More Focus – Page 467
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FeaturesBest customer satisfaction improvement strategy
How can you please the ever-demanding customer? Crest Nicholson Residential seems to know, as it takes this category, sponsored by The Housing Forum, for the second year running.
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FeaturesMost creative marketing strategy
Swansea Housing Association triumphed in this category, sponsored by Wood for Good, for taking on the challenges of selling urban regeneration and changing the image of affordable housing – and succeeding in both.
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FeaturesPrivate sector housebuilder of the year
The supreme award in this category, sponsored by Eternit building materials, goes to south-east player Laing Homes
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FeaturesAffordable housing provider of the year
Although it didn’t win an individual category, five placings guaranteed Lovell Partnerships the affordable housing provider award, sponsored by The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister
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FeaturesLearning curves
The town had never seen one, the architect had never built one, the budget was as tight as a tourniquet, there was almost no time to plan it, and everything depended on the specification. We tell the story of how a primary school in Kent got itself a curved ...
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FeaturesA message to you
Georg Sieber knows what direction people panic in. He knows what terrorists are about to do. He even knows how to stop them, although clients don't always listen. We met the brilliant psychologist who has a chilling warning for contractors.
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FeaturesMissing persons
Statistically, there should be three times as many workers from ethnic minorities on Britain's building sites as there are. So is the industry institutionally racist – or just very bad at marketing itself to these groups?
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Features
Local lowdown
Robert Smith of Hays Montrose continues his series on regional job markets with a report on north-east England – which is fizzing with health
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Features
Racism is unforgivable – but let's get the facts straight
I read last week's Building leader and articles about Najjif Shah with a great deal of annoyance.
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FeaturesThe benchmark
With clients becoming more demanding, contractors are turning to customer satisfaction measurement tools to learn how to keep them sweet. But can you really quantify a feeling? We spoke to some firms that think you can – and that they've got it sussed …
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Features
The Top 200 Consultants 2002
This year’s consultants league table ranks the biggest 200 consultants in the UK, followed by the top 100 architects, engineers, surveyors, QSs and building surveyors. But does size really matter? We discuss its relevance with the assistance of a canine analogy …Tables compiled by Martin Hewes
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Features
Taking the plunge
This time last year, the City couldn't lift contractors high enough. Today, shares are plummeting the same day that firms announce splendid profit growth. What on earth is the City up to?
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FeaturesDead on arrival?
With the government investing billions in healthcare facilities, the NHS is finally getting its chance to join the 21st century. But experts are already warning that essential design is being squeezed out of this vision. With technology and medical procedures advancing at the pace they are, our shiny new hospitals, ...
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Features
Bovis hits winning streak with £145m Arndale deal
A £125m deal to refurbish and extend Manchester shopping centre takes contractor into lead position.
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FeaturesOne giant leap
An twisted ski jump by Zaha Hadid – half high-tech elegance, half jackal-headed god of the dead – has given the people of Austria something remarkable to fling themselves off at high speed …
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FeaturesLean machine
Richard O'Connor is out to slimline the construction industry's waste. Applying the lessons of the automotive industry, he says he can save builders time and money. Victoria Madine finds out just what a professional streamliner has to offer.
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Features
Up the evolution
The times they are a-changing, and contractors will have to be imaginative to adapt to them
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Features
Five ways to raise your company's profile
Where's your website? If you have a website then let everyone know about it. Include the address on your letterheads, any promotional material and on your business cards – wherever you can.And how about your address? For those with websites, make sure your address and telephone number are prominently displayed. ...
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Featureskeeping up a facade
It's all very well designing buildings with extraordinary shapes, but do the architects ever stop to consider how the windows are going to be cleaned? Well, yes, actually, they do. Thomas Lane met the specialist who worked with Norman Foster on the Swiss Re tower
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Features
A summer chill
In this month's Tracker, Construction Forecasting and Research reports that activity across the construction industry declined in July, with large firms and civil engineers suffering the most