All articles by Simon Rawlinson – Page 4
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CommentThe shock of the new
All parties are promising a new era of council housebuilding - could this be the wake-up call the industry needs to fundamentally change the way it goes about building houses?
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CommentThe art of the deal
It’s time for construction to engage with the UK’s industrial strategy and make key investment deals with clients and government. So, here’s how we’re going to do it
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CommentApprenticeship policy will distort the market
The IFS’ blistering critique of the government’s apprentice policy holds some uncomfortable truths for construction. There is increased competition for younger employees but little real incentive to invest in high-level skills training
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CommentWill the Autumn Statement take a strategic approach to infrastructure?
Politicians on both side of the pond are hailing infrastructure investment as the key to boosting the economy and improving the lot of disaffected voters, but for that to happen we need to be better at selecting projects that deliver the greatest benefit
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FeaturesInternational costs 2016
Global economic volatility, the UK vote for Brexit and currency fluctuations have triggered big movements in the relative construction costs of world cities
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CommentGoogling construction
Two significant anniversaries say a lot about how far our industry still has to go in transforming manufacturing methods and learning from other industries
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CommentHinkley opens up UK markets to global competitors
The decision to give Hinkley Point the go-ahead means UK construction firms will find themselves increasingly up against competition from abroad
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CommentTeam GB: Reflected glory
Team GB’s glittering success in Rio was the result of a brilliantly executed campaign. Surely there must be lessons for construction?
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CommentMcAlpine: Pick ‘n’ mix
Sir Robert McAlpine’s diversification strategy towards civils and public sector work shows that, in the current market, contractors can be choosey about where they operate
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CommentLittle to gain from Brexit?
Building’s latest survey of construction portrays an industry that expects a Brexit event to have a major impact on its business
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CommentSteel yourselves
As the UK steel industry takes a body blow at Port Talbot, commodity prices for construction are set to rise
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CommentConstruction’s best kept secret?
Construction businesses are creating great opportunities for young people – but the news isn’t always getting out
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CommentFloods reaction: Simon Rawlinson, Arcadis UK
Given the events following Storm Desmond the need to reassess flood risk assumptions is clear – so that the right investments are made in the future and so the public better understands the problem
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CommentOne step forward, one step back
George Osborne’s National Infrastructure Commission announcement was good for the long-term health of the industry but voter-friendly policies on starter homes risk deepening the housing crisis
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FeaturesInternational costs 2015
Economic recovery in the UK and currency fluctuations have triggered big movements in the relative construction cost rankings of cities around the world
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CommentSkills crisis: Performance anxiety
Construction’s skills crisis could put a break on growth in the sector. Tackling low productivity is essential if construction is to remain affordable
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FeaturesProcurement update: BIM
As the 2016 deadline for the UK government’s mandate gets closer, the take-up of BIM on projects and programmes is accelerating
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CommentPeople and money
With Britain building again, contractors are in short supply and people with the right skills even more so. Before the next crash comes along, the industry must look at ways to foster stability and maintain the workforce we need
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CommentA plague on all their houses
All the main parties tell us that housebuilding is a high priority for them, but none come close to the ambition needed to address the housing backlog
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CommentBudget 2015: It's the (local) economy, stupid
Osborne’s last coalition Budget signalled that the future of construction is local and devolved