http://www.einsidetrack.com eInsideTrack RSS en mpotts@isocube.co.uk Copyright 2012 2012-05-08T22:16:46+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details//in_this_issue29 http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/in_this_issue29/#When:22:16:46Z Dave Griffin and Brian Green bring us fully up to date with the state of the sector, and current trends: when will 'dawn' finally break? But there are some (relative) positives to focus on: repair and maintenance is holding up; education construction and refurbishment is set to grow; the Green Deal will - eventually - deliver on the domestic front. And sustainability continues to present opportunities: commercial agents recognise its importance to their clients; the hospitality industry recognises its importance to customers, its cost saving potential - and the need to act. 2012-05-08T22:16:46+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/market_intelligence/24/market_intelligence_darkest_before_the_dawn http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/market_intelligence_darkest_before_the_dawn/#When:22:04:24Z The downturn in the weather dovetails neatly with the results of our survey this month where we have seen a drop in confidence across the board. Deeper analysis will show that the majority of the drop is fed by concerns regarding falling demand in the regions. Market intelligence 2012-05-08T22:04:24+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/market_intelligence/24/market_intelligence_construction_shrinks_r_m_holds_up http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/market_intelligence_construction_shrinks_r_m_holds_up/#When:21:54:53Z The construction industry shrank by 3% in the first quarter of this year and managed to drag the whole UK economy into recession. That at least was the preliminary take on the data from the Office for National Statistics. Market intelligence 2012-05-08T21:54:53+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/market_intelligence/24/market_intelligence_education_construction_and_refurbishment_to_grow http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/market_intelligence_education_construction_and_refurbishment_to_grow/#When:21:50:08Z Education construction and improvement will see over £9 billion spending in 2012, according to a report from MTW Research. New build and refurbishment in schools therefore offer significant opportunities for building services businesses in this sector. Market intelligence 2012-05-08T21:50:08+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/business_opportunities/23/business_opportunities_green_deal_keep_watching_the_news http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/business_opportunities_green_deal_keep_watching_the_news/#When:21:48:09Z Every day, it seems there is yet another announcement, research finding, government spokesman - or Minister - denial, or other permutation...on or around the ‘Green Deal'. Will it ever happen? And will it have any chance of success when it does? Unfortunately, bureaucratic nightmare or not, it offers the prospect of workload during a downturn for building services that looks like it has some years still to run: keep watching, therefore. Business opportunities 2012-05-08T21:48:09+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/market_intelligence/24/market_intelligence_sustainability_toolkit_for_commercial_agents http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/market_intelligence_sustainability_toolkit_for_commercial_agents/#When:21:46:39Z Reflecting the growth in market demand, the Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is calling on all agents who are involved in the sale and leasing of commercial property to improve their knowledge of sustainability issues and drive change by helping owners and occupiers to understand the benefits of owning and using greener buildings. To support this, the BBP has developed an easy to use Transactional Agents Sustainability Toolkit. Market intelligence 2012-05-08T21:46:39+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/building-construction-news-law/4/legal_the_state_of_play_adjudication_and_construction_contracts http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/legal_the_state_of_play_adjudication_and_construction_contracts/#When:21:26:49Z Much has already been written about the changes to the Construction Act 1996 that came into effect on 1 October 2011 (1 November in Scotland). Now the dust has been allowed to settle - at least a little - we take a look at the current 'state of play' regarding three main issues in construction contracts: payment, suspension and adjudication. In this part of the series, we consider the ever-controversial topic of adjudication. Legal 2012-05-08T21:26:49+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/business_opportunities/23/business_opportunity_tripadvisor http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/business_opportunity_tripadvisor/#When:21:04:36Z Tourism - including travel and hospitality - is moving towards a more sustainable business model. Sustainable tourism is being driven by economic, regulatory and stakeholder pressure, with consumers increasingly favouring sustainable services and products. A recent TripAdvisor survey in the USA spotlights this trend, and in consequence directs our attention to the need for hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities to respond - with significant potential for the building services sector. Business opportunities 2012-05-08T21:04:36+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/business_opportunities/23/business_opportunities_government_contract_plans http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/business_opportunities_government_contract_plans/#When:20:59:08Z Details of contract plans for the next five years for dozens of services including construction, facilities management and property management have been published by the government, and will help contractors and manufacturers plan ahead. Business opportunities 2012-05-08T20:59:08+00:00 http://www.einsidetrack.com//details/market_intelligence/24/market_intelligence_business_failure_or_credit_management http://www.einsidetrack.com/site/market_intelligence_business_failure_or_credit_management/#When:20:57:13Z 'We are seeing an increasing number of business failures in construction.' (Dave Griffin of EC Harris writing in this issue of eInsideTrack). 'Work has stopped at all Killby & Gayford sites as the company fell into administration' (Construction Enquirer, 18 April 2012) Market intelligence 2012-05-08T20:57:13+00:00