22/10/2010 by David Slade.

The long awaited Capital Spending Review took place this week and the good news is that £15.8 billion has been set aside for refurbishment and repair work on up to 600 schools in need of urgent assistance.

The UK Knowledge Economy loan could eventually see up to £2bn invested in education facilities and science parks in the UK

The European Investment Bank is to invest £500m in further education facilities and science parks in the UK.

The UK Knowledge Economy loan will be passed to three banks, which will invest in higher and further education facilities, science parks and incubation centres.

The first £150m of lending has been agreed, with more lending expected next year when more banks come on board. The EIB said the programme could potentially be worth up to £2bn

The three banks so far involved are RBS, Santander and Lloyds.

Vince Cable, minister for innovation, said: “The science and research community is very successful at securing funding from a diverse range of sources, so this new loan facility will be a welcome addition to the options available for universities and science parks in the UK.”

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05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Leading debt collector LPL, which has more than 200 construction firms on its books, said there has been a 32 per cent rise in builders calling upon its services in the last two months.

Contractors are increasingly calling on the services of debt collectors with businesses refusing to pay contractors for work not properly costed and agreed.

The number of debt collection instructions LPL received from construction firms totalled 6,516 over the last two months compared with 4,937 for the first three months of the year.

LPL said the average debt totalled £12,500 adding up to an average of £80 million outstanding.

LPL warned contractors to get their paperwork in order, or risk never recovering the money.

Managing director Stephen Lewis said: “Businesses are feeling the pinch and are delaying payment on the grounds that work has not been properly costed and agreed.

“Extra work that has been carried out on a simple ‘OK go ahead’ basis is coming back to haunt them when the invoice is presented. And sometimes contractors only have themselves to blame.

“If the paperwork is in order, however, the chances of recovery – either with or without litigation – are dramatically improved.”

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05/06/2009 by David Slade.

The UK construction sector contracted at its slowest rate in more than a year according to the latest Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply/Markit Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for construction which registered a reading of 45.9 in May up from 38.1 in April. With any reading below 50 indicating contraction, the industry has now been in decline for 15 months

(The Times). (02 June)

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29/05/2009 by David Slade.

The housebuilding industry has received a boost with applications to build new homes up 10 per cent in the three months to April, figures from the National Housebuilding Council have revealed.

The National Housebuilding Council statistics show 17,859 applications to build new homes were received in the three months to the end of April 2009.

The amount is 10 per cent higher than the previous rolling quarter January to March 2009 when 16,232 applications we received.

Some encouragement can be taken from April’s figures, which show applications to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors rose for the fourth successive month in a row to 6,379.

But activity levels during the three months to the end of April were still severely depressed, with a 53 per cent reduction compared to the same period a year ago.

NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said: “While it is still too early to assume that these are definite signs of a recovery, some positive indicators are emerging which suggest that the severe downturn in house-building activity may be beginning to turn a corner.

“Anecdotal evidence from house-builders and developers also suggests that conditions are easing slightly on site, no doubt boosted by the Government’s recent £1 billion budgetary pledge to help the housing market and the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) Kickstart initiative to open up mothballed sites.”

REGIONAL BREAKDOWN
Region    Feb to April 2009    Feb to April 2008    Percentage Increase / (-) Decrease

England- Regions   
North East                                 630    1,223    -48%
North West                              1,127    2,633    -57%
Merseyside                                  364    1,121    -68%
Yorkshire & the Humber        967    2,320    -58%
West Midlands                          936    3,033    -69%
East Midlands                         1,381    3,017    -54%
Eastern                                    2,618    4,342    -40%
South West                             2,280    2,935    -22%
Greater London                      1,375    4,924    -72%
South East                               3,061    5,736    -47%
Totals for England            14,739    31,284    -53%
Scotland- Councils                 1,561    4,011    -61%
Wales- Unitary Authorities    786    1,374    -43%
Northern Ireland - Counties      749    968    -23%
Isle of Man                                       24    125    -81%
Totals for UK              17,859    37,762    -53%

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29/05/2009 by David Slade.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released today its reference case projection from the “International Energy Outlook 2009” (IEO2009), which projected the world marketed energy consumption to grow by 44 percent between 2006 and 2030. The projection states that the increased energy consumption will be driven by strong long-term economic growth in the developing nations of the world, despite the current global economic downturn dampening world energy demand in the near term.

According to the projection, with economic recovery anticipated to begin within the next 12 to 24 months, most nations are expected to see energy consumption growth at rates anticipated prior to the recession. Total world energy use is expected to rise from 472 quadrillion BTU in 2006 to 552 quadrillion BTU in 2015, and then to 678 quadrillion BTU in 2030.

In the industrial industry alone, energy consumption is expected to grow from 175 quadrillion BTU in 2006 to 246 quadrillion BTU in 2030, growing at an average rate of 2.1 percent per year, according to the reference case. The “BRIC” countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) are expected to account for more than two-thirds of the developing world’s growth in industrial energy use through 2030.

Along with increased worldwide energy consumption, the projection anticipates that the world’s economies recovering will cause increased oil prices, persisting through 2030. The IEO2009 reference case shows world oil prices rising to $110 per barrel in 2015 (in real 2007 dollars) and $130 per barrel in 2030, with total liquid fuel and petroleum consumption increasing by 22 million barrels per day. Conventional oil supplies from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are expected to contribute 8.2 million barrels per day to the total increase in world liquid fuels production, with non-OPEC countries contributing another 3.4 million barrels per day.

However, unlike the reference case, the full version of the IEO2009 includes three world oil price cases to take into account the extremely volatile nature of world oil prices. The price cases range from $50 per barrel in the low-price case to $200 per barrel in the high-price case, with supply outlooks ranging from 90 million barrels per day in the high-price case to 120 million barrels per day in the low-price case (compared to 107 million barrels per day in the EIA’s reference case).

Additionally, the reference case showed that unconventional resources, such as biofuels, oil sands, extra-heavy oil, coal-to-liquids, and gas-to-liquids from both OPEC and non-OPEC sources becoming increasingly competitive: The reference case shows the world production of unconventional resources increasing to 13.4 million barrels per day in 2030, accounting for 13 percent of total world liquids supply.

The reference case also discusses renewable energy use for electricity generation, which is expected to grow by an average of 2.9 percent per year. The renewable share of world electricity generation is expected to increase to 21 percent in 2030, up from 19 percent in 2006. Additionally, the reference case projects energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to rise from 29.1 billion metric tons in 2005 to 40.4 billion metric tons in 2030, a 39-percent increase, much of which is expected to occur among developing nations, especially in Asia. The reference case does not, however, take into account specific policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

To view the EIA’s full report on IEO2009, visit www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/index.html.

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26/05/2009 by David Slade.

The BBC’s business editor Robert Peston has told the property and construction industry that the economy will not recover until the end of 2010.

Addressing the British Council for Offices annual conference he said: “The challenge for the UK is convincing the rest of the world that we can live within our means.

“Yes we are going to recover, your sector will recover. It is not a disaster but it is going to be pretty tough.”

He told conference delegates in Edinburgh that the private sector should assume more of the burden of driving recovery to relieve the public sector, which has been propping up the banking system.

Mr Peston said the recovery would be slow. “When the recovery comes it may be a bit sluggish as households and companies follow banks in paying down debt.”

He added that the downturn was worse in Germany and Japan but added: “The big question is will there be a semi-permanent reduction in the British economy? We will have to tighten our belts for several years.”

Conference chair Mike Hussey, senior vice-president at Land Securities, said: “We need to look at how we do things in the property industry to see if there is anything we can do [to help the global economy].”

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11/04/2009 by David Slade.

Market & industry sectors I’ve designed for, include: -

Commercial:-
Commercial offices, (Shell & fit-out), Banking and dealing / trading floors,  Business Park Developments, Science Parks, Call Centres, Headquarters offices,  Banks & Building Society refurbishments, fashion house and art studio complex.

Education:-
Schools (Traditional and PFI contracts), Colleges, Universities and campus, Hotel &

Leisure industries:-
Hotels (Single and International), Conferencing and Banqueting Centres,
Entertainment complex developments, Cinemas, Leisure & Fitness Centres,
Sport Halls, Swimming Pools, Restaurant’s.

Retail:-
Retail properties,  Shopping Centers & Malls, National Distribution Centres
(Food/Goods warehouse & Data Processing), Petrol Stations

Transport:-
Airports (Landside & Airside developments, including Arrivals / Departure’s, Pier Developments and terminals), Baggage handling, Specialist systems (FIDS, MAID, ADAM, HEART, CCTV etc)
Railway projects, Railtrack (National Railway Stations Developments), London Underground above and below stations, Dockland light railway

Communication:-
Telecommunications Industry, (including IT networks and cabling multimedia & video conferencing etc);   Collocation/Internet Backbone Providers; Switch sites, PoP’s, Mobile operators switch & co-lo data server sites & National Control centre &Call Centres.
Health Care:-
PFI Hospitals, Hospital wards & Health Centres and other health care type related properties

Government & military:-
HMP (Prisons), HMYOI (Young Offenders Institute),   HM Secure Care Centres, Detention Centres, Court Rooms (Magistrates, Crown Court to Commonwealth Court of Appeal), Government Buildings (Home Office (Immigration and Naturalisation), MOD (UK Army & RAF Airfields, Headquarters buildings & other military establishment premises) to Defence Estates JSP / NATO standards.

Industrial:-
Pharmaceutical Industries, Research & Development Facilities / Laboratory’s, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Processing Industries, Petrochemical control rooms,
Wind Tunnels, Warehouse & Industrial units.
Residential:-
Single and multi-residential dwellings
Penthouse complexities
Prestige VIP residential “manor house” type with family and guest wings, and multi functional areas, dining rooms, party entertainment areas, internal swimming pool, spar pool, gym and sauna & steam rooms, plus house staff quarters etc.
Modular / bespoke prefabricated housing solutions.
Offshore & Ships:-
Super-yacht  (170 mtr, seven main deck levels; 5 Star plus residential & hotel complex).
Overseas development projects: -
Water infrastructure and associated company buildings for workshops, staff quarters, and other associated township & support maintenance requirements. Internet Backbone & telecom collocation Providers.

Also advised on international standards for overseas projects throughout the world for planning design/consents, recognised standards, testing and certification bodies etc.

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11/04/2009 by David Slade.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Resume:

I commenced work as an apprentice electrician, and have gone on over the last 25 years to hold senior design and management positions working within multinational and SME companies, within Building Services built environment, with a wide range of knowledge, expertise and experience, in tacking major capital projects with confidence. I have worked on a vast range of design solutions for different industries and uses.

To be one of the best you need to understand the project communications,  design responsibilities and client confidentiality, when working with clients on internationally-known projects, with curious media interests looking for a story.

Unusually for a engineer trained person. I’ve also had has experience for client’s offering  business development, taking manufacturing products and other professional services to market.

That’s without the cause related charity work.

Known as the ‘Third sector’ - That another different world again.

This is a major clash of mind sets, as they don’t normally fully understand each other.

For the engineer:

Works with facts, engineering physics, rules & regulations, building codes and regulations, use standards to determine what to select and use. Prove with calculations, and designed so that it can be constructed by others.

Computer: Intel computer with Microsoft software: Word, excel, Autocad and other specialist software being used.

Output: drawings, reports, specifications……..For a tender issue - Box or CD full of paper work (A4, A3, A0) bound / loose for copying by others.

Advertising:

For advertising it’s generally about branding and a single message to market, using as little amount of words and images, as possible to communicate this to the intended customer.

Designer: Images, phase, image, look and feel.

Computer:  Apple G5 - (What other computer’s could my client be using then? Intel whats that?)

Output: Dependent on output media: One image, tag line or a poster.

The effort is getting to this delivery point.

Marketing is different it’s about planning and ‘the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably’. This definition covers just about every aspect of business, from what you pay for your raw materials, right through to how you make, price, distribute, advertise and sell the ‘look and feel’ of the product / service.

Designers and publishers:  Apple G5

Management: G5 / Intel computers

I’m also internationally known for my developed in Integrated Information Technology (IIT) design approach solutions.

I’m regularly requested to present these ideas at various seminar / leadership forums and workshops internationally, including CABA Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forums, relating to leading edge IIT solutions and business opportunities, risks and rewards. Introduced and defined “Lifetime Freedom Homes” to the industry.

Welcome to my world

David

Posted in General, IIT, David Slade, Third sector, Lifetime freedom homes, System intergration, Advertising, Marketing, Engineering, Introduction | 8 Comments »