©Peter Devlin/Alamy Infrastructure projects, including rail, are heavily reliant on workers from the EU Big infrastructure and housebuilding projects will be at risk if skilled builders from the EU are not allowed to remain in the country after Brexit, groups from across the construction industry have warned. In a letter to David Davis, the Brexit minister, groups representing Britain’s surveyors, architects, planners and builders set out demands to safeguard construction projects from a labour shortage. More On this topic IN UK Business & Economy “We are in the grip of our worst construction skills crisis in almost 20 years,” said Amanda Clack, president of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. “There is a real concern within our industry that if access to a skilled workforce is further restricted, Britain could stop building. “My colleagues and I would urge government to keep this at the forefront of their minds when they come to negotiate our withdrawal from the EU.” The Royal Institute of British Architects, Chartered Institute of Building and Royal Town Planning Institute also signed the letter. In Rics’ latest construction survey, 56 per cent of respondents said skills shortages were a constraint on growth, with bricklayers and quantity surveyors in especially short supply. The government has not yet said what its plan to control immigration will be, but has said it wants to return to an annual target of “tens of thousands” per year. Amber Rudd, the home secretary, told the BBC on Sunday that a work permit system “has value”. More than 100,000 construction workers from elsewhere in the EU were working in the UK in 2014, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, as part of a 2.1m-strong construction workforce. In London, more than half of construction workers are from outside the UK. MPs also warned on Wednesday that the Department for Transport may find it difficult to secure the skills required for the High Speed 2 railway project, given the raft of other projects coming on stream such as Network Rail’s modernisation programme and London’s new super sewer. The Commons public accounts committee said: “The extensive programme of infrastructure investment over the next few years is increasing the demand for engineering, project management and commercial skills across the industry. “The department and HS2 Ltd are competing with consulting and engineering firms and other government projects for scarce skills, which represents a key challenge that will also impact on project costs.” The professional bodies said ministers should also focus on maintaining construction and infrastructure investment over the period of Britain’s exit from the EU. Ms Clack highlighted an immediate drop in infrastructure investment after the June referendum, although she said this has “since stabilised”. The £40bn UK construction industry is forecast to slide into recession next year, driven by falls in residential, commercial and industrial projects, according to the Construction Products Association, which represents manufacturers and suppliers. “It is fundamental the government prioritises infrastructure and it remains at the forefront of maintaining a strong economy,” said Ms Clack. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

Eleven buildings have been shortlisted for a 2016 RIBA Yorkshire Award by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). They include a monastery, two University libraries, an art gallery and two private houses. The buildings that have been shortlisted are: AMRC Factory 2050, Sheffield by Bond Bryan Architects Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull by Sheppard Robson Contemporary Lean-To, Harrogate by Doma Architects The Diamond, Sheffield by Twelve Architects & Masterplanners The  Hiscox Building, York by Make Architects Humberston Park Special School, Grimsby by Hodson Architects Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds by ADP LLP Leeds College of Building, Hunslet Campus – Phase 1 , Leeds by Fuse Studios Ltd New House, Brigsley by Hodson Architects Stanbrook Abbey, Wass by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios York Art Gallery, York by Ushida Findlay and Simpson & Brown Architects Chair of the Yorkshire Judging Panel, Caroline Buckingham said “The judges were impressed by the variety and excellence of the shortlisted projects and are looking forward to visiting them in person to select the winners.“ The shortlisted buildings will be visited by the judging panel in March, with the winners of an RIBA Yorkshire Award announced at a ceremony on 21st April at Aspire in Leeds. The jury will select one of the winners to receive the prestigious Building of the Year Award, sponsored by Marley Eternit, which last year was presented to Sheffield Cathedral. Other category awards include Project Architect of the Year, sponsored by Tarmac, The Sustainability Award, sponsored by SIKA, and The Small Project Award which is presented to the best building with a construction cost under £500,000. Regional winners will also be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings. The 2016 RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced later in the year. Notes to editors: 1. For further press information, including access to high res images of the shortlisted projects, contact: Rachel Hunnybun or Claire Young; 0113 3899870; rachel.hunnybun@riba.org or claire.young@riba.org Special Category Awards include: Building of the Year Award, sponsored by Marley Eternit Client of the Year Award Project Architect of the Year Award, sponsored by Tarmac Sustainability Award, sponsored by SIKA Conservation Award Small Project Award RIBA Yorkshire Awards Shortlist: AMRC Factory 2050, Sheffield by Bond Bryan Architects This is the UK’s first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research. A striking, steel-framed circular glass building, designed to act as an international showpiece for automated production facilities operating within the first half of the 21st Century. The circular form was selected to enable an almost infinite production sequence for rapid manufacturing techniques and to challenge the stereotypical, rectilinear architectural solution to industrial buildings, exposing the manufacturing activity within to the outside. Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull by Sheppard RobsonThis is an ambitious redevelopment to modernise and connect two contrasting buildings – one from the 1950s with an Art Deco influence, the other a brutalist 1960s design. The library has been re-orientated to position it at the heart of the University campus by creating a new podium for the tower, a new entrance and a new 3 storey atrium. Contemporary Lean-To, Harrogate by Doma Architects This delightful reworking of a Victorian house has opened up new living areas to a family with young children. Previously the garden was accessed down steep stone external steps. The basement rooms have been converted into light and spacious play area and large doors provide access to the garden. The steps have been integrated into the house in a quirky and contemporary version of the lean-to. The Diamond, Sheffield by Twelve Architects & MasterplannersThe Diamond is a new building for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield, promoting collaboration and cross-disciplinary working. The aluminium glass façade draws inspiration from the detailing of the surrounding historic buildings and references a ‘cellular automaton’, a discrete model studied in engineering. The design provides a public route at ground floor level enabling people to view the ‘showcase’ engineering activities being undertaken. The Hiscox Building, York by Make Architects Hiscox asked the architects to create a beautiful but functional building that reflects their brand values and integrates art. The building’s interior centrepiece – a ribbon-like concrete staircase – is inspired by the undulating city walls, as is the brick weave facade, which also draws on the former hay and wool market that existed on the site until the 1920s. Externally, the roof terrace provides outstanding views of the Minster, while a new pedestrian route links the River Foss to the city centre. Humberston Park Special School, Grimsby by Hodson Architects The school caters for pupils aged 2-19 who are in the main subject to severe learning difficulties, and often physical disabilities. The new space provides specially designed learning facilities in a pair of pavilions with intricate folded roofs and glazed lanterns. The building is designed with high levels of insulation, natural daylight and ventilation. The pupils were engaged throughout the construction period, with three ‘ambassadors’ nominated to visit site with the Main Contractor and report back to the rest of the school. Laidlaw Library, University of Leeds by ADP LLP Laidlaw Library utilises contemporary materials and technology to respond to its historic context nestled between two Grade II listed churches and adjacent to the Grade I listed Parkinson Building. The elegant and precise structure houses 900 ‘reader seats’, training rooms, flexible meeting rooms, group study areas, a café, community classrooms and a staffroom Leeds College of Building, Hunslet Campus – Phase 1 , Leeds by Fuse Studios Ltd The college’s brief at the outset was to have a building that was a teaching tool with activities visible throughout the whole building and showcase the technologies. To help achieve a highly sustainable building, providing natural light was fundamental to the building’s orientation, form, massing

October 21, 2016 by: Anjli Raval, Oil and Gas Correspondent As a young executive at Saudi Aramco, Khalid al-Falih was responsible for negotiating with some of the world’s biggest energy companies over joint ventures in the kingdom’s gas sector. While those talks resulted in only limited foreign participation, Mr Falih — now Saudi Arabia’s energy minister — gained credit for juggling conflicting interests, and helping to break the public sector’s grip on vital industries. His ability to deftly manage the process goes some way to explaining why he is now a trusted confidant and adviser to deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the kingdom’s interlocutor with the world on energy policy. It also explains why the world took notice when, earlier this week, he called an end to the “considerable downturn” in the oil market. “Khalid al-Falih has been invested with much broader economic responsibilities than any previous Saudi oil minister,” says Bob McNally, a former White House adviser and consultant at Rapidan Group. “This speaks not only to the confidence Prince Mohammed has placed in him, but also the central role that he envisages the energy sector will play in Saudi Arabia’s sweeping vision for national transformation.” This week, Mr Falih told a packed room of industry executives that a deal between the big producer countries to trim output — the first since the depths of the financial crisis — would only accelerate the oil market’s recovery. After letting market forces dictate supply and demand for the past two years, the kingdom has been pushed to change tack as the oil price slide has created a ballooning fiscal deficit and slowed economic growth. And Mr Falih has been charged with communicating this shift in strategy. In doing so, his approach to Opec peers and rival producers has been more conciliatory than his predecessor, Ali al-Naimi, whose position he took over in May. At the same time, as chairman of Saudi Aramco, he is also overseeing its part-privatisation through the largest IPO in history. Tellingly, he has found a way to placate both those who value the slow and steady approach of decades past as well as others impatient for change. For example, as a key adviser on transactions such as the launch of a new $100bn technology fund with Japan’s SoftBank, he has proven himself able to manage not only the existing pillars of growth but also the ambitions of a radical prince. Related article Companies are divided over whether a supply crunch is coming after huge cuts In his upcoming autobiography, Mr Naimi described Mr Falih as “an exceptionally talented individual”. Born in 1960 in the oil-rich eastern province, Mr Falih graduated from Texas A&M University and — like Mr Naimi before him — joined Saudi Aramco in his youth, before working his way up to chief executive. He became a player on the international oil scene when King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s ruler at the time, sought his help in invigorating the Saudi economy. It was then that he first handled the gas discussions with Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Lukoil when the government decided to bring overseas expertise into the hydrocarbons sector. At Saudi Aramco, he was regarded as creating an example of bureaucratic efficiency in a bloated state, and credited with undertaking infrastructure tasks the government could not deliver — from roads to hospitals and stadiums. Today, he finds himself entrusted to deliver Saudi Arabia’s economic vision — a role that only “increases his ability to influence policy decisions, making him a more effective important leader in Opec”, says Gary Ross, executive chairman at New York-based consultancy Pira Energy. Sample the FT’s top stories for a week You select the topic, we deliver the news. Source link

Most builders will base EU decision on personal beliefs, says FMB Published:  25 May, 2016 More than 80% of bosses of small construction firms will overwhelmingly base their decision to remain or leave the European Union on their broader personal beliefs instead of their business interests, according to a new poll by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The poll also showed that: Builders rank the UK government’s ability to freely legislate in a way that specifically meets the needs of British business as the biggest benefit of Brexit Most support from builders for remaining within the EU stems from the continued economic stability membership would be likely to provide More than half of small construction business owners do not feel well informed when it comes to issues that might affect their businesses when it comes to the EU referendum. Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “The outcome of June’s referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU will have significant ramifications for construction SMEs, regardless of the outcome. That’s why it’s fascinating that more than 80% of our members have indicated that their vote will be determined by their personal beliefs ahead of anything else. “It just goes to show that although it’s important to explore the business case for leaving or remaining within the EU, for many people their decision will be based first and foremost on other drivers. These could include the desire to be part of the wider European community or a compulsion to reclaim British national sovereignty.” Mr Berry continued: “However, a recent survey by Ipsos MORI revealed that the public want to hear the perspective of SMEs more than any other type of business. Unfortunately our research shows that the people who run small construction firms feel that the ongoing debate over Brexit has done little to enlighten them on the issues that really matter, with 52% stating they do not feel well informed on the issues that might affect their businesses. “This is perhaps a reflection of how few of the impartial facts that are so widely craved have actually been offered by either side. No wonder then, that the vast majority of builders will be opting to vote based on their wider personal beliefs, when the economic and business case of each argument remain so unclear.” Mr Berry concluded: “What’s clear is that few sectors are more sensitive to uncertainty than construction. Already, there are signs that the unpredictability surrounding the outcome is beginning to sag on industry confidence as investment is deferred and homeowner confidence wanes. This explains why continued economic stability has been cited as the best reason to remain in the EU. On the other hand, 40% of SMEs identified the potential freedom that Brexit could grant the government to set legislation that truly meets the needs of British business as the biggest potential positive of Brexit.” Source link