CONSTRUCTION: GOVERNMENT MUST DRIVE COST SAVING AND QUALITY TO DRIVE RECOVERY, SAYS MCBAINS COOPER CEO.

MCBAINS COOPER

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

PRESS RELEASE

October 25, 2010.

CONSTRUCTION: GOVERNMENT MUST DRIVE COST SAVING AND QUALITY TO DRIVE RECOVERY, SAYS MCBAINS COOPER CEO.

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A senior figure in the property and construction professional consultancy sector is warning both the government and the building industry not to cut corners on quality as it battles to cut costs to the bone following the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains Cooper, the international property and construction consultancy, says the government should be investigating, understanding and driving the proven-efficient inter-disciplinary approach to government-funded building projects to help match or even exceed its cash saving plans.

“The government is looking for savings everywhere, but while there are some very good top-line ideas, the key is to ensuring specialists – with specialist understanding – drill down and get to grips with where efficiencies can be driven without compromising quality,” said Michael Thirkettle.

“I believe many building and construction projects shelved by the government could be resurrected, with cost efficiencies identified, allowing those projects to be delivered to precisely the standard envisaged at brief stage, but to the same high quality.

“Where does the money come from? Through savings identified and driven in projects which have been given the green light, and where the inter-disciplinary approach can be applied equally effectively.

“While it is driving austerity measures following the CSR, the government should recognise the benefits to be gained by balancing cost-saving with maintenance of quality – and Ministers, even with a reduced level of investment in public sector building projects, can still influence that balance.

“The market needs and requires an inter-d approach to achieve cost savings and efficiencies, but also to maintain the quality of the product over the next three to five years.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.mcbainscooper.com

Notes.

McBains Cooper

McBains Cooper is an inter-discipline consultancy, specialising in property, infrastructure and construction, offering a wide range of consulting and design services including architectural, aesthetic or technical design, problem solving, budget management, facilities management, health and safety, sustainability consultancy and on-the-ground civil engineering. Driving and supporting projects ranging from minor works to major contracts worth more than £100 million, McBains Cooper operates across a variety of sectors throughout the UK, Europe and Latin America. McBains Cooper is committed to environmental, social and economic sustainable development and their integrated approach means they deliver effective, award-winning solutions to their clients. The Group employs 150 people. McBains Cooper has regional headquarters in London (head office), Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Windsor, Lima (Peru) and Mexico City, with associate offices in Belfast and Dublin. www.mcbainscooper.com

OVER-50S SAY CUT INTERNATIONAL AID BUDGETS IN LINE WITH UK AUSTERITY PLANS.

EMMA SOAMES

SAGA MAGAZINE
PRESS RELEASE

August 9, 2010.

OVER-50S SAY CUT INTERNATIONAL AID BUDGETS IN LINE WITH UK AUSTERITY PLANS.

Three-quarters of over-50s say that overseas aid budgets should be cut in the same spirit as domestic austerity measures.

Of 13,391 over-50s surveyed by Populus on behalf of Saga - the lifestyle, financial services and travel organisation catering for the older generations - 76% say that a pragmatic and realistic approach should be taken when it comes to spending abroad, and budgets should be cut.

Emma Soames, editor-at-large of Saga Magazine, said: “We’re a generous nation, but the elderly in the UK have been told they, like the rest of us, must accept austerity plans laid down by the government.

“But there is danger of injustice if international aid budgets favour foreign needs over domestic spending needs.

“The Saga Generation recognises that there’s an ebb and flow to the financial fortunes of the UK, and when there is plenty to go round then we should help the less fortunate abroad.

“However, when times are tight then the money should stay within our shores; by looking after our own in the short-term in difficult times, we are able to amass financial momentum and mass which means we can return to international support for the needy when financial times improve.”

Populus received 13,391 responses from Saga members aged 50 and over to its online poll for Saga between 9th and 16th July 2010.

Ends

Further information:
Iain Macauley
im@pressrelations.co.uk
07788 978800
www.saga.co.uk

Emma Soames, editor-at-large, was editor of Saga Magazine from 2002-2008. Previously she edited the Telegraph Magazine for seven years and before that was editor of ES Magazine, Tatler and the Literary Review.