More Focus 鈥� Page 371
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FeaturesSpecialist costs: Stone restoration
Our series of specialist market overviews continues with a close-up look at stone restoration and conservation. David Harding of Gardiner & Theobald examines the hot topics, costs and key contractors
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FeaturesNo regrets
Nobody knows better than Sir Martin Laing, former chairman of Laing, how a wafer-thin margin can turn into a catastrophic loss. He tells us about how a contract used to be a gentlemen鈥檚 agreement and why he wasn鈥檛 to blame for that 拢1 sale.
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Features鈥榦nce they find you, you don鈥檛 argue鈥�
Protection rackets run by rogue security firms are holding construction sites in the North-west to ransom with threats of violence. Now the government is fighting back 鈥� but might its measures do more harm than good?
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FeaturesSo, would be a you be a contractor ?
Are you a ballsy go-getter or an arty sensitive type? Do you get up at the crack of dawn or prefer a leisurely start? Are you mostly inspiration, calculation or perspiration? Try our quick quiz to determine whether you鈥檙e really cut out for a career as a contractor.
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FeaturesFive ways to fight back
As a small contractor, you might be exposed to a higher risk of getting squashed. But then, small firms can change direction, rebrand and find new markets faster than major contractors can hold a board meeting. We report on the five best ways to stay in business
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FeaturesSport and leisure
This week, we find out how to specify gyms and nightclubs without breaking into a sweat, showcase all the latest products for your facilities and provide our always-essential suppliers list. But first, the British architect designing a breezy field of dreams in sweltering Abu Dhabi 鈥�
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FeaturesHoodies vs house hunters
Hoodies take over from hooligans as the biggest deterrent for would be housebuyers.
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Features
Local lowdown: Midlands
Hays Construction & Property's Robert Smith reports on the Midlands job boom
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FeaturesOpen-air surgery
Hopkins Architects鈥� design for a London hospital is a vivid demonstration of how design and healthcare can be combined to make a healing environment.
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FeaturesConstruction: no place for women!
You鈥檇 think the industry would have moved into the 21st century by now, but when it comes to recruiting women it seems more like a 1950s Harry Enfield spoof. So does the industry not want women or is it they who aren鈥檛 interested?
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FeaturesComing soon in 3D
In the world of 3D computing, architects and engineers have benefited from having their own software, whereas contractors have gone without 鈥� until now. We take a look at Virtual Construction and asks how likely the people it鈥檚 aimed at are to use it
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Losing momentum
Construction output and prices will continue to rise in the coming months, but the forward momentum is set to slow, according to the latest research from Experian Business Strategies
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FeaturesJust the job
John Montague exchanged life at a billion-pound turnover contractor for a career in charitably funded 鈥榮ocial enterprise鈥�.
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Features
Appointments
ContractorGeoffrey Osborne has appointed Rod Peck operations manager for its South Midlands homes division.HousebuildersAffordable housing provider Lovell has recruited Si芒n Byrne as business development manager for Wales.Warren O鈥機allaghan has been appointed part exchange manager at Fairclough Homes鈥� northern home counties division based at St Albans, Hertfordshire.Gary Belcher has joined Northampton-based ...
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Features
Cost update: June 2005
In this quarter鈥檚 analysis of construction materials and labour prices, Davis Langdon reports on the inflationary effect of steel costs (which may have peaked) and wage increases (which continue unabated)