|
|
www.creative-department.com
Edition Seven
M&E contractor NG Bailey has cut 26 jobs after restructuring its major projects division.The decision to reduce the workforce comes after the company suffered losses of up to £10m on the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, south-west London. The scheme was handled by its major projects division. (building, 26/04/02)
|
|
Rogers
attacks Brown's 'short-sighted' Budget |
Gallery of recent projects
|
(Click on
image to enlarge)
|
| BDP has submitted a planning application for the next phase of its work at Wimbledon, including a new Court Two stadium at the All England Club home (view images). The project, to be located on the south side of the club, will seat 5000 people, and it will be sunk into the ground to preserve views for local residents. The club also revealed plans for an indoor mini-tennis centre and clay court in the grounds.(ajplus, 24/04/02) |
|
The former urban taskforce chairman added: "The Budget should be repeated in everything, including education and regeneration, because we've lost the skills [in those areas] and we're now a pale shadow of our European competitors." Rogers chaired the urban taskforce set up by John Prescott in 1998 to recommend ways to revitalise inner cities. He said: "In terms of research the government has done a lot, but in terms of delivery there's a long way to go." Rogers'
comments on urban regeneration were echoed by Jon Rouse, chief executive
of architecture watchdog CABE. |
|
Commenting
on Rogers' argument, John Voyez, a tax partner at chartered accountant
Smith & Williamson, said: "There is some justification in what
he said. If you stop someone in the street and ask what they want more
money spent on, many would say health or education. But the facts are
we do need urban regeneration."
Voyez added
that the government was using a tax strategy to assist urban regeneration.
He said: "There has been growth in conversion of brownfield sites.
In some cases tax breaks can make the difference to whether a project
is viable or not."
(Source:
www.building.co.uk, 26/04/02)
Marketing news...
More evidence has emerged that suggests the troubled UK manufacturing sector is finally heading for recovery.
Channel 4 recorded its first loss for 10 years in 2001, but has forecast a return to profits in 2002. Despite seeing its share of total terrestrial TV advertising revenue rise to 23.5% last year, from 22% in 2000, the group made a loss of £20.6m.Channel 4 put the loss down to a downturn in advertising across all the networks. (www.bbc.co.uk, 30/04/02)
|
|
The latest survey from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply's (CIPS) showed the manufacturing index rose in April to its highest level since December 1999. And manufacturing exports grew at their fastest rate for five years. "Many firms suggested that the recovery of the US manufacturing economy had acted as a catalyst to growth throughout much of Europe," CIPS said. "Demand from the Middle and Far East was also reported to have grown in April." |
UK firms reported higher volumes of new business both at home and in their exports markets, sending the CIPS index soaring to 53.4 in April from 50.6 in March, well above economists' forecast of 51.3.
Any CIPS reading above 50 signals expansion, and the higher the figure, the faster the growth.
April marked
the third month in a row when the index came in above the 50 mark.
But in April, exports rose faster than they had done for more than 5 years, CIPS said.
New export orders index rose to 55.1 from 50.0 in March, its highest level since November 1996.
House prices surged ahead by a massive 3.4% during April-their highest monthly increase since records began, figures revealed today.Nationwide said the increase, which is the biggest since it started monitoring monthly rises in 1991, was probably only matched by a few isolated months in the late 1970s and 1980s. (AJplus.co.uk, 30/04/02)
Despite signs of strength, many manufacturers remained cautious.
New hiring of staff remained low and companies were still laying off workers, as indicated by the employment index which was unchanged at 46.4.
And although many firms reported a sharp fall in their stock, they were loath to begin rebuilding their inventories, as indicated by a fall in the stocks of purchases index to 44.3 in April from 45.6 in March. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk, 01/05/02)
Any
Comments?
click E-mail icon below:
The Creative Department is a marketing consultancy for the construction sector.
Contact
us: phone 07071 226304 or e-mail info@creative-department.com