All Features articles – Page 552

  • Features

    Architectural manoeuvres on the Tyne

    2003-03-07T00:00:00Z

    There is a new star on Gateshead's glittering design scene: a Foster-designed music centre. But with dedicated venues for classical and jazz butting up against each other, Laing O'Rourke had to box clever to stop the improv interfering with the Rimsky-Korsakov.

  • Features

    Cost update: March 2003

    2003-03-07T00:00:00Z

    We focus on the cost of brick and blockwork, glances at the latest materials price changes and works out how much to pay a sparks

  • Features

    Arup and Interior star in 'best employers' survey

    2003-03-05T17:50:00Z

    Contractor Interior and consulting engineer Arup head a list of eight construction firms named in a leading survey of good employers.Interior, which came 21st in The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For survey, was praised for its commitment to personal career development and because the management had obtained ...

  • Features

    UCATT calls for direct employment rules

    2003-03-05T17:49:00Z

    UCATT general secretary George Brumwell this week renewed his call for workers on government contracts to be directly employed.Brumwell made the suggestion as part of the consultation process accompanying a review of the Construction Industry Scheme, the Inland Revenue’s system for collecting tax from the construction industry.He said the government ...

  • Features

    Macob Construction promotes two key staff to board

    2003-03-05T17:45:00Z

    Cardiff contractor Macob Construction has made two employees executive directors.Project manager Nigel Barnes has been promoted to group managing director and quantity surveyor Cathy Bousie will become group commercial director.Macob chairman John Roberts said Barnes had extensive experience of the industry and was capable of tackling prestigious projects in the ...

  • Features

    Appointments

    2003-03-05T14:55:00Z

    This weeks movers and shakers

  • Features

    Higgs review set to trigger wholesale board changes

    2003-03-04T17:32:00Z

    Large number of construction firms will be in breach of upcoming corporate governance guidelines.

  • Features

    New chief gives Schal a shake-up

    2003-03-04T17:30:00Z

    Carillion arm Schal has restructured following a strategy review led by managing director Terry Chapman, writes Phil Clark.The firm, best known for high-profile construction management projects such as the Royal Opera House and Tate Modern, has now been split into five divisions (see box below).Chapman, who officially became managing director ...

  • Features

    Whitbread

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyStrategic partnering is the main procurement route used by Whitbread, including for its hotels, Brewers Fayre and Costa operations. Design-and-build contracts are also used occasionally.Current and future projectsWhitbread's transformation from a brewing and leisure conglomerate into a pure leisure and hotel group is proving successful. While the Marriott/Swallow hotel ...

  • Features

    United Utilities

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyEngineering services are provided by Montgomery Watson Harza, which liaises with the company's Process Design Group to help ensure that signature design and asset standardisation is obtained. To rationalise the supply chain of strategic equipment, the water company has entered into 42 term contracts for the design, supply and ...

  • Features

    Transco

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyLike all utility companies, Transco is covered by European Union regulations in terms of its capital purchasing. For example, all major contracts are advertised in the EU's Official Journal.The company uses a range of contracts, framework agreements, call-off contracts, turnkey contracts and competitive tendering. For example, contracts for new ...

  • Features

    Thames Water Utilities

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyFollowing publication of its forward works programme in the EU's Official Journal, Thames Water has approved 24 contractors and 10 consultants to help it deliver its capital works programme. These alliance contracts will run for three years, with an option to extend for two. From this list, three alliances ...

  • Features

    Tesco

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyThe bulk of Tesco's UK capital programme is let under partnership arrangements, with 10-15% let using other forms of contract.Most major developments, such as new stores and major extensions and refits, are carried out by nine contractors. These comprise national as well as large regional players and include Bowmer ...

  • Features

    Somerfield

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policySomerfield has a small number of contractors with which it works through a partnering arrangement.Current and future projectsSomerfield entered the third year of its five-year recovery programme in early 2002. Although sales growth by the group was regarded as disappointing, capital expenditure increased to almost £120m, with the group ...

  • Features

    Severn Trent Water

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyLike all utility companies, Severn Trent has to meet European Union requirements when it letting contracts. This means all major contracts have to be advertised in the EU's Official Journal.In terms of new work, the company has four lists of approved suppliers covering process contracts. These cover clean and ...

  • Features

    Wessex Water Services

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyWessex Water has set up a partnership with Montgomery Watson Harza, called MWH Wessex. This will be responsible for delivering about £390m of investment in water and sewerage improvements over the three-year period to March 2005. Wessex Water holds 51% of this joint venture.MWH Wessex has entered into alliances ...

  • Features

    Read this!

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Business leaders now accept that their companies need to be environment-friendly – energy efficiency improves the bottom line and green publicity can make or break a company's reputation.

  • Features

    ProLogis

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyProLogis selects contractors from a prequalified list to bid on a competitive tendering basis against a set of specifications and drawings. Occasionally it will negotiate directly with suppliers. The company's preferred contractors include Fitzpatrick, McNicholas, Sisk, Ashford, Norwest Holst, Clegg, Weldon, Winvic and Birse.Much effort is invested in managing ...

  • Features

    Powergen

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyPowergen's Generation business procures most of its major construction activities either by a turnkey or a multicontract approach, depending on marketplace, supplier capability and appetite for risk. Both are pursued through competitive tendering, used to establish a preferred development partner.East Midlands Electricity has adopted a competitive tender approach for ...

  • Features

    Northumbrian Water

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyIn September 2002, Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water appointed Atkins Faithful & Gould and EC Harris as strategic partners to help manage its near £1bn improvement programme. This three-year partnership, which may be extended by two years, will provide cost management, project management and performance management support ...