Build back better? No, let’s build back smarter and take carbon out of construction August 27, 2020 Boris Johnson has set out his plans to “build back better”, and major changes have recently been announced to planning regulations to enable faster decisions on planning applications. It sounds like a developer’s paradise. But construction already accounts for nearly two fifths of UK carbon emissions, so where does that leave the government’s equally vaunted [...]
The Russia–Ukraine war and other geopolitical risks April 5, 2022 The war in Ukraine is dominating the headlines. For now. But the conflict’s indirect reverberations will ripple far beyond the borders of its combatants and their allies. Indeed, they could give rise to new and varied geopolitical risks throughout the world. The war’s potential effect on the global grain supply and food inflation is especially [...]
Does an emissions scandal await the real estate sector? May 6, 2021 In September 2015, news broke that Volkswagen (VW) had been selling cars in the US that had a so-called “defeat device” installed in diesel engines. It could detect when they were being tested and change performance to improve results. The German carmaker admitted to cheating emissions tests and it soon became clear that this was [...]
Galliford Try shares jump as it predicts return to profitability next year September 16, 2020 Shares in Galliford Try jumped even after it reported losses for the second year in a row, as it predicted a return to profitability by 2021. The construction firm was trading 11.3 per cent higher by 9.25am. The figures Galliford Try reported pre-exceptional revenue was down from £1.4bn to £1.1bn,while losses widened to £62.4m. Building [...]
Time to pour cold water on the FUD and misinformation from Bitcoin doubters July 16, 2022 Crypto AM's Dr Chris Kacher thinks the heat needs turning down on the current crypto FUD spread that reminds him of 2014 and 2018.
Who will be the winners from the UK’s lockdown lifting? May 28, 2021 The UK continues its steady emergence from lockdown. Shops, gyms and outdoor hospitality reopened in April, with hotels, cinemas and indoor dining now following suit. All being well, further restrictions could be lifted in June. The lockdowns of the last year have undoubtedly benefited online grocers and food delivery services. But we’ve reached a crucial [...]
HS2 construction begins with promise to create 22,000 jobs September 4, 2020 Construction work on the controversial HS2 rail link began this morning with around 22,000 jobs expected to be created over the next few years as a result. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the project would “fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come.” The high speed [...]
UK construction sector slashes more jobs despite post-lockdown boom August 6, 2020 The rate of UK construction job cuts increased sharply in July despite the industry’s fastest rise in output since 2015, a closely followed survey showed today. Around one-third of employers in the UK construction sector reported a decline in employment for July, IHS Markit’s UK Construction Purchasing’ Managers’ Index (PMI) report found. That came despite [...]
Exclusive: Remote working is just as effective, but it can hurt pay and promotion, HR execs warn April 27, 2021 As the City is gradually coming out of lockdown, a range of large companies and financial institutions announced in recent weeks that hybrid working is here to stay. HSBC became the latest big financial services firm to confirm it is making some sweeping structural changes to its working pattern as it adjusts to the post-pandemic [...]
Sadiq Khan: TfL settlement is not the deal we wanted June 1, 2021 London Mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at the emergency funding package signed off today by Government and TfL to keep the capital running. The deal includes a raft of cuts across Transport for London’s operations and does not go as far as many hoped in providing a long-term settlement for the capital’s transport network. [...]