Contractors Focus – Page 10
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FeaturesMargaret Ford: After the Games
For the Olympic Park Legacy Company, the end of the Games is just the beginning - that’s when its £315m transformation of the site will begin. Chair of the body Margaret Ford tells Building about its new powers, what’s up for grabs, and about her ’crazy’ past two weeks
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FeaturesWill the construction strategy help or hinder SMEs?
The coalition’s construction strategy was officially launched this week. How come SMEs are worried that life is about to become much more difficult? Building reports
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FeaturesTop 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 ...
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FeaturesRydon's Bob Bond: Safe pair of hands
Rydon boss Bob Bond finds being at the helm of a medium-sized company gives him the agility needed to steer a steady course through choppy waters. Even introducing an innovative investment model shouldn’t rock the boat
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FeaturesThe construction strategy: Together at last?
The government and the construction industry. It’s been a long, love-hate affair but the new construction strategy is an offer to try to work things out
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Features
Afghanistan: Construction's front line
In the midst of war-torn Afghanistan dozens of construction projects continue unabated. Building reports on the unique challenges - and dangers - facing contractors at Camp Bastion in Helmand province
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FeaturesDe-coding BIM
Building information modelling could be applied to save time and money on every government project within five years. But few people are using it and many don’t even know it exists. Here are seven key ways BIM will affect you and your work
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FeaturesHands 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
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FeaturesConstruction statistics: Is it really that bad ?
Government statistics suggest construction contracted 5% last quarter, but it’s hard to find anyone who believes that is true. Joey Gardiner argues the reality is actually more positive and presents alternative data to back up his case
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FeaturesHey, big spender: Richard Pilkington
The UK development market is about to receive some much-needed good news: Oxford Properties is over from Canada with £3.5bn to spend - and that’s just for starters. Meet your new best friend, development director Richard Pilkington
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FeaturesCanada: '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
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FeaturesA family affair: David Hurcomb
As chief executive of family-owned NG Bailey, David Hurcomb has a heavy weight on his shoulders – securing the future for generations of Baileys to come
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Features
Constructionline survey: How public sector clients will make cuts
Public sector clients are being forced to cut costs dramatically. So how exactly are they doing it? Here are the results of a survey by Constructionline, which reveals what the industry needs to be worried about - and where the opportunities can be found
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FeaturesNuclear alert: Future of £50bn new build plan
In the weeks following fukushima, the UK nuclear industry is already under review. what does this mean for the future of £50bn new build plan?
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FeaturesUnderbidding: Warning! Highly risky manoeuvre
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and in some cases result in suicidal tendencies. As underbidding spirals further out of control, we look at how widespread the practice has become and what – if anything – can be done about it.
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FeaturesFrameworks: Make room for the small fry
The government wants to make frameworks more open to small and medium-sized firms while at the same time making big savings in public sector procurement. Here’s what the construction industry can expect
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FeaturesWho wants to be in social housing?
Six months on from the collapse of Rok and Connaught, their competitors are scrambling to take their places against a backdrop of cuts and jittery clients. And now the big players are looking to muscle in on the social housing market
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FeaturesA VAT gift to cowboys?
The government’s VAT hike to 20% this month has been met with dismay throughout construction. But while some sectors will be exempt, small builders are bound to be hit as cash-strapped homeowners turn to the black market
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FeaturesBest foot forward: Interview with Graham Cash
Most UK contractors are busily diversifying to survive. Not so with BAM Construct, the UK’s third biggest contractor - its boss is determined to stick with what it’s good at: construction
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FeaturesThe perfect gift: Tax-efficient tendering
What shows your appreciation for a prospective client better than cutting £1m off a bid? Building explores the surprising savings that can be made from tax-efficient tendering