The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published today, shows the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) comprises 227 projects with a total whole life cost of £834 billion, up from £805bn in the previous annual report. GMPP projects aim to provide innovative and meaningful benefits
LEADING construction consultancy Bentley has been appointed to Procure Partnerships’ Professional Services Framework, covering six regions throughout the country. The public sector specialist has been placed on two separate national frameworks, Project Management and Quantity Surveying, covering the North West, Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England and South East. Mark Collins,
A new report by the National Audit Office (NAO), ‘Lessons learned: a planning and spending framework that enables long-term value for money’ has called for a cultural shift in the way government sets out its public spending plans to ensure long-term value for money. In response to the report, Andrew Baldwin, Head
On 30th October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will deliver the new Government’s first Budget. Ahead of the Budget, Association for Project Management (APM) calls on government to focus on prioritising early-stage project planning to ensure the success of major capital projects in the pipeline, which are crucial for
CBRE Southampton has strengthened its regional building consultancy team, expanding its expertise and enhancing its service. James Widdowson, Senior Director, leads the team, working with clients across the corporate and real estate sectors and providing expertise in dilapidations, office repositioning, project management and project monitoring. James has been at CBRE
Bankfoot APAM, the specialist UK Development Manager, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sam Crusz as Project Director, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in the construction and property industry. With a background in Civil Engineering and Project Management, Sam has worked both in consultancy and client-side
The Nemetschek Group, a leading global provider of software solutions for the AEC/O and media industries, today announced the launch of an artificial intelligence layer to be embedded in all of the Group’s major solutions from 2025. The AI layer is set to revolutionise creativity and productivity in architecture, engineering
On 26 September 2024, over 700 project professionals will come together to network, interact and learn about the topics that really matter to women in the project profession. Hosted by the Association for Project Management (APM), the Women in Project Management Conference 2024 is one of the biggest dates in
Savills has expanded its London project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with the appointment of Steven Brown who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. Steven has over 20 years’ experience in project management, planning and delivering projects across a
Savills has expanded its London office project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with two new appointments. Rekha Mistry who joins as a director and John Capper joining as an associate director, who will both be based at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London taking
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published today, shows the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) comprises 227 projects with a total whole life cost of £834 billion, up from £805bn in the previous annual report. GMPP projects aim to provide innovative and meaningful benefits to the UK. The report shows that the portfolio contains £719bn of monetised benefits, but does not include those benefits that cannot be expressed in commercial terms, particularly around social value. Commenting on the report, APM’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Andrew Baldwin, said: “The sheer scale of these figures shows the value of the project profession and good project management. Failure to manage these projects effectively will not only cost UK taxpayers a huge amount, but will delay or prevent countless benefits from being delivered to communities around the country. “The civil service must be equipped with the skills, competences and capability it needs to deliver these projects on time, on budget and to the right level of quality. It is therefore reassuring to see that the report states the number of Senior Responsible Officers undertaking or having already completed Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) has increased from 66% to 76% in the last year. The IPA is doing good work. As the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, APM wants to see that continue as the IPA and National Infrastructure Commission prepare to merge into the government’s new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). “Challenges such as skills gaps and rising costs bring uncertainty and risk to government plans. Projects are much more likely to succeed when the government invests properly in those responsible for delivering them. We therefore urge the government to continue to bridge skills gaps and increase its project capability through training, professionalisation and by ensuring that project leaders have the competences they need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING construction consultancy Bentley has been appointed to Procure Partnerships’ Professional Services Framework, covering six regions throughout the country. The public sector specialist has been placed on two separate national frameworks, Project Management and Quantity Surveying, covering the North West, Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England and South East. Mark Collins, executive director and framework lead for Bentley, said: “Our appointment to the Procure Partnerships Professional Services Framework is a reflection of our substantial recent growth and our expertise within the public sector. “Here at Bentley we specialise in the delivery of complex, strategic infrastructure and regeneration projects, and also have an extensive cost management team who are well versed with managing public spend. This framework will allow us to access projects where we can really make a difference and help the UK meet its crucial deadlines for housing and infrastructure. “The last few years have seen us expand our service offering across the UK and as such we have experience within the regions this framework covers. This experience and understanding will allow us to provide an industry-leading service to public sector organisations utilising the framework.” Faye Dolan, framework director at Procure Partnerships, said: “Procure Partnerships Framework is delighted to have Bentley join as a new consultant partner on the second iteration of the Procure Partnerships Professional Services Framework. Bentley has an impressive portfolio of public sector experience and we are really looking forward to working with the Bentley team over the next four years.” Bentley has offices in the East Midlands and North West of England. Established in 2013, it now boasts a team of more than 40 employees. The business has been part of some notable schemes including award-winning sustainable urban extension, New Lubbesthorpe, Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange, and the installation of a new viaduct at Etruria Valley in Staffordshire. Procure Partnerships is known for compliantly connecting public sector organisations with built environment specialists throughout the UK and ensuring social value delivery across all the projects procured through its frameworks. The company procures £1bn completed projects each year. For more information about Bentley please visit www.bentleyprojectmanagement.co.uk/. For more information about Procure Partnerships please head to www.procurepartnerships.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new report by the National Audit Office (NAO), ‘Lessons learned: a planning and spending framework that enables long-term value for money’ has called for a cultural shift in the way government sets out its public spending plans to ensure long-term value for money. In response to the report, Andrew Baldwin, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Association for Project Management (APM), said: “With increasing scrutiny on value for money and environmental impact, it is more important than ever that all projects, especially those funded by the taxpayer, show how they will deliver tangible, measurable impacts in the longer term. “Public spend is often justified by the benefits that a particular government project will accrue over several years. Too often these benefits are not adequately captured and there is often a significant time lag before they are fully realised. “A benefits-led project approach will ensure the impacts of a project on society are more accurately reviewed and delivered. Only this way can we make public money work harder in the long-term. “APM believes the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), when established, can play a key role here. For this to happen, NISTA must be given the resources to further professionalise project management in government and the mandate to ensure project benefits and value for money are given the long-term focus they need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On 30th October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will deliver the new Government’s first Budget. Ahead of the Budget, Association for Project Management (APM) calls on government to focus on prioritising early-stage project planning to ensure the success of major capital projects in the pipeline, which are crucial for driving economic growth and improving infrastructure. Andrew Baldwin, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Association for Project Management (APM) says: “Effective project management is key to ensuring these initiatives are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. However, project success begins long before construction starts. The Government has made a good start in addressing the challenges of successful project delivery. It understands the need to slow down and think, and to focus on the long-term benefits, investing in the planning, design, and strategic management phases of projects – and to ensure that clear objectives, risks, and timelines are understood and accounted for from the outset. APM’s election manifesto focused on three key asks – respond, reinvent, reform. Everything we’ve seen so far in the Government’s first 100 days in office has delivered on respond, removing the uncertainty that hurts financial and skills investment. But they must now focus on reinvent and reform. Reinventing attitudes to projects entails changing perspectives of what success and failure means − the Chancellor outlined plans to change how the Treasury accounts for capital spending “to reflect its benefits”, which is encouraging. Reforming our approach to projects includes understanding whether the Treasury is set up properly to deliver projects, which still needs to be addressed. For projects to truly deliver value, the Government needs to shift its focus towards early-stage planning, involving project leaders who can navigate the kind of complex challenges the UK faces. This expertise will help ensure that projects are not only feasible but also sustainable and aligned with the Government’s long-term strategic goals. The Budget will outline funding for multiple projects that the Government expects to undertake. If they are to be achieved, then the “inherent characteristics of these schemes” (as stated in a recent NIC report on cost drivers) will need to be properly understood and acted upon long before any shovels hit the ground. By embedding a culture of rigorous project planning and stakeholder engagement, the Government can adapt when it needs to, avoid costly overruns and delays, improve public trust, and drive economic and social benefits. Only through this approach can the Government ensure that ambitious infrastructure projects translate into tangible, lasting improvements for the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CBRE Southampton has strengthened its regional building consultancy team, expanding its expertise and enhancing its service. James Widdowson, Senior Director, leads the team, working with clients across the corporate and real estate sectors and providing expertise in dilapidations, office repositioning, project management and project monitoring. James has been at CBRE for 15 years, 12 of which were leading the Building Consultancy team in Bristol. George Miller joins CBRE as an Associate Director, bringing expertise in dilapidations and technical due diligence surveys and Lauren Smith has joined the team as a Graduate Building Surveyor after completing her degree at the University of Portsmouth. Kritika Gambhir is providing the team with vital admin and finance support. James Widdowson said: “As someone who grew up on the South Coast, I am delighted to lead the talented team, which has a diverse range of experience. We are looking forward to capitalising on the opportunities in the region and continuing to provide our specialist expertise to our clients across the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bankfoot APAM, the specialist UK Development Manager, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sam Crusz as Project Director, bringing with her over 15 years of experience in the construction and property industry. With a background in Civil Engineering and Project Management, Sam has worked both in consultancy and client-side roles, successfully delivering development projects across multiple regions including the UK, New Zealand and the US. Sam has spent the last eight years based in London, where she has taken on senior roles such as Development Manager at Old Park Lane Management, and previously, Director at Gardiner & Theobald. Her portfolio includes large-scale residential developments, hotel and office schemes, with notable projects such as the regeneration of Elephant & Castle and major masterplan developments in New Zealand. In her new role at Bankfoot APAM, Sam will oversee the delivery of several key development schemes, including the prominent transformation of Salford’s Soapworks which is set to deliver 143,000 sq. ft. of office space and 450 new homes. She will leverage her expertise to provide strategic oversight, ensuring the smooth delivery of these developments while contributing to the growth and success of the business. On joining Bankfoot APAM, Sam expressed her enthusiasm: “I’m excited to join the growing team at such an exciting time of expansion. I look forward to working closely with Chris, Andy and the team to successfully deliver the diverse range of projects. My goal is to use my skills, knowledge, and experience to positively contribute to project success, value creation, and overall business growth.” Chris Moore, Managing Director of Bankfoot APAM, commented: “We are hugely excited about Sam’s arrival, which is a milestone moment for the business. Sam’s leadership, knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to the team as we drive our next phase of growth and deliver the significant pipeline of development projects and we look forward to the positive impact she will bring to Bankfoot APAM’s continued success.” Sam’s appointment reflects Bankfoot APAM’s commitment to expanding its capabilities and delivering high-quality projects across the portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Nemetschek Group, a leading global provider of software solutions for the AEC/O and media industries, today announced the launch of an artificial intelligence layer to be embedded in all of the Group’s major solutions from 2025. The AI layer is set to revolutionise creativity and productivity in architecture, engineering and construction as well as management and operation. It will offer tools to simplify complex tasks and empower professionals to focus on innovative design and project execution. Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group, comments: “Our goal is to empower architects, engineers, contractors, and building managers by providing them with tools that expand their expertise. We believe that human intelligence, paired with advanced artificial intelligence, can push boundaries. By integrating the new artificial intelligence layer into our key solutions, we aim to unlock new possibilities and revolutionise workflow efficiency.” Nemetschek Group’s AI layer will leverage secure cloud technology to process user requests efficiently, whether they are making simple inquiries or conducting complex tasks. By managing users’ input quickly and delivering precise responses, the AI layer will support a large range of use cases, from design ideation to task automation. The layer is modular and can understand natural language, enabling fast and accurate responses while transforming and optimising the way users work with Nemetschek products. The AI layer is designed to integrate seamlessly and enhance a wide range of functions: Intelligent automation plays a central role by offering automated task execution, adaptive project management, and natural language interaction, simplifying even the most complex workflows. Insight-driven decision-making is achieved through AI-powered data insights, which guide design processes and optimise decision-making. Additionally, design augmentation allows AI to assist in design iterations, pattern creation, and scenario simulations, enabling more innovative and creative project outcomes. Those features ultimately enable better planning and execution for a more sustainable building process and a better built world. A key focus is on the user experience, making the interactions and engagements with the user more intuitive and efficient. The modular AI layer will also include collaboration tools that drive more effective communication between parties in the construction lifecycle; they will continue to improve based on user feedback. Julian Geiger, VP Head of AI Product & Transformation, Nemetschek Group, says: “We are excited to introduce an AI-powered layer that will be integrated across all our brands and products, bringing new levels of intelligence and automation to our entire ecosystem. Our intention is simple: We aim to make creativity more creative and productivity more productive. By embedding AI into our offerings, we are enabling more efficient workflows, more precise decision-making, and more personalised experiences that empower professionals to do their best work.” Nemetschek’s Vision of Ethical AI Nemetschek’s vision for ethical and trustworthy AI focuses on transparency, data privacy, and reliability. AI decisions should be understandable to users, with clear explanations provided. Stringent data security measures are in place, including user consent and anonymisation where possible. Before deployment, AI models will undergo rigorous testing and validation, with human oversight in critical areas. Clear accountability needs to be established within the organisation. Additionally, AI is used to promote sustainability and the well-being of our society as well as to help its users adjust to new realities, and therefore adapt to evolving job roles and expectations. “As a leading software provider in the AEC/O industry, we are dedicated to ensuring that our AI technologies are developed ethically, prioritising transparency, fairness, and accountability. We are committed to creating AI systems that are explainable and free from bias, promoting inclusivity for all users. Privacy and data security are at the core of our AI initiatives, and we implement strong safeguards to protect sensitive information”, adds Charlie Sheridan, Chief AI and Data Officer, Nemetschek Group. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On 26 September 2024, over 700 project professionals will come together to network, interact and learn about the topics that really matter to women in the project profession. Hosted by the Association for Project Management (APM), the Women in Project Management Conference 2024 is one of the biggest dates in APM’s calendar. This year’s Women in Project Management Conference 2024: Leadership Unpacked will feature keynotes, speeches, and sessions on a variety of topics, including the three key streams; Women in Leadership, Celebrating Differences, and Career Develop Tools and Techniques. Additionally, the event will see APM’s new President Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL give her first major speech since being appointed to the role. Dr Thompson is the founder of the WinTrade Global Women in Business Network Summit and Awards and is part of a powerful network supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for greater gender and race equality and equity. Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL, APM President, said: “It’s an honour to have been appointed as the new President for the Association for Project Management. Not only is this an extremely proud moment for me personally, but it’s an important step for females in the project profession. “Currently the gender pay gap in the project profession is 16% higher than the national average and the number of females in leadership roles is at risk of stagnation. There are plenty of opportunities to improve the equality and diversity across the industry. “I can’t wait to hear from some of the many inspirational individuals at the conference and see so many project professionals come together to celebrate women in project management. “One of my main goals as APM President is to combat this issue of stagnation and break down barriers for women in the project profession. APM’s Women in Project Management Conference is a great opportunity to learn more about exactly what matters to women in the project profession.” The day includes a busy programme of speeches, panel sessions and workshops hosted by a wide variety of speakers from across the project profession and beyond. These sessions promise to provide attendees with the skills and behaviours required for their own personal and professional development. Most notably, the conference will feature keynotes from social entrepreneur and broadcaster Natalie Campbell MBE and England rugby world cup winner Maggie Alphonsi MBE. The event is concluded with a drinks reception that provides attendees with further opportunities to network and meet with like-minded individuals. APM is committed to improving the equality and diversity of those within the project profession in order to deliver improved project outcomes for the benefit of society. It supports businesses and individuals of all sizes with memberships, qualifications, chartered status, events and its online community hub. To learn more, visit apm.org.uk/apm-wipm-conference. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills has expanded its London project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with the appointment of Steven Brown who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. Steven has over 20 years’ experience in project management, planning and delivering projects across a wide range of sectors and disciplines in the UK, Middle East and Australian markets. More recently he has specialised in multifamily build to rent (BtR) developments, working with clients including British Land, Get Living, Grainger and Grosvenor Estates. Steven joins from Arcadis, where he was a senior project director within the firm’s property and investment business. At Savills, Steven will lead the division’s London living sector team, focusing on residential, built to rent, hospitality and purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) asset classes. Steven Brown comments: “I am delighted to have joined Savills to head-up this exciting new growth area for the division. As we know, confidence is returning in the living sector after a period of sustained cost inflation, constraints on finance and regulatory uncertainty. I believe Savills, as a market leader in residential asset advisory services, is the ideal platform to support investor and developer clients through the project feasibility, design and construction phases of their developments. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the business to bring together in-depth real estate expertise and best-in-class project management services.” Paul Davies, head of London project management at Savills, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome Steven to Savills. The living sector is a huge area of growth for the BPC division and with Steven’s knowledge and expertise we will considerably increase our capability to service these clients moving forward. It is fantastic that the team continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to further expansion imminently.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills has expanded its London office project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with two new appointments. Rekha Mistry who joins as a director and John Capper joining as an associate director, who will both be based at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London taking the overall team headcount to more than 30. Rekha has over 20 years’ experience in consultancy project management, contract administration and design and architecture. Her specific focus is on leading large scale, complex commercial occupier fit-out projects, having worked with clients such as the Government Property Unit and Transport for London. Rekha joins from Seven Projects where she was head of project management, having previously worked at both T&T and BNP Paribas. She is also a qualified architect and has recently been a Mixology Awards judge and mentor for the Wilmott Dixon Women in Leadership Programme. John has over 11 years’ experience in construction project management, delivering high-end complex Cat-A and CAT-B projects. He specialises in the office sector, primarily delivering refurbishment and alteration schemes for clients including Oval Real Estate, Pontegadea and Savills Investment Management. John joins from his previous role as Operations Manager at Neilcott Construction and prior to this he was a project manager at Overbury. At Savills, Rekha will complement the firm’s capability in the occupier fit-out market, a key growth area for the business. Whilst John’s construction background will bring a wealth of expertise to complex building projects in the expanding refurbishment market. Rekha Mistry comments: “I am very excited to have joined Savills market leading team. Occupiers are continuing on their flight to quality, along with a focus on both attracting and retaining staff. As a result we are seeing a significant increase in the number of businesses seeking to provide the best possible space for their employees. With this in mind, I look forward to working with colleagues from across the business on a wide variety of projects.” Benjamin Cottle, co-head of London office project management, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome both Rekha and John to Savills. This continues our strategic growth in project management with further plans to expand our life science team and develop opportunities in the living market in central London over the course of 2024.” Richard Eyley, co-head of London office project management, says: “The appointments of Rekha and John underscore our ongoing commitment to expanding our team with a diverse range of expertise. Our recruitment targets are robust, positioning our team of project managers strongly within the London market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
