All articles by Richard Steer 鈥� Page 9
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CommentOurTube: Inside Gleeds TV
So what happens when a bunch of construction consultants suddenly find themselves running a television station. And why would they ever want to?
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CommentPass the parcel
When partnering was introduced, contractors tended to get landed with most of a project鈥檚 risk. In these days of high demand, they鈥檙e trying to pass it back to clients. But is that a good strategy?
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CommentThe zero game
We need to reach an understanding of what we mean by a zero-carbon home. Until then, the debate will continue to be governed by politics and hot air
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CommentHere鈥檚 the pitch
Our industry will never have the skills or resources to communicate to a mass audience in the way of a great film director like Sydney Pollack, but that doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 learn a trick or two ...
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CommentYoung blood
Other professions may be more appealing to children, but they don鈥檛 all have their own GCSE or conduct multimillion-pound projects on school premises. It鈥檚 time construction made these factors count
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CommentGekko redux
Back in the eighties, Hollywood鈥檚 apotheosis of the cynical, sleazy financier had a real-life counterpart in the contractors who used new procurement systems to fleece hapless clients. And now they鈥檙e coming back 鈥�
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CommentActually, we can handle the truth
The government is still not prepared to admit the real cost of the Olympics, but treating us like children and hoping that nobody will notice when it creeps towards 拢12bn is asking for trouble
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CommentApocalypse cow
The only way we can save humanity from climate change is if we all pull together. But that鈥檚 not likely if bankers keep insisting on aircon, hedge funds keep looking for profit and cows keep 鈥� doing what cows do
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News
Isn鈥檛 it time for a little bit of discrimination?
Allowing overseas project managers and QSs to stay in the UK would be a surefire way of bridging Britain鈥檚 talent Gap
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CommentCultural revolution II
The eco-city being planned by Arup outside Shanghai sounds like a publicity stunt. But it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 an audacious attempt to change the world
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CommentFun, frolics and self-immolation
Richard Steer offers season鈥檚 greetings to you all, and hopes your office party doesn鈥檛 finish up in the Sunday papers, A&E or, indeed, the High Court
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CommentImage aware
Companies spend millions protecting and promoting their brands. Now the Olympic Committee is trying to make 鈥淟ondon 2012鈥� into the next superbrand, but can you really claim ownership of a date and a city鈥檚 name?
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CommentMIPIM flies east
MIPIM Asia might not measure up to MIPIM France, but it鈥檚 far less stuck up and people actually talk to each other. Just a shame the UK stand was so dismal
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CommentAge can wither
Age Discrimination Act 鈥� Giving employees the right to carry on working for ever will have a devastating impact on the development of businesses, as older workers hinder the succession of younger talent to the top
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CommentBack here in the real world 鈥�
Richard Steer wasn鈥檛 surprised to read that the cost of the London Olympics is set to rise 鈥� they nearly always do. What counts is what you get for the money
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CommentStuff happens
Here鈥檚 an immutable fact: the world is changing faster than we can put buildings up. So, when it comes to big construction schemes, it鈥檚 naive to expect a precise specification and no changes mid-project
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CommentAn abominable attitude
If you think saving the planet is not the responsibility of either the construction industry or UK plc, think again. Everybody has a part to play - including you and me
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CommentOn the beach
Sixteen months after Sri Lanka was hit by the Boxing Day tsunami, many people are still living in tents. What has gone wrong with the relief effort?
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CommentLondon 2013
The success of London's glossy Olympic bid presentation hinged on the city's ability to provide a legacy beyond 2012. So shouldn't we start doing something about it?
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CommentTime to Cannes MIPIM
MIPIM started as a harmless chance to swap business cards in the sun. That was before it all got out of hand, with parties and the rise of the sinister 鈥極rganisers'