More Comment – Page 495
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Comment
Can you help?
In December 2003, my son Sebastian launched a campaign to fundraise for a purpose-built facility that would provide much-needed respite for families with seriously ill children
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CommentA horror story
But what really infuriated the colleges and their teams is that the organisation continued to push them to spend their own money on projects that were effectively doomed
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CommentIt's a jungle out there: How to survive the recession
What with battling the birds of prey and the ravenous alligators – not to mention the swine with the money – you may have picked up more survival skills than you realise
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Comment
Before you jet off: Contracting abroad
If you’re thinking of heading abroad to find work, make sure you read through this list of tips so you don’t find yourself in trouble over a contract
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CommentYou'll never walk alone: Representing yourself
If your recessed budget doesn’t stretch to legal fees and you decide to represent yourself, you should at least go in armed with these expert tips …
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CommentCut costs, not jobs: Lower HR costs without redundancies
Tempting to reach for the P45s when your business is suffering, isn’t it? But the wisest companies are finding alternative ways of reducing costs …
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CommentBusiness doctor: advice on staying afloat
So Building got a panel of experts together to tell them how to make it through the recession. You might want to get yourself a drink and listen in
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CommentWonders & blunders
Prue Leith’s spirit is uplifted by the billowing roof and sense of fun in Richard Rogers’ airport terminal in Madrid. But Oxford’s John Radcliffe hospital makes her sick
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Comment
Another month another set of "worst ever" new orders figures
The February figures for new orders were worse than the January figures which were the worst monthly figures ever recorded.There is perhaps little to add to the comments made last month other than to say if you are looking for optimism, perhaps the social housing sector may offer a few ...
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Comment
Contractors optimistic despite being trapped in mire of recession - says CIPS
The buyers' body CIPS remained muted about the prospects for construction despite a slight lift in the construction industry.The main construction index published by CIPS rose to 30.9 for March up from a series low of 27.8 in February. That means that things were not getting as worse as quickly ...
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Comment
Nationwide springs pleasant surprise for house sellers and builders
The latest analysis by the Nationwide of house prices suggests that this spring has brought with it an unexpected 0.9% bounce in the price of houses. This will add some more cheer to those currently enjoying the blue skies, sunshine and abundant blossom.With so much to feel good about in ...
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Comment
Homeowners turn their backs on using their homes as a bank
I was intrigued by the response from the surveyors' body RICS to the latest Bank of England figures for Housing Equity Withdrawal.The figures show a continuation in the rapid repayment of housing debt, as the graph below shows, and this will have had a major impact on the recent decline ...
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Comment
Brown shoots are the new green shoots
At a meeting recently I was chastised for being rather too glum, so I have been casting around of late for more colourful topics in these black times for construction.Positives are rather hard to find, but I had an interesting conversation this morning with an industry contact who has been ...
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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
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CommentWonders & blunders: Keith Bradley, Feilden Clegg Bradley
Keith Bradley loves his hometown of Bath. The old city of pleasure, with its meandering crescents, that is. Not the faux-Georgian monstrosity of the Southgate shopping centre
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CommentDon’t lose your balance
Affordable housing may be one of the few lifelines for builders at the moment, but we must make sure we don’t fall back into the trap of creating ghettos for the poor
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CommentHobbies and/or interests
In tough times, it’s important to distract yourself with such activities as theatre rehearsals, horse racing and … er … whatever a former construction minister got up to in the House of Commons
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CommentDon’t encourage them
As with the banking industry, we’ve seen an age where architectural incompetence and buffoonery was rewarded over professionalism
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Comment
Accentuate the positive
The role of all professionals in development and construction is already changing as a result of the recession
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Comment
Cut it out
I have just read your article “Robinson Low Francis slash staff pay 12.5%” (13 March, page 15)