colombia, so why would anyone want to go and work there? Because the country is changing fast and needs UK firms as badly as UK firms need the work it can offer.
China market report: Once upon a time in the East
No country is changing at such a mind-boggling pace as China - now the largest construction market in the world and with new cities sprouting up all over the land. So is this the right time to be trying to muscle in on the market - or will fears of a crash and a highly protected sector ward off UK companies? Sarah Richardson reports from China
University Technical Colleges: Dumbing down
Until January of this year, University Technical Colleges were fast gaining favour as a way of attracting new talent into our industry. Then, out of the blue, education secretary Michael Gove downgraded vocational qualifications, putting the feasibility of the programme in question. Building asks whether the government is making a dunce of construction
High Speed 2: Jobs on the line
HS2 has got off to a speedy start by appointing its first-phase consultants in just three weeks. But the real wow-factor of this mega-project is that it could employ thousands of construction workers over more than two decades. Building assesses the opportunities ahead
Sparks fly: The row over electricians' wage agreements
The decision of seven major M&E contractors to break away from the 40-year-old JIB wage agreement was prompted by an ‘urgent need to modernise’ but has already led to angry clashes between workers and police. Building reports on a row that threatens to become the sector’s biggest industrial relations dispute in 15 years
Asia markets: ‘Anyone who is not looking at Asia should be’
UK firms have known about the boom in Asia for some time, but now it’s become a region they simply cannot afford to ignore. Emily Wright reports on a part of the world that will spend $440bn a year on infrastructure
The Building Good Employer Guide: What’s the winning combination?
Employers have a dilemma: the pressure is on to reduce staff costs but also to retain the best talent to bolster business. Our guide reveals new trends in benefits offered by the firms that are ahead of the game
Survival of the fittest: Courses to improve your CV
Is your CV as good as it could be? With 2012 looking tough, now’s the time to upskill and gain knowledge to win the race for jobs and further your career. Here are three courses that could put you in the fast lane
Q&A with the RICS: The new qualification
The RICS’ new AssocRICS qualification has been met with scepticism and accusations of devaluing the profession. Building talks to executive director Mark Walley about why a creating a new path into the institution is a good thing for everyone
Top 200 consultants survey: Are you positive?
This year’s Top 200 consultants survey shows that staff numbers and salaries are finally climbing. But it also warns not to let the optimism go to your head
Working in Mongolia: Getting warmer
Mongolia is famous for many things, and being a hotspot of construction activity is not among them - but perhaps it should be. Thanks to a booming economy, the country is developing at a rate of knots. Building finds out why it’s well worth braving the cold
Reconstructing Japan: Construction opportunities
British firms are vying for a chance to be involved in the 23 trillion yen rebuilding of disaster-hit Japan, but with such capable local contractors, the trick is knowing where to offer expertise. Building reports
Top 150 Contractors and Housebuilders 2011
Looking at recent trading updates you’d be forgiven for thinking that the industry was on the road to recovery. But there’s a few big hurdles to jump over yet, and this will take some time. Martin Hewes’ annual league tables of the UK’s top contractors and housebuilders show exactly how far we have to go and who’s getting ahead
The Middle East: Back from the brink?
The Middle East crash meant job losses and unrecovered debts for many construction firms - and a scaling back of operations. Now, with infrastructure investment and a World Cup to prepare for, it might be worth taking another look. Emily Wright surveys the landscape in Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Brazil: Seek your fortune
Across the Atlantic lies a land of opportunity with £182bn to invest by 2013, the world’s biggest sporting events to host, and new-found oil. Luke McLeod-Roberts finds adventure - and adversity - in Brazil
Rise of the machines: BIM and QSs
With building information modelling now carrying out many traditional QS functions, are quantity surveyors and their slide rules about to meet a sticky end? Or can man and machine live (and work) happily alongside each other?
Hands up if you can cut 20%
We’re all more or less signed up to the government’s target of cutting 20% off costs in the next four years (or so we say). But how we do it is still the subject of fierce debate. Building asked three construction professionals what they would do
Legal tax avoidance: No place to hide
Legal tax avoidance is practised widely, but with mounting pressure from protest groups and the chancellor, is it still worth it? Here we weigh the financial benefits against the reputational risk
What happens to construction bosses when they leave?
We track down the bosses who once commanded the biggest firms in construction and reveal their new roles away from the limelight
Social networking: So tweet me
Gone are the days when social networking was seen as the procrastinator’s distraction of choice. As the construction industry is fast discovering, it is a useful business development tool. We consider the benefits – and dangers – of entering the Twittersphere
World in action: Top global markets
Global construction spend will reach £7.5tn by 2020, according to a report out this week. But only a tiny fraction of that will take place on UK soil. So where are the predicted hotspots and how can you tap into the world’s fastest growing markets?
Home truths: Localism and development
The government maintains that localism will boost development, but the latest planning figures show the exact opposite. Just how scared should developers be by this new political reality?
Architects and recession: Battered, bruised and broke
Architects have taken a beating over the past two years, but have they suffered any permanent damage? How are the UK’s top listed practices faring, and what impact is the recession having on design quality?
The beautiful game: World Cups in Qatar and Russia
England’s loss of its World Cup bid could be the UK construction industry’s gain. Qatar and Russia have billions of dollars to build stadiums and infrastructure from scratch but, says Roxane McMeeken, it’s us Brits that have the relevant talents and experience. So how easy will it be to win the work?
Casualties and survival tactics for 2011
If 2010 was the year of the wreckage, then 2011 has to be the year of crawling out of it
Where the work will be in 2011
Construction companies will have to find new markets to carry them through 2011
Irish contractors on the hunt for work in the UK
The Celtic Tiger has roared its last and now stalks the land looking for work and a way to survive. For many in construction this means looking abroad for sustenance - and the UK is its natural prey. So how afraid should we be?
Doing an MBA: Ready for lift-off?
It takes time, effort and money. But doing an MBA can also help you raise your game and take both your career, and your thinking, to the next level
Hays International Salary Survey 2012: Rich in oil
Engineers, QSs and contractors can expect huge pay rises of up to £100k in the gas, oil and mineral mining sectors of the southern hemisphere and Canada. Emily Wright reports on the the multibillion-pound sectors fuelling construction as Hays International Salary Survey drills down into the data.
From London to Rio: Opportunities ahead of 2016 Olympics
For firms fresh from the successful delivery of the London Olympics, there is one obvious next port of call. Emily Wright and Anna Reynolds take a closer look at the opportunities available ahead of Rio 2016
Sustainability in China: A great leap forward?
New building codes in development, a fledgling eco rating system and an influx of western expertise - are these signs that China is finally pushing forward with energy efficiency? Building reports on the rise of sustainability amid the world’s most relentless construction boom
Class of London 2012: Apprentices on the Olympic park
The Olympic Delivery Authority bucked the trend of cutting investment in training and took on 457 apprentices on the Olympic park rather than the 100 planned. Emily Wright finds out how this has paid off
Predictions for 2012: The year of the groundhog
So what does 2012 have in store? Well, there’s the Olympics, of course, and some potentially interesting developments in nuclear power and infrastructure. But mostly it will be a year of battening down the hatches. There will be recklessly low bids for work, some firms will go under, others will seek refuge in emerging Asian markets. Hang on, this all sounds very familiar …
High drama: Review of 2011
It’s been a year of break-ups, make-ups and dramatic exits against the backdrop of a bleak economy and widening gap between the rich and poor. Building looks back at the plot and its main players
Donald Lawson: Bigger and better
Faithful + Gould boss Donald Lawson knows a thing or two about consolidation thanks to Atkins’ takeover 15 years ago. He tells Building how it got the firm to where it is today
The Building Good Employer Guide: Pathfinders
If companies are to navigate through the downturn and out the other side, they need to make some crucial strategic and staffing decisions. Building asks some of the most forward-thinking firms where they’re heading and how
Specialist contractors: Five things to ask the genie
What could help specialist contractors out of the fix they’re in? Iain Withers applies a bit of elbow grease and works up a wishlist
SMEs and bank lending: Hell to pay
Need a loan? Easy - just agree to put down a hefty whack of collateral, pay the exorbitant interest rates and meet the gobsmacking bank charges. Then sign here … (preferably in blood) … and watch your business grind to a halt. Building reports on the pacts construction SMEs are facing to get funding
Recruiting for a sustainable future
The specialist at Allen & York claims there is a major increase in roles within the sustainability industry
The young and the self-made
In this unforgiving market, starting a career in the construction industry can seem an impossible task. But inspiration may be found in some young entrepreneurs who have taken their fate into their own hands.
Investing in training: Forward thinking
It’s tempting to cut when times get hard, but investment in training and developing new talent is vital to the industry’s future. Here’s how three major firms are offering tomorrow’s leaders the chance to learn the skills they’ll need
Sustainability in Brazil: For the trees
Brazil is famous for sustainability: a lack of it. But a new wave of green legislation and client requirements is creating demand for skills local contractors don’t have - and UK specialists are first in line for the work. Luke McLeod-Roberts reports in the second of our special features on Brazil
Consultant growth strategies: Eyes on the prize
If the top UK consultants want to stay at the top they need fast ways to grow, and that’s not easy in a stagnant market. So the hunt is on to find suitable mergers, acquisitions and overseas ventures. Building reports on the latest manoeuvres in the sector
Upgrade your toolkit: Career advice
Construction professionals must keep up with the rapid technological, regulatory and social changes sweeping across the industry. We report on the crucial areas to add to your knowledge toolkit
Supermarket sweep: Construction opportunities
Supermarkets are bucking the retail downturn, and now they’re either going supersize or micro. Whichever option they choose, there’s going to be a ton of construction work
Working in Qatar: First person
The EC Harris partner in Qatar on the challenges and opportunities of working in the Middle East
Canada: 'Where $340bn dreams come true'
What makes Canada possibly the most attractive country in the world for contractors right now? Perhaps it’s something to do with the billions of dollars it has to spend on construction. The trick is breaking into this highly lucrative market
How to go green: Course for developing green skills
The construction industry lacks the skills it needs to meet the growing demands of energy efficiency targets, the Green Deal and environmentally-savvy clients
Country focus: Saudi Arabia
Investment opportunities are rife in Saudi Arabia at the moment, thanks to a growing economy and population. Colin Morris from EC Harris, reports
Under siege: Construction in the Middle East
Construction’s safe haven has turned into a war zone. As protest, revolution and regime change spread across the Middle East, what can companies do to ensure their staff and contracts are safe, and does this means the end of the good times?
Difficult jurisdictions: Kazakhstan
Continuing our series on difficult jurisdictions, Chris Hill explains how doing business in booming Kazakhstan has become much easier. That’s not to say it’s a walkover
Canada: the friendly careers frontier
For pioneering UK construction professionals scanning the international horizon, there can be few places more attractive than a country with English speakers, simple contracts, nice big scenery and lots of work
Architects in film
Lights, camera, architect … What does cinema tells us about a profession that for many remains shrouded in mystery? On the day a film about Norman Foster is released, Ike Ijeh takes a look at some fictional architects from the silver screen to see if they have any basis in fact
Firms, people and government to watch in 2011
Here are some firms, people and government figures to keep an eye on
An overview of 2010
It was the year we all knew was going to be bad. It was just a question of how bad. The key events everyone was waiting for, with bated breath, were the general election in May and George Osborne’s Comprehensive Spending Review in October
How grim is construction up North?
In the beleaguered North, public sector spending cuts are biting deeper for local contractors already defending their patch from the attentions of the big boys. Building looks at how bad it is, and asks three contractors how they’re coping
The original 40 under 40: 10 years on
Some have prospered as predicted, others have fled the industry, and one even married the person she named as her hero. Emily Wright catches up with Building’s 40 under 40 of 2000
