RIBA publishes August 2014 Future Trends Survey results The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index was unchanged this month, remaining at a very positive +28 in August 2014. Sentiment about future workload prospects for the architects’ profession has been strong throughout 2013 and 2014, and we are now beginning to see
Asking prices have fallen in four English regions, London and Scotland with the UK’s decision to leave the European Union being blamed for the change to a 19 month long rise in values. Overall mix-adjusted average asking price dropped 0.2% since June as confidence among sellers was dampened by the
Primary Engineer was first started in 2005, and has throughout the company’s lifetime worked to promote the inclusion of engineering in education from the earliest possible age. Susan Scurlock is the Chief Executive of Primary Engineer and was released an explanation of the company’s success as well as offering schoolchildren
Salix Homes has awarded a number of contracts as a part of a multi-million-pound investment programme. Salix Homes has awarded contracts to five construction specialists that operate in the north west of the country. Each of the companies have been awarded a share of the multi-million-pound contract that will see
The population of the UK is increasing significantly. Because of this there are consistent calls in political arenas to commit to building more houses. As a part of this the Scottish Government in Holyrood has announced that they plan on delivering 50,000 new affordable homes. Large amounts of money has
The first Sixth Form College in Doncaster is expected to open in September. The 9,450 sq. m. New College in Doncaster will be managed by the New Collaborative Learning Trust. The college has seen an amazing turn around as it has been constructed in just 13 months. A feature in
Palmers Scaffolding UK has revealed that they will be providing an innovative scaffolding, public protection and leading access solutions for Galliford Try. The scaffolding will be installed at the Carlisle Railway Station in Cumbria while work is being carried out there. Palmers Scaffolding UK has provided a 1,400-tonnes of scaffolding
RIBA publishes August 2014 Future Trends Survey results The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index was unchanged this month, remaining at a very positive +28 in August 2014. Sentiment about future workload prospects for the architects’ profession has been strong throughout 2013 and 2014, and we are now beginning to see this reflected in increased levels in the aggregate value of work in progress. The overall recovery in confidence levels continues to be widespread across the whole of the UK, with all nations and regions returning balance figures above +20. RIBA Director of Practice Adrian Dobson said: “The most optimistic forecasts this month were from our practices in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Midlands and East Anglia, indicating that the high confidence levels have now spread right across the UK as all nations and regions begin to see an improving workload situation.” In terms of practice size, small practices (1 – 10 staff), with a balance figure of +24, remain positive about the outlook for future workloads, but medium-sized practice (10 – 50 staff) with a balance figure of +65, and large-sized practices (51+ staff) with a balance figure of +40 are somewhat more confident. In terms of different work sectors, the private housing sector forecast fell back somewhat to a balance figure of +23 in August 2014, down from +29 in July 2014. However, both the commercial sector forecast (balance figure +23) and the public sector forecast (balance figure +4) saw increases in August 2014. Our community sector forecast was unchanged with a balance figure of +3. All four of our sector workload forecasts currently stand in positive territory, but the private housing and commercial sectors clearly remain the most robust at present. The recovery in architects’ workloads, which has been sustained throughout 2014, continues to be driven primarily by growth in the commercial and private housing sectors. The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index increased this month, rising to +13 in August 2014 compared with +10 in July 2014, and remaining strongly in positive territory. The overwhelming majority of practices (96%) expect their staffing levels to either stay the same or increase during the next quarter, indicating that the architects’ profession remains confident about maintaining the momentum of recovery. However, we are not yet seeing this confidence manifest itself in a significant increase in aggregate staffing levels across the profession. In July 2014, the percentage of our respondents reporting that they had personally been under-employed in the current month was 13%. Anecdotal commentary received suggests that the overall market outlook for architects’ services continues to improve, with many practices reporting a significant increase in their overall work levels. However, there remains significant competitive pressure on fees and profit margin on projects often remains very tight. Many practices continue to report that maintaining adequate cash flow remains a challenge, often exacerbated by low fee levels and delayed receipt of fees, but the overall picture remains optimistic and the general upswing is maintaining momentum. ENDS Notes to editors For further press information contact the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3761 pressoffice@riba.org The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Completed by a mix of small, medium and large firms based on a geographically representative sample, the RIBA Future Trends Survey was launched in January 2009 to monitor business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession. To participate in the RIBA Future Trends Survey, please contact the RIBA Practice Department on 020 7307 3749 or email practice@riba.org. The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete each month, and all returns are independently processed in strict confidence The Future Trends Survey is carried out by the RIBA in partnership with the Fees Bureau. Results of the survey, including a full graphical analysis, are published each month at: http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Professionalsupport/FutureTrendsSurvey.aspx The definition for the workload balance figure is the difference between those expecting more work and those expecting less. A negative figure means more respondents expect less work than those expecting more work. This figure is used to represent the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index, which for August 2014 was +28 The definition for the staffing balance figure is the difference between those expecting to employ more permanent staff in the next three months and those expecting to employ fewer. A negative figure means more respondents expect to employ fewer permanent staff. This figure is used to represent the RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index, which for August 2014 was +13 Posted on Monday 29th September 2014 Source link
Asking prices have fallen in four English regions, London and Scotland with the UK’s decision to leave the European Union being blamed for the change to a 19 month long rise in values. Overall mix-adjusted average asking price dropped 0.2% since June as confidence among sellers was dampened by the outcome of the referendum vote, according to the latest asking price index from Home.co.uk. London prices, which were already looking the most overvalued, have been hit the hardest, falling 1.1% in just one month which equates to around £6,000 less for the average home in the city. The index also shows that the average asking price in the South East has slipped 0.2% during the last month, but the biggest drop outside London was in the North East with a fall of 0.7%. The index report suggests that this fall comes as a serious blow to a region that was just showing the first signs of genuine recovery since the financial crisis of 2007. However, several English regions and Wales are still seeing asking prices rise. The East Midlands rose the most with growth of 0.7% over the last month, followed by the North West and ales both up 0.4%, Yorkshire up 0.3%, the West Midlands up 0.2% and the East of England up 0.1%. ‘As the Brexit vote is only about two weeks old, we may well see these figures turn negative next month. Whilst the key drivers of lack of supply and cheap credit remain, uncertainty brought about by the Brexit vote is undermining the property market,’ said Doug Shephard director of Home.co.uk. ‘Overall, the current mix-adjusted average asking price for England and Wales is now 6.1% higher than it was in July 2015, and we predict this figure will tend towards 0% over the coming months,’ he added. He expects that both consumer and investment decisions are set to be delayed until there is somewhat less uncertainty about future prospects for the UK economy but uncertainty looks set to remain for some time and when it comes to house prices the fallout from Brexit looks set to cut short the price rallies of several regions including preventing a recovery in the North and making the inevitable correction for London and the South East deeper and more painful. The index report also shows that the supply of property has increased in London by 6%, the East of England by 7% and the South East by 4% while the typical time on the market has increased by two days to 82 days over the last month across England and Wales but is still six days less than in July 2015. The total stock of property on the market is also up again but is still 5.2% less than in July last year. ‘In the light of the referendum result, we revise our prediction of 10% growth per annum for these regions down to 2%. The South West also looked set to become one of the next regional hotspots, however, Brexit and a falling London market will hamper this region’s growth as retirees find it more difficult to sell in the capital and transfer their equity to the region,’ said Shephard. ‘There has been a discernible shift in regional supply dynamics. The number of properties entering the market has increased significantly in Scotland, London and the Home Counties. This data serves to suggest that the property booms in these regions are either over or coming to a close,’ he explained. ‘In the other regions, supply shortages are lessening. This is likely to curtail further price rises as demand, as indicated by an inverse correlation with typical time on the market, is falling in all regions with the exception of, for the time being, Yorkshire and Wales,’ he added. Source link
Primary Engineer was first started in 2005, and has throughout the company’s lifetime worked to promote the inclusion of engineering in education from the earliest possible age. Susan Scurlock is the Chief Executive of Primary Engineer and was released an explanation of the company’s success as well as offering schoolchildren a more hands on experience for engineering. The methods that have been used by the business to train teachers and link them to the industry while also working to bring engineers in to the classroom have been described by some as a nice initiative. However, over the course of 2017, Primary Engineer has been working to grow up, and become more than just a little initiative, and get more and more of a following. In January, the University of Strathclyde accredited Primary Engineer Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering STEM, which is a part-time master’s level course that takes a year to complete. As part of the company’s work, teachers interview engineers in order to develop a range of strategies that can then embed engineering in to the classroom and then work to evaluate the impact of these changes. This form of impact research has allowed Primary Engineer to develop their own base and has, as a knock on led to a continued improvement of all of their activities. Teachers have been working together as a part of this research and development from all areas of education, preschool, primary, secondary and college lecturers included. Primary Engineer has also had an amazing year as it has also featured in the Scottish government’s skills plans and has also begun to work with the Advanced Forming Research Centre at Strathclyde University as well as trade associations, universities, councils and blue chip companies. Primary Engineer is based in Burnley has is also working to develop connections with councils and schools in this area, giving the work carried out by the company a national impact.
Salix Homes has awarded a number of contracts as a part of a multi-million-pound investment programme. Salix Homes has awarded contracts to five construction specialists that operate in the north west of the country. Each of the companies have been awarded a share of the multi-million-pound contract that will see social housing in Salford transformed. Salix Homes owns in excess of 8,000 homes located across Salford. The company has announced their principal contractors who have been asked to deliver a £38 million investment project. This scheme of works has been planned to take place over the course of the next three years in order to rejuvenate the social houses Salix has in Salford. The five construction contracts have been given to Emanuel Whittaker, Jackson and Jackson, The Casey Group and A. Connely Ltd, who are all Greater Manchester based businesses. The Warrington based The Bell Group is also among the five companies who have been named as the five main contractors during this construction work. The programme of works will include fitting more kitchens in around 720 homes, new bathrooms for 660 properties, 700 to have new windows installed and approximately 1,200 homes will have new doors installed. The investment programme will also see major refurbishment carried out on a number of ageing tower blocks including Canon Green Court in Broughton, and Fitzwarren Court and Albion Towers in Pendleton. This three-year programme of work is the second phase of a project that will see Salix invest a total of £75 million. This investment has been made to make all of Salix Homes properties reach the Decent Homes standard. In order to contribute further, Salix Homes will also be a part of a number of apprenticeship opportunities available in the area. For every £1 million invested by Salix two apprenticeships for local people will be created.
The population of the UK is increasing significantly. Because of this there are consistent calls in political arenas to commit to building more houses. As a part of this the Scottish Government in Holyrood has announced that they plan on delivering 50,000 new affordable homes. Large amounts of money has been put aside as funding which will be used to increase the building rate. The funding is also being used as an incentive for councils, housing associations and construction companies. It is hoped that the incentive will be enough to get more houses built even in today’s challenging economic environment. Plans, targets and promises to increase building rates and boost the housing stock of the nation are well intended. However, it is important to note that there are a range of different factors that could disrupt these plans. It is becoming more and more apparent that the rising cost of building materials is having an impact on the volume and speed houses can be built. An investigation was carried out earlier this year which found that some of the essential materials required in the construction industry increased in cost by as much as 35% in the UK. These price increases can have a significant impact on a building project’s margins. Some of these products, such as plasterboard, chipboard and loft insulation have seen their prices rise at the fastest rate in 25 years. The Construction Products Association carried out The Construction Trade Survey in the final quarter of last year. The survey revealed that overall costs rose by 88% in the civil engineering sector, and 75% of main contractors have seen a rise in the cost of raw materials. Coupled with the ongoing skills shortage in this area it would seem that the construction industry is facing a difficult time, with a range of different trade suppliers searching for alternatives to traditional product markets.
The first Sixth Form College in Doncaster is expected to open in September. The 9,450 sq. m. New College in Doncaster will be managed by the New Collaborative Learning Trust. The college has seen an amazing turn around as it has been constructed in just 13 months. A feature in the new college is the state of the art ventilation solution that has been delivered by Gilberts Blackpool in order to create a fresh and conditioned internal environment to make sure students and teachers are comfortable while working. The college has cost £20 million to build and Gilberts has delivered their ventilation system in accordance with the needs of the project collaboration with BAM Design and BAM Construction. The end result is one product which has been able to deliver a commercially viable alternative to other ventilating and heating solutions. Throughout the college there is a total of 62 of Gilbert’s’ standard MFS256 hybrid ventilation units. Every one of these units have been fitted with a heat coil. Of these 62 units, 51 have been incorporated into the windows and use Gilberts’ window mounted louvre as well as a registered design that uses a split up/down louvre blade in order to boost the efficiency of the air movement through the classroom. In order to adapt their systems to the unique requirements of the science rooms, Gilberts installed a controls logic for the ventilation units that have been installed in those areas. This logic is connected to the gas in order to make sure that the gas cannot be turned on until the ventilation system is in operation, and then continues to automatically supply extra fresh air when the fume cupboards in the science rooms are opened. Eight MFS-V turrets have been installed by Gilbert’s on the roof in order to provide better natural ventilation to the sports hall and the first two floors of teaching areas.
Palmers Scaffolding UK has revealed that they will be providing an innovative scaffolding, public protection and leading access solutions for Galliford Try. The scaffolding will be installed at the Carlisle Railway Station in Cumbria while work is being carried out there. Palmers Scaffolding UK has provided a 1,400-tonnes of scaffolding equipment which has been designed by the company in order to work to start at the Grade II listed building. The intricate scaffolding solution will allow Galliford Try to complete refurbishments on a building which forms a part of the Carlisle conservation zone and sees over one million passengers through the train station each year. Large parts of the roof of the historic building has been damaged and requires refurbishment works. The damage has been mainly inflicted by seagulls dropping stones and breaking the glass panels. The panels are now going to be replaced with a safer alternative of Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, or ETFE, with access given by Palmers’ scaffolding solution. The scaffold that has been designed in-house by Palmers is needed to deliver access and protection decks. The equipment is 47m width and 160m long. The scaffolding covers 13 roof bays and the platforms below in order to offer a working platform 9m above the ground. The solution has been created by 20 advanced scaffolders as well as Palmers managers and supervisors. The solution is based on the modular access and protection scaffold that is a bespoke creation of the company. The work on Carlisle Railway station is not the first project of this kind for Palmers, who have worked in a number of high profile refurbishments including London’s St Pancras and Waverley Station in Edinburgh. It is an endorsement that Galliford Try has selected Palmers for this work in Cumbria. Hopefully the two companies will work together on construction project in the future.
