The Built Asset Blog

Your hub for the latest news and views in the world of Built Assets

You are here: EC Harris > Skip Navigation LinksBlogs > Positive Outcomes

Positive Outcomes

25 Apr
11:16

A £2.3 Billion & Hyde Park Sized Opportunity for the NHS

Submitted by Conor Ellis, EC Harris, Global Account Leader, Health

Despite significant improvements being made to the way in which the NHS is managing its property, we believe that there is still a £2.3bn worth of annual savings available if better facilities management and procurement practices were adopted. The EC Harris NHS Estate Efficiency Annual Review 2012 identifies the scale of the potential savings and that the wasted space in the NHS estate is equivalent to 157 hectares - larger than London’s Hyde Park.  The NHS has improved year... Read More

0 Comments (0 Ratings)
A £2.3 Billion & Hyde Park Sized Opportunity for the NHS
26 Mar
08:36

The Future of Workplace – A Changing Environment?

Submitted by Julia Harvey, EC Harris, Associate

It seemed like 2012 was the year where every business and business forum put “flexible working” at the top of their workspace agenda. This topic, which initially emerged as a result of the global financial crisis driving businesses to cut costs in their real estate portfolio, evolved into a much greater phenomenon. Flexible work strategies were now being considered as part of overarching business decisions around things like technology choices, human resource policy and portfolio optimization.  Lately... Read More

3 Comments (6 Ratings)
The Future of Workplace – A Changing Environment?
21 Mar
09:39

Housing - UK Budget 2013

Submitted by Mark Farmer, EC Harris, Head of Private Residential

Probably the most single important announcement in The Budget was the introduction of the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme. Specifically aimed at freeing up what is still currently a dysfunctional housing market outside of Prime London, it will enable anyone (not just first time buyers) to access low deposit mortgages through equity loans and mortgage guarantees. Is this enough?  Click here to download our view point on the UK Budget 2013. Read More

0 Comments (0 Ratings)
Housing - UK Budget 2013
15 Mar
13:14

Apprentices: hired or fired?

Submitted by Stuart Tatton, EC Harris, Apprentice Project Manager

Studies show that the decision to opt for university is an ever-exacerbating one; tuition fees rise as the chances of gaining a job decrease. So why do undergraduates pursue this expensive and fickle route? From personal experience it’s a combination of three things:            1: Their profession requires it of them 2: It’s what is expected of them 3: They haven’t alternative ideas what else to do Despite... Read More

0 Comments (0 Ratings)
Apprentices: hired or fired?
14 Mar
10:59

Meeting the Basic Need Challenge

Submitted by Louise Allanach, EC Harris, Partner

The long awaited announcement of funding allocations for school places has given local authorities certainty and allows them to start planning the delivery of new places but many challenges remain.  The allocations are based on an analysis of school place needs which is more accurate than ever before and has been communicated with greater clarity and transparency than ever before.  So what solutions will ensure that the maximum numbers of new school places are provided for the... Read More

0 Comments (0 Ratings)
Meeting the Basic Need Challenge
13 Mar
14:30

ARCADIS/EC Harris awarded the Real Green Service Provider of the Year in the CEE Region

Submitted by Marcin Klammer, EC Harris, Location leader - Poland

The CEE Real Estate Quality Awards [CEEQA] is organised by CEE Insight Forum in association with the Financial Times with the aim of recognising and promoting outstanding business achievement in emerging European real estate to the regional and international investment arena.   Yesterday, at the MIPIM Gala in Cannes, ARCADIS/EC Harris were announced as the Real Green Service Provider of the Year for achievement in green building and CRE investment and services during 2012,... Read More

0 Comments (0 Ratings)
ARCADIS/EC Harris awarded the Real Green Service Provider of the Year in the CEE Region
11 Mar
09:39

Helping Property Managers Adopt a More Strategic Advisory Role

Submitted by Andrew Macpherson, EC Harris, Partner

I delivered a keynote presentation at an RICS event in Hong Kong last week which amongst other things, looked at the changing role of Property Managers within the Corporate Real Estate sector. One of the common themes to emerge was the need for Property Managers to adopt a more strategic role within an organization. This was viewed as a major challenge though given that most Board Executives continue to view property as a cost rather than a source of competitive advantage. This... Read More

3 Comments (15 Ratings)
Helping Property Managers Adopt a More Strategic Advisory Role
22 Feb
09:09

What will the Year of the Snake mean for China's built environment?

Submitted by Mark Budden, EC Harris, Area Leader, North Asia

With China due to reach the mid-point of its current Five-Year later this year during the Year of the Snake, there’s no doubt that the next twelve months will be an interesting period in which to live, work and do business in the country. But what will be the big themes to look out for within China’s built environment in this window? Here are our thoughts on the top ten likely to impact clients over the coming year: Staff attrition levels and overall HR costs will rise There... Read More

0 Comments (0 Ratings)
What will the Year of the Snake mean for China's built environment?
19 Feb
12:14

Commercial: a time for reinvention

Submitted by Richard Taylor, EC Harris, Head of Commercial

The reinvention of commercial development is prospering. A number of investors and developers have recognised the value of ‘re-inventing’ existing assets, and any such prime asset offered to the market has resulted in competitive purchasing, where aligning existing assets to the tenant demand around certain sectors and meeting modern specification requirements is achievable. In this respect, activity is set to remain strong during 2013 and as predicted for 2012, the refurbishment market... Read More

0 Comments (1 Rating)
Commercial: a time for reinvention
14 Feb
13:35

Built Assets Help Deliver Front Line Services More Effectively

Submitted by William Green, EC Harris, Head of Local Government and Communities

Councils were hit late last year with news of even deeper budget cuts through the latest settlement for local government, which declared a reduction of support of around 3.9% in 2013-14 and 8.6% in 2014-15. Communities secretary Eric Pickles accompanied this Christmas news with a beginners guide on "50 ways to save" in local government, which demonstrated a lack of appreciation of the sector's hard work and achievements to date, outstripping central government on both action and... Read More

0 Comments (1 Rating)
Built Assets Help Deliver Front Line Services More Effectively