Housebuilders and property developers should face a statutory charge each time they hire construction companies if they fail to support training and innovation in the industry, according to a government-commissioned review. The evaluation by Mark Farmer, an independent consultant, of the construction labour force found that the industry was failing to invest in either training or research and development, resulting in a steadily shrinking workforce that was failing to increase productivity. “The construction industry is in dire need of change,” Mr Farmer said. “What is clear to me following the nine months spent conducting this review is that carrying on as we are is simply not an option. “The construction industry doesn’t have the impetus needed for this change. It requires external action … If Brexit results in reduced migrant labour, the situation could be made even worse.” The review suggests that clients of construction companies — who include housebuilders and property developers — should face a statutory charge of 0.5 per cent of the cost of each project if they fail to demonstrate they are contributing to “capacity building and modernisation”. Companies including housebuilders already pay the Construction Industry Levy, which funds the sector’s training board, and will also be required to pay the new Apprenticeship Levy if their pay bills exceed £3m a year. The construction industry doesn’t have the impetus needed for this change. It requires external action … If Brexit results in reduced migrant labour, the situation could be made even worse But Mr Farmer said existing levels of industry investment in training are “extremely low when viewed against other UK industry benchmarks”. Only 57 per cent of employers in the sector offered any training in 2015, according to the Commission for Employment and Skills. “£180m of CITB levy (with only £140m issued back in grants) in a £100bn industry with 2.3m employees does not bode well in terms of ability to have any scalable impact,” Mr Farmer said. Increasing reliance on private-sector housebuilders has made the industry more cyclical, the review found, which has worked against long-term investment in training, as have low margins among construction companies. Mr Farmer also recommended a broad overhaul of the CITB and a large-scale pilot programme of modular, or offsite, construction, which taps into a different labour force and skill set from traditional methods such as bricklaying. Jesse Norman, industry minister, said the government would “carefully consider” points made in the “important review”. “It makes a strong case for change in the industry,” he said. Sample the FT’s top stories for a week You select the topic, we deliver the news. Source link

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has this evening (Thursday 16 October) announced the winner of the 2014 RIBA Manser Medal, the UK’s most prestigious housing design award. Stormy Castle by Loyn & Co, a brave contemporary private house in an area of outstanding natural beauty atop a hillside on the Gower peninsula in Wales has been named Britain’s best new home. Despite its remote and unforgiving local environment, the architects created a three-storey home that pulls a remarkable amount of natural light deep into its interior. Complimenting this are polished concrete floors flowing throughout and crystalline white ceilings which help create a contemporary feel in such a rural setting. Rusted steel on the external doors, cladding and on the roof of the retained barn evoke a raw, honest aesthetic and sit well with materials used locally in agriculture buildings. Full-height glazing maximise the views on to designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and although the house is 725 square metres in area, much of it is cleverly hidden  underground, emerging to make the most of the stunning views of the manicured perimeter and the wild meadow and heathland stretching beyond. RIBA Manser Medal Chair Michael Manser CBE said: ‘The aim of the Manser Medal has always been to influence the public to demand, and the mass house builders to supply, better designed homes. I believe by highlighting brave architecture like this year’s winner Stormy Castle we can showcase what can be achieved. This is a bold design in an area of Wales where arguably more conservative design solutions usually hold sway. I was impressed by the sustainability credentials, with a comprehensive range of energy, recycling and heating strategies incorporated into the design, which will be invaluable in dealing with such a large footprint.’ The judges for the award are Michael Manser CBE (chair), Robert Hiscox, Honorary President of Hiscox, Lady Patty Hopkins, Carl Turner (winner of the 2013 Manser Medal) and Tony Chapman, RIBA Head of Awards. The RIBA Manser Medal is sponsored by specialist insurer Hiscox. The Architects’ Journal is media partner for the RIBA awards and professional media partner for the RIBA Stirling Prize. ENDS Notes to editors RIBA press contact: Howard Crosskey, howard.crosskey@riba.org or 020 7307 3761 Press images for the winning home can be viewed and downloaded here: https://app.box.com/s/tyy4q504w5urdm3d1lkm The RIBA Manser Medal is awarded every year to the best new house. It was created in 2001 to celebrate excellence in housing design and was named after Michael Manser CBE, a designer of celebrated homes and former RIBA President. Previous winners include Carl Turner Architects for Slip House (2013), Acme for Hunsett Mill (2010) and Alison Brooks Architects for the Salt House (2007) For more information on the award visit: www.architecture.com/mansermedal2014 Hiscox, the international specialist insurer, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). There are three main underwriting divisions in the Group – Hiscox London Market, Hiscox Re and Hiscox Retail (which includes Hiscox UK and Europe, Hiscox Guernsey, Hiscox USA and subsidiary brand, DirectAsia). Hiscox underwrites internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance through Hiscox Re and Hiscox London Market. Through its retail businesses in the UK, Europe and the US Hiscox offers a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as homeowners.  For further information visit www.hiscoxgroup.com Hiscox UK’s affinity partnerships team creates long term commercial relationships with leading brands.  Hiscox are able to offer RIBA members a 10% discount on their home insurance or office insurance which can also include cover for architectural models (subject to terms and conditions)  – call 0844 248 1644 or visit www.hiscox.co.uk/riba The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com and follow us on Twitter. The Architects’ Journal is media partner for the RIBA Awards and special awards and professional media partner for the RIBA Stirling Prize. The judges citations and image links follow: Stormy Castle, Loyn & Co. Architects Stormy Castle is a contemporary private house in an area of outstanding natural beauty on a hillside on the Gower peninsula.  The client, a local couple who know the area well, had always wanted to build something which reflected the quality of the surroundings and, conversely, made the most of the site in terms of views, landscape design and topography. The resulting design is a tour de force in terms of space, natural light, level changes and connection to the landscape. The palette of materials is kept to a minimum – polished concrete floors flowing throughout, shuttered concrete walls, crystalline white ceilings, full height glazing to maximise the views and Corten steel accents to external doors, cladding and the roof of the retained barn. Although the overall building is 725 square metres in area, much of it is cleverly hidden in the ground, emerging on three levels to make the most of the orientation and external landscape. The jury was impressed by the sustainability credentials, with a comprehensive range of energy, recycling and heating strategies incorporated into the design, which will be invaluable in dealing with such a large footprint. By far the most striking element in the design is the quality of light which reaches deep into the interior. In many ways this is as much an art gallery as a home, with the areas in between the living ‘rooms’ inviting interventions – indeed the client is keen to explore this over time. The multi levels and interplay between inside and out create a range of private, intimate courtyards and more exposed external spaces which allow the building to connect, whatever the climate. This is a brave design in an area of Wales where the more conservative, vernacular indigenous design solution usually holds sway. The jury was therefore delighted to see a contemporary design of quality win through and reward an ambitious client and architect. Images: https://app.box.com/s/tyy4q504w5urdm3d1lkm   Posted on Thursday 16th

©Bloomberg Police have raided the offices of Gerdau, Brazil’s largest steelmaker, and issued an arrest warrant for its chief executive as part of an inquiry into a nationwide kickback and bribery scheme at the country’s tax agency. The federal police said on Thursday that they suspected the company of evading R$1.5bn ($379m) in back taxes through the scheme, which has emerged alongside a separate corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras. In the sixth phase of the tax investigation — termed “Operation Zealots” — police said they had issued 22 arrest warrants and 18 search and seizure warrants at Gerdau’s offices across five Brazilian states. Police said one of the executives to be summoned to testify was André Gerdau Johannpeter, head of the Gerdau family empire whose father is one of President Dilma Rousseff’s closest advisers. Local media said he would appear voluntarily later on Thursday. Gerdau, Brazil’s largest steelmaker by volumes, said in a statement that police had been at its offices on Thursday morning, adding that it would co-operate fully with the federal police’s investigations and denying any illegal behaviour. Its shares fell 4.8 per cent on Thursday. Mr Gerdau Johannpeter could not be reached for comment. Just as Brazil’s authorities were investigating a vast kickback and bribery scheme at Petrobras last year, police reported another corruption scheme involving the country’s board of tax appeals. Police say they suspect companies bribed members of the Carf, the part of Brazil’s finance ministry responsible for ruling on tax appeals, to get favourable decisions that reduced or waived the sums owed. When the scheme was first uncovered in March last year, police said they would investigate at least 70 industrial, engineering, agricultural and financial groups over possible bribes to tax officials. Over the past few years, Brazil’s crusading public prosecutors have grown increasingly active, taking advantage of the independence afforded to them by Brazil’s 1988 constitution to investigate the country’s most powerful figures. Among those who have been arrested so far in connection with the Petrobras scandal include André Esteves, one of the country’s top bankers, and Marcelo Odebrecht, head of Brazil’s largest engineering conglomerate. Mr Esteves, who was later released on house arrest, and Mr Odebrecht, who remains in jail, have both denied wrongdoing. On Tuesday, João Santana, the manager of Ms Rousseff’s 2010 and 2014 presidential campaigns, was also arrested by police over allegations he took bribes as part of the Petrobras scheme. Mr Santana has labelled the accusations as “baseless”. 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

BEM Services have aligned themselves with the New Forest District Council through an M & E contract which amounts to a grand total of 6 thousand pounds. The development, a strand of an even greater 1.3 million pound initiative organized by the Heritage Lottery, has been put in place in order that the Eling Tide Mill of Hampshire will see some vast improvements that will make it the pride of the county and of its nearby residents. BEM Services intend to put their work into preserving, aiding and abetting the mill, an authentic historical artefact dating as far back as 1785, for the future. What such an initiative will ensure is that people of the younger generation spectrum visiting the area, such as on school trips or just for fun, will be able to benefit from witnessing a real, well preserved piece of historical evidence from the past. The proposed scheme will also allow for the development of a café area that will be able to provide seating space for up to 28 visitors and tourists to the area. At 215 square meters, it will undoubtedly prove to be a success and BEM Services are pleased to be able to contribute to the effort, having earned themselves a good reputation with clients from all over the country for their punctuality and efficacy in delivering planned projects on time and at low costs. Mister Mark Boardman the MD of BEM Services has declared his happiness in the company’s commitment to this more unusual project. The structure will involve BEM Services committing to cable wire and piping installations to ensure that the mill is as beneficial to visitors and tourists as possible and that it will be able to provide the Hampshire area with greater interest and enthusiasm in the tourist sector. Through this the New Forest’s initiative to improve the mill will prove, with the reliable services of BEM, to be a successful and well-intentioned one.

Large practices reach a plateau, with no expected change in workload Confidence in private housing sector weakens Growth in workloads still positive at 8% The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index changed little in August 2015, dropping one point to +21. All nations and regions in the UK returned positive balance figures, with the North continuing to be the most optimistic about future workloads (returning a balance figure of +42). Practices in London (balance figure +17), the South (balance figure+12) and the Midlands and East Anglia (+14) are more cautious about workload growth over the next quarter. Large practices (51+ staff) indicated a plateau in workload levels, returning a balance figure of zero; small practices (1–10 staff) and medium-sized practices (11–50 staff) remain more confident about increasing workloads in the medium-term (balance figures of +18 and +36 respectively). Despite the recent change in our headline index, the forecast is firmly in positive territory; the value of actual work in progress is still growing at an annual rate of 8%. The private housing sector forecast continued its downward trajectory, falling to +18 in August (down from +23 in July). The public sector workload forecast also decreased, down to -4 in August from -1 in July 2015. The commercial sector workload forecast increased by one point to +14, while the community sector forecast was unchanged, standing at +1 in August. The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index saw a modest decline this month, falling to +7 in August (down from +12 in July). 96% of surveyed practices nonetheless expect their permanent staffing levels either to increase or to stay the same over the next few months, indicating that the employment market for salaried architects remains buoyant. Medium-sized practices (with a balance figure of +32) and large practices (balance figure +20) are more likely to be actively appointing new staff than small practices, which returned a balance figure of +2 in August. RIBA Executive Director Members Adrian Dobson said: ‘After an optimistic spring and early summer, the profession appears to have paused for breath after a period of significant growth. This note of caution is most prominent in the South and East, which have so far seen the greatest growth, whilst confidence now seems higher in the northern cities. There is also a noticeable loss in confidence about medium term prospects for the private housing sector, with our practices suggesting that a temporary peak is being reached in this sector. ‘Commentary from practices suggests that the majority of firms are seeing solid growth in workloads, with a number reporting that market conditions are enabling them to negotiate better fee levels. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of practices across the UK having difficulties in recruiting experienced staff with specific skill sets. The overall picture is one of continued increases in workloads, though with a consensus that in the coming months the pace of growth is likely to slow significantly.’ ENDS Notes to editors: 1. For further press information contact Callum Reilly in the RIBA Press Office: 020 7307 3757 callum.reilly@riba.org 2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. Visit www.architecture.com Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates www.twitter.com/RIBA 3. 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. 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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 2015 was +21 7. 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 2015 was +7   Posted on Wednesday 23rd September 2015 Source link