Consultants Comment – Page 14
-
CommentA wiser course for busy fools
When times are desperate, there’s a temptation to grab anything that might boost our turnover. The game now should be to prepare for the upturn and increase margins
-
CommentMax Crofts: Reading the riot act
Here’s a message to RICS members: why are you complaining when you could be changing? Give us your effort, time and passion and we can overcome the challenges we face
-
CommentWhere the wind blows
The recently published “Zero Carbon for New Non-domestic Buildings” by the communities department has much to commend it, but is flawed by one large blind spot, says the Davis Langdon senior consultant
-
CommentEnd this crisis by Christmas: Richard Steer on the RICS
The RICS has to sort out the mess it’s made, or rumours of a breakaway group are bound to resurface
-
CommentRICS and its members: Losing touch
Members from across the whole of the organisation feel the RICS is morphing from an elected body for the members into a quango wannabe
-
CommentThe G3 summit: How much trouble are we in and how do we get out?
At this point in the business cycle we have at least some idea of what the recession has done to consultants, and how they can regroup and fight back. Three QS leaders comment
-
CommentThe fall guys: Richard Steer on the challenges ahead
So we tumbled off the cliff. But, to look on the bright side, we survived. The task now is to identify what challenges we are likely to face on the long climb back up
-
CommentWhen is a duck an albatross?
Davis Langdon’s recent purchase of architect DEGW may mark another mutation in the DNA of cost managers. But there are reasons to think it will be a problematic one
-
CommentBuilding buys a pint … for Trident Building Consultancy
“So what do you want to talk about then?”
-
CommentBoyle's law
A certain Scottish singer is not the only thing that has captivated the Americans in recent times – mid-sized UK quantity surveying firms are also finding favour
-
CommentThinking caps: Employer's agents
When a QS acts as contract administrator, certifier, project manager and employer’s agent, it all ends up like a game of pass the hat. But some principles always apply
-
CommentContractors vs consultants: Rising claims
A contractor on a design-and-build job that gets duff advice and loses money may be tempted to sue whoever gave it that advice. Well, that’s easier said than done
-
CommentDiminishing returns
Most of the major consultants have now announced pay cuts of between 7% and 20%. Richard Steer explains why this option is the best of a bad bunch
-
CommentAbout time, too
It may not float everyone’s boat, but the arrival (finally) of fresh QS Rules of Measurement is pretty exciting for cost managers. And they’re looking good, says Richard Steer
-
-
CommentA sea of troubles
Looking into the white wall of fog ahead, it’s impossible to discern a safe haven, or the rocks in between. But, says Richard Steer, that doesn’t mean we should lose sight of what we’re about
-
CommentThe men with two brains
Open mike: What relationship should architects have with project managers? Well they’re a bit like two halves of the same cortex – but there’s only room for one leader, says Keith Mason
-
CommentQSs in the crossfire
The collapse of the commercial sector and doubts over public spending have left cost consultants facing a bitter battle for work, with fees plummeting and staff casualties expected to be high. Olivia Boyd reports on how QSs are fighting the downturn
-
CommentWhat a relief
It may look like fiddling while Rome burns but the tax measures in last month’s Budget may actually get our industry to become a bit more eco-conscious
-
CommentTop project managers' websites: Mismanagement
In the latest of our series examining the accessibility of the industry’s websites, Martin Hornagold looks at what works and what doesn’t on project managers’ pages