All articles by Matthew Richards

  • Features

    Take your partners

    2003-10-31T00:00:00Z

    As clients, councils tend to be one-night-stand types with a leering interest in the size of your tenders, or celibates who do everything themselves. But now the government is pairing them up with sexy private firms and shoving them under the mirrorball. We think this could be the start of ...

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    Mott MacDonald enters the Beijing Olympics

    2003-10-24T00:00:00Z

    Firm creates first-ever joint venture between Chinese and western multidisciplinary consultants.

  • Features

    WANTED

    2003-10-17T00:00:00Z

    We get the lowdown on the 2003 Hays Montrose/ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV contractors' salary guide, and finds most folks (outside London) have a few dollars more in their pokes – and graduates are being hunted like dry gulching bandidos.

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    Bovis wins gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy

    2003-10-17T00:00:00Z

    Italian arm is awarded 29-month contract in joint bid with Turin engineering and construction firm.

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    CIS appeals may cost £50,000

    2003-10-17T00:00:00Z

    Contractors that are refused CIS tax scheme certificates may soon also lose their right to appeal against the decision

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    Major contractors hit back at union claims over PFI

    2003-10-10T00:00:00Z

    Industry group issues robust denial of criticisms levelled in Unison report on PFI school construction.

  • Features

    Top 250 Consultants 2003: Big hitters

    2003-09-26T00:00:00Z

    This year’s consultants league table ranks the top 250 practices in the UK, then breaks it down into the top 100 architects, engineers and surveyors. But which have the class and the grace to punch above their weight? We report from the ringsideTables compiled by Martin Hewes

  • Features

    Threat and response

    2003-09-19T00:00:00Z

    Gangs of robbers, terrorists, politically motivated saboteurs … Contractors could be forgiven for thinking that their sites are under siege. But how can they fend off the enemy without blowing all their profit on security?

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    HSE has warm words, but no money, for roving reps

    2003-09-19T00:00:00Z

    Health and Safety Executive has no plans for national roll-out of successful worker safety advisers scheme.

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    Mabey & Johnson sues top insurers over bridge repairs

    2003-09-19T00:00:00Z

    Engineer takes insurance companies to court to recover costs for work on bridges in Africa and the Americas.

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    Industry faces animal rights threat

    2003-09-19T00:00:00Z

    A former Scotland Yard special branch detective has warned the construction industry to brace itself for a campaign of intimidation from violent animal rights activists

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    Treasury to launch PFI charm offensive

    2003-09-12T00:00:00Z

    The Treasury is planning to begin a PR offensive to counter unions' attacks on the PFI

  • Features

    The secret of our success

    2003-09-05T00:00:00Z

    With the fastest-growing construction industry in Europe, Britain is the envy of its continental neighbours. And a revealing report shows that it's all down to the economy-transforming magic of the PFI.

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    UK tops European league thanks to PFI, says report

    2003-09-05T00:00:00Z

    Trade body calls British construction Europe's 'bright light', but warns of recession if public spending cuts go ahead.

  • Features

    From Birmingham to Basra

    2003-09-05T00:00:00Z

    One minute he was a QS in Birmingham, the next he was dodging Scuds in Iraq. Territorial Army lance corporal Craig Barker spoke to us about food rations, Saddam's yacht and keeping cool.

  • Features

    Towers of doom

    2003-08-29T00:00:00Z

    Strange but true: countries that build the world's tallest building shortly afterwards suffer an economic catastrophe. Matthew Richards examines the link between skyscraper booms and economic bust – with special reference to the USA, Dubai, China and Taiwan

  • Features

    Comeback kid?

    2003-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Down Kenneth Clarke may be, out he certainly isn't. The man who claims to have invented PFI is on bullish form and ready to take on contractors, civil servants, bankers – oh, and the Labour government, of course, for messing up his big idea.

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    Labour ruined PFI, says Clarke

    2003-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Former Conservative chancellor Kenneth Clarke has accused the government of ruining the PFI by giving in to the trade unions

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    UK firms queue up to work on world's tallest building

    2003-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Davis Langdon & Everest approached to cost 150-storey tower, as UK firms join Dubai goldrush.

  • Features

    The bet

    2003-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Dubai has the population of Leeds but spends more on construction than Scotland. That investment is, in effect, a multibillion pound punt that the city will soon be the commercial centre of the Middle East. But what are the odds?