In the run up to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, or Budget, on 26 November there are plenty of reasons not to be too cheerful on the economic front. Speculation about potential tax rises and the size and impact of fiscal ‘black holes’ abounds, all of which dampens the spirit of funders and developers as they consider whether to commit to investments. Throw confusion over what sort of planning environment we will inhabit into the mix, and it is no surprise that a mood of caution if not outright gloom has descended.
It is worth remembering that whatever happens, we have seen it all before and survived the experience. We might emerge from it a bit battered and bruised, but investment plans usually resurface before too long. Business confidence waxes and wanes – usually with good reason – but keeping your nerve in the expectation that better times will return is usually a sound strategy.
Anecdotal evidence from investment professionals does suggest that there is a lot of pent up investment money waiting for the right moment to be committed to projects. Construction industry analysts agree with this as well. For example, Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association, was recently quoted in the Financial Times saying there is a ‘host of investors that have the finance ready but they will need certainty over the planning regime’.
We can expect movement on the planning front in due course, and delivery from government ministers on their promises to reduce the time spent waiting for approvals from the Building Safety Regulator. When the appropriate measures are taken to give developers and investors confidence, there could be quite a rush to get projects started.
This is the sort of situation when taking the advice given by steelwork contractors to engage with them early in a project will pay dividends, if listened to and acted on. Unfortunately for some, the advice is often ignored and projects can be delayed as the construction industry and its suppliers struggle to satisfy the sudden rush of demand. The fortunate clients who do listen of course, steal a lead on their rivals in getting their projects finished in good time and without the rush and delay that others will experience.
All clients of the steel construction sector – those who employ a BCSA member from the Register of Qualified Steelwork Contractors – enjoy those benefits routinely, but they are better assured if the message to engage with their steelwork contractor early is taken on board. Time and again, the delighted clients of the sector tell NSC reporters, when they visit sites, of the timely delivery of cost effective, quality projects.
This issue of NSC highlights a wide range of steel construction projects successfully delivered, as do all of our issues. We don’t reject projects that don’t deliver that satisfaction, what we print is honestly what we are told on every site we report on.
The range of types of project on which satisfaction is delivered is very broad, ranging in this issue from education facilities, waste management, a public transport interchange and a new global headquarters for golf’s ruling body the R&A. The geographical spread is also diverse, including Wigan, the Rhondda Valley, St Andrews and Redruth. So wherever you are or whatever your project is, avoid the inevitable rush and get in touch with your steelwork contractor as early as possible.
Early engagement is best way to beat the inevitable rush
In the run up to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, or Budget, on 26 November there are plenty of reasons not to be too cheerful on the economic front. Speculation about potential tax rises and the size and impact of fiscal ‘black holes’ abounds, all of which dampens the spirit of funders and developers as they consider whether to commit to investments. Throw confusion over what sort of planning environment we will inhabit into the mix, and it is no surprise that a mood of caution if not outright gloom has descended.
It is worth remembering that whatever happens, we have seen it all before and survived the experience. We might emerge from it a bit battered and bruised, but investment plans usually resurface before too long. Business confidence waxes and wanes – usually with good reason – but keeping your nerve in the expectation that better times will return is usually a sound strategy.
Anecdotal evidence from investment professionals does suggest that there is a lot of pent up investment money waiting for the right moment to be committed to projects. Construction industry analysts agree with this as well. For example, Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association, was recently quoted in the Financial Times saying there is a ‘host of investors that have the finance ready but they will need certainty over the planning regime’.
We can expect movement on the planning front in due course, and delivery from government ministers on their promises to reduce the time spent waiting for approvals from the Building Safety Regulator. When the appropriate measures are taken to give developers and investors confidence, there could be quite a rush to get projects started.
This is the sort of situation when taking the advice given by steelwork contractors to engage with them early in a project will pay dividends, if listened to and acted on. Unfortunately for some, the advice is often ignored and projects can be delayed as the construction industry and its suppliers struggle to satisfy the sudden rush of demand. The fortunate clients who do listen of course, steal a lead on their rivals in getting their projects finished in good time and without the rush and delay that others will experience.
All clients of the steel construction sector – those who employ a BCSA member from the Register of Qualified Steelwork Contractors – enjoy those benefits routinely, but they are better assured if the message to engage with their steelwork contractor early is taken on board. Time and again, the delighted clients of the sector tell NSC reporters, when they visit sites, of the timely delivery of cost effective, quality projects.
This issue of NSC highlights a wide range of steel construction projects successfully delivered, as do all of our issues. We don’t reject projects that don’t deliver that satisfaction, what we print is honestly what we are told on every site we report on.
The range of types of project on which satisfaction is delivered is very broad, ranging in this issue from education facilities, waste management, a public transport interchange and a new global headquarters for golf’s ruling body the R&A. The geographical spread is also diverse, including Wigan, the Rhondda Valley, St Andrews and Redruth. So wherever you are or whatever your project is, avoid the inevitable rush and get in touch with your steelwork contractor as early as possible.