Opinion 鈥� Page 334
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Comment
Good news in the employment figures, but the future for construction jobs remains uncertain
The latest employment data will provide economists, politicians and strategists with plenty to chew on.The headline figure for unemployment jumped by 43,000 to top 2.5 million for the first time since 1996, the number of people in employment fell by 89,000 and the number wanting a job rose again.But there ...
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Comment
Why it's so hard to get a competitive quote from a subbie
I was on a site doing a pre-tender survey recently when two of the contractors I favour (because they actually pay on time!) 鈥渂umped鈥� into each other. The conversation went quickly to the recent upturn in enquiries. Much was made of the fact that the contractors had ...
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CommentBeing good in a wicked world
Go into a local market with a local partner, and you are responsible for what it does 鈥� even if the boss is the minister of justice鈥檚 brother-in-law
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Comment
Why are architects posh, but contractors aren鈥檛?
Last night I met the industry鈥檚 cycling clique at a reunion for those who rode to MIPIM for charity (which doesn't include me). I learnt three things:1) Cycling is hard. After a 500m sprint on the stationary bike I had to lie down for half ...
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CommentKeep the engine running
Whoever wins the general election will have to make decisions that will have far-reaching consequences for construction. We have to make our case before it鈥檚 too late
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CommentQuentin Shears: The Dubai polar bear sanctuary
鈥橧 get the Oxford Anthology of Business poetry off the shelf. It鈥檚 time for the big guns鈥�
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CommentHansom: Memento mori
The end can come when you least expect it: in a foul-mouthed phone call, predicted by a financial analyst, caught at short square leg, or when a small alpine town starts planning your funeral
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CommentDavid Whysall: Why we need Generation Y
To win the battles of the future, we need to enlist the impatient and energetic youngsters of 鈥楪eneration Y鈥� as quickly as possible 鈥� regardless of the recession
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CommentElephants should not be grey
The Strata tower (9 April, page 38) is as bold as it is ingenious
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Comment
Fun in the sun
I saw redundancy coming (鈥淗ave you been made redundant?鈥� 8 April, building.co.uk) and went where my talents would be appreciated
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Comment
Short-sighted vision
The assertion by Homes for Scotland that energy-saving regulations will add 拢8,000 to the cost of new homes is myopic nonsense (鈥淕reen guidelines could threaten Scottish housebuilding鈥�, 8 April, building.co.uk)
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Comment
After the fire
We are once again faced with deaths as a result of a fire in a tower block as James Shears and Alan Bannon tragically died in the fire in Shirley Towers in Southampton
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Comment
The whole truth
The last paragraph of this article (鈥淏owmer & Kirkland pays out first 拢10m salary鈥�, 1 April, page 10) is slightly misleading
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Comment
Save the trees
I fail to see how you can propose the use of timber as a sustainable material (鈥淗ow green is your brand?鈥�, 12 April, building.co.uk). It takes many years for a tree to grow, unless it is of a pine variety
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Comment
Making a Case for Health and Safety
The IOSH Conference in Glasgow discussed the topic of making a case for health and safety, increasing positive communication and helping H, S and E professionals to do their jobs without obstruction or prejudice.This got me thinking 鈥�.Imagine the sceneYou鈥檙e sat in a small bar with live comedy. The room ...
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Comment
High time: topping out of the Heron Tower
鈥淭his event is quite something,鈥� said one guest at the topping out of the Heron Tower yesterday. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get many of these ceremonies done like this. Or with this many guests. But then look around. You would know that this was a [Gerald] Ronson event wouldn鈥檛 you?鈥滻 have to ...
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CommentLinklaters Business Services vs Sir Robert McAlpine & Others: Subcontractor's duty of care
Did Southern Insulation owe Linklaters a duty of care in respect of the supply and installation of the thermal insulation to the pipework?
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CommentMeditations in an emergency
What happens when, in the middle of a horrible recession, a group of engineers devotes a year鈥檚 worth of Mondays to thinking instead of working?