Abstracts » Construction and materials industries

Great training robbery

Article Abstract:

Serious skills shortages are emerging as the UK construction industry moves out of recession. Skills and training are set to become the focus of considerable attention, especially as new Inland Revenue regulations are forcing employers to take self-employed workers into direct employment, thus creating a more static and stable workforce. However, the Construction Industry Training Board does not plan to make significant increases in the number of craft trainees, and expects overall trainee numbers to increase only slightly.

Employment, Skilled labor

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Add salesman

Article Abstract:

UK design-and-build (D&B) contractor Wates Integra claims that its two-stage managed procurement route 2+2 benefits clients, architects and contractors. Wates has been developing 2+2 since 1991, and it now accounts for 60% of the firm's business. Wates divisional manager David Stanley believes that more and more clients will turn to managed forms of D&B because such approaches unify D&B and managed procurement. The 2+2 route consists of two stages and two key parties, contractor and client.

Wates Integra

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Chain reaction

Article Abstract:

In the UK construction industry, partnering has become a popular and beneficial management option. It is aimed at providing clients with efficiently built buildings with cost savings of around 30% and gives contractors a greater profit. However, in some cases, the division of benefits is uneven, with subcontractors often left with little return on their investments.

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