A range of views highlighting issues that are affecting
businesses today and the strategies we believe will be most
successful in combating them.
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Delivering the plan for 20% less - a yearly pulse check
When the AMP5 regulatory framework was introduced the common consensus was that water organisations and service providers would be facing the most defining period since privatisation.
Read expert viewpoint Unlock Financial Capacity through a Strategic Approach to Insurance
Through effective and strategic management of risk and insurance, affordable housing providers have a relatively quick way of unlocking capacity to support new housing supply or simply create further operational efficiency.
Read expert viewpoint The impact of the draft determinations: meeting the performance challenge
The impact of the draft determinations: meeting the performance challenge
Read expert viewpoint Keeping rail efficiency on the right track
The ongoing challenge is to deliver more for less and maximise value-for-money from tightened public funding, whilst placing increased importance on the delivery and operation of a safe, efficient and effective rail programme.
Read expert viewpoint Global research shows BRICS still considered an investment risk for transport infrastructure
Our Investment in Transport Infrastructure study underlines that ambition alone will not be enough if emerging nations are to deliver the purpose-built transport infrastructure that they need to support their continued economic growth.
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Creating financial capacity through ground rent management
With the housing market not even close to full recovery and the ongoing affordability issues for people accessing good quality housing and support; the business of providing and managing affordable housing remains tough.
Read expert viewpoint Rail Reform: 'More Efficient' should not be Confused with 'Cheaper'
The central challenge will be to deliver more for less. We need to find a way to improve the quality of service offered without compromising the delivery and operation of a safe, efficient and effective rail programme.
Read expert viewpoint Drive 10-25% efficiency gains from operational expenditure programmes
Railway companies have to demonstrate that they are on track to achieve cost savings and efficiency targets. However, current trends show that this has resulted in virtually a blind assault on cost base by simply cutting operational expenditure.
Read expert viewpoint Robust business cases accelerate investment programmes and maximise strategic outcomes
Rail projects are being and will continue to be delayed due to the inability to develop robust business cases that provide a realistic assessment of the full scale and scope of benefits, opportunities and risks.
Read expert viewpoint Understanding the estate and effective programme management will maximise the impact of new capital
Michael Gove announced new capital arrangements including the anticipated return of a ‘PFI’ model and recognition of the urgent need for extra funding for new school places. But what does this mean for schools and local authorities?
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Driving efficiency from the operation phase of the oil and gas asset lifecycle
The return on investment delivered by a project depends on the minimisation of CAPEX and the cost of operation of the asset. Efficiencies can be identified and achieved through the application of the right processes during the CAPEX and OPEX phases.
Read expert viewpoint Local Authorities faced with shrinking window of opportunity for property savings
Are councils going far enough in challenging some of the emotive aspects of their cost base? In light of opposition to the Health Bill, the window for being able to push through hard and unpopular cuts even at the local level is in danger of closing.
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The space race
In the client conversations we are having, the common challenge is how to get more of the right opportunities in at the front end, and how to progress them quickly through to scheme approval and delivery.
Read expert viewpoint Valuing Development Sites
The governments policy to have all new homes ‘zero carbon’ by 2016 has been well publicised. With the introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the route map to achieve this within the residential market has been sketched out.
Read expert viewpoint How to manage the true costs of sustainability and realise its value
The requirement for sustainability in built assets will increase in the next two years. The key issues will be successfully managing the requirements during asset creation, how to realise value of a green asset and what to do with existing stock.
Read expert viewpoint The New World Order for Affordable Housing Delivery
“Registered Providers are in a ‘new world’ - those still perplexed by some of the less expected outcomes of the Affordable Homes Programme allocations should have considered just how ‘new’ the world is…"
Read expert viewpoint Corporate Real Estate: Increasing Productivity
Organisations are constantly striving for greater corporate productivity especially in times of wider economic downturn when they need to reduce their team sizes, increase their profits (or mitigate losses) and lower their costs.
Read expert viewpoint Improve energy efficiency - improve learning outcomes
The dip in energy prices caused by the recession gave some temporary relief to the rapid increase in the utility costs but organisations should prepare for cost increases over the next 3 years as demand for energy starts to increase in India and China.
Read expert viewpoint Knitting organisations together through Corporate Real Estate
Property has become a source of competitive advantage and organisations are beginning to see their property as a key element of how they integrate business across a global platform.
Read expert viewpoint Early consideration needed to effectively achieve BREEAM ratings
Increasingly, developers are recognising the benefits of securing a good BREEAM rating. To achieve this, a clear strategy must be conceived and implemented in the early stages of a project to ensure the whole process is aligned with BREEAM criteria.
Read expert viewpoint Retirement Village Development
There are no quick wins in the development of Continuous Care Retirement Communities or ‘retirement villages’. Developers need to be aware of all the challenges they face to enter this sector.
Read expert viewpoint Better Contracting
Organisations across the public sector have to deal with drastically reduced financial resources to commit to capital and revenue expenditure.
Read expert viewpoint Improve learning outcomes
The dip in energy prices caused by the recession gave some relief to the increase in utility costs. However, with demand for energy starting to increase again in India and China, organisations should prepare for steep increases over the next 3 years.
Read expert viewpoint Better Learning Outcomes
Recent events including the unprecedented social unrest in some MENA countries this year, continue
to have profound implications for ruling governments in meeting the growing expectations of their populations.
Read expert viewpoint Developing World Class Hospitals
It is difficult to know the number of major hospitals around the world. North America houses close to 9,000. China has more than 20,000. There are many thousands in Asia, Europe and over 500 in the GCC.
Read expert viewpoint To outsource or not?
Across the country local authorities are implementing cost reduction plans in response to the austerity measures set out by Government.
Read expert viewpoint Airport Resilience
In the middle of all of this uncertainty, the customer is often stuck in a terminal waiting for updates from either the airline or the operator, all receiving mixed messages depending on who they speak to inside or outside the airport.
Read expert viewpoint Carbon Reduction Commitment
The Spending Review brought a change to the operation of the Carbon Reduction Commitment. Designed as an incentive to cut carbon emissions, it has now become a 'stealth tax' which will result in organisations paying 8% of their energy costs to Government.
Read expert viewpoint Development Opportunity from the Health and Social Care Bill
‘The Health and Social Care Bill signals change ahead around the potential dissolution of Primary Care Trusts. The Government is encouraging them to more effectively use assets as the opportunity for the affordable housing sector could be significant.’
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Integrity of Floating Production operations in the Oil and Gas Sector
Oil and gas companies are under scrutiny to ensure the safe operation of their offshore production assets. While focus may be on drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, this issue affects all offshore assets and it’s an area where there is no room for error.
Read expert viewpoint Lesson from the Budget - Healthcare in Hong Kong
During his recent annual Budget address, Financial Secretary John Tsang provided indications of the importance the government places on providing high quality healthcare services to the population of Hong Kong.
Read expert viewpoint Distressed Spanish Portfolios
Many new and exciting investment opportunities are now appearing in Spain and many investors are returning to find good assets at attractive prices for investment.
Read expert viewpoint Commercial Mortgage Backed Security
As many distressed assets are due to hit the European market over the next few years, the Borrower needs to look to ways of dealing with the complex issues of repaying, refinancing or defaulting.
Read expert viewpoint Healthcare Asia - Learning Lessons from Global PPP Programmes
Healthcare in Asia, Global Insight and Local Knowledge. will be the key to helping Asian Healthcare providers improved healthcare infrastructure.
Read expert viewpoint China Healthcare
Despite increased spending levels over the past six years, access to quality clinical services are far from what the population expects or needs.
Read expert viewpoint Managing Risk
At a time when contractors are becoming increasingly reticent about assuming an overly high level of risk, work needs to be done if the region is establish Western Australia as a key provider of the world’s future energy mix.
Read expert viewpoint Funding fit for the future - are you ready?
Better operating performance is the key to creating the capacity necessary to secure capital in an increasingly competitive funding environment.
Read expert viewpoint The Central Government Workplace Revolution
The Government Property Unit is predicting that savings of £1 - £1.5 billion can be achieved on property alone through estate rationalisation and making better use of space across Departments.
Read expert viewpoint Technology solutions improve hotel revenue and value
In an increasingly challenging market with hotel owners and operators seeking to protect revenues, technology offers a route to real competitive advantage and brand differentiation.
Read expert viewpoint Benchmarking costs is key to accelerating improved returns for investors acquiring water companies
Water companies can no longer rely on incremental customer charges to improve returns and value for investors; they are under increasing pressure to drive out inefficiencies and work within reduced capital and operating cost constraints.
Read expert viewpoint The Cross Roads of Opportunity for CRE professionals - Business Change
CRE professionals, not IT or HR, are best placed to offer a business what it needs. Not just for property, but how to drive change and meet the core business needs.
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Better supply chain engagement delivers greater certainty of outcome
We need to focus our approach on long term solutions considering programmes of works instead of individual projects, focusing on two way relationships with suppliers where innovation and efficiencies are encouraged.
Read expert viewpoint Defining organisational characteristics and capability helps to build the best delivery partnerships
The challenges facing new build programmes in renewable and nuclear energy over the next decade are immense. Understanding the characteristics of partner organisations and key parts of the supply chain will be vital in achieving positive outcomes.
Read expert viewpoint Cost and time certainty underpins commercially viable project delivery
Cost overruns for Transport CAPEX schemes have been a constant for over 70 years across Europe with cost overruns of over 30% not uncommon. In these increasingly uncertain times it’s more important than ever to ensure delivery to budget.
Read expert viewpoint Innovative forms of contract help cost and time certainty
On-shore or off-shore, wind energy projects have a unique set of conditions and challenges that merge into a complex combination of procurement and project management risks.
Read expert viewpoint Effective health project management enables better service outcomes
Good project management will not necessarily deliver a good project. But the lack of it can pretty much guarantee failure.
Read expert viewpoint Maximising benefits from maintenance management investment
Most asset and maintenance management systems deployed in the manufacturing sector are not delivering the desired maintenance improvements.
Read expert viewpoint BSF as a catalyst for regeneration
Education provision that is at the centre of the community will be the key to its long term success in creating a place where people wish to live, work and learn.
Read expert viewpoint Increasing speed to market for offshore wind projects
The lead time for offshore wind projects to reach completion has averaged 28 months after consent. So far only six round one offshore projects have been completed; many are still under construction and are yet to reach offshore installation.
Read expert viewpoint The calm before the storm - delivering patient-centric care more efficiently
The temperature has dramatically increased in the health sector debate; with initiatives such as GP led clinics and new groupings of GPs, hospital consultants and private equity providers forming new partnerships to compete for work.
Read expert viewpoint Managed motorways: Achieving demonstrable value for money?
In today’s current environment there is an increasing need for highways engineers to demonstrate value for money and better returns from expenditure. Are we able to meet this challenge?
Read expert viewpoint The sustainable workplace a strategic business tool and a source of competitive advantage
The workplace can be both sustainable and viable, with an integrated strategy delivering far greater Opex and Capex savings than the conventional workplace approach.
Read expert viewpoint Robust business cases optimise aviation assets and unlock hidden potential
The need to ensure that financial risk is understood, planned and managed is the key to sustainable ownership models and structures, especially in times of economic uncertainty.
Read expert viewpoint In the race to secure capital funding early preparation and a clear vision are crucial
As the UK struggles to deal with the extremely high levels of debt incurred in the wake of the financial crisis and the recession, it is inevitable that spending cuts will happen across the public sector.
Read expert viewpoint International investment in China...key factors to achieving greater returns
Success lies in spending more time with greater depth on the selection and alignment of; the right partner, the right people, and the right product.
Read expert viewpoint Unlocking regeneration schemes - the single conversation
Housing can provide the kick start to regeneration, but a transparent financial model and a pragmatic approach is the key to understanding the potential and creating value within development.
Read expert viewpoint Catalysing regeneration through effective and transparent business case management
A significant reduction in residential values, historically high land values and an increasingly heavy burden of planning gain, all conspire to reduce the viability of development schemes.
Read expert viewpoint A clear vision and engaged supply chain can deliver efficiency savings
The offshore wind industry has a fantastic opportunity to deliver higher margins through cost reductions. However, with the sector in its infancy, it will require a major step in efficiency to gain parity and maximise the opportunity.
Read expert viewpoint Robust processes during construction projects deliver effective safeguarding
Safeguarding of children and young people is of paramount importance. Policies formed by Head teachers and Governors that fail to ‘adequately’ safeguard can have hard hitting Ofsted and legal implications for schools.
Read expert viewpoint From compliance to performance in highways maintenance
The tools should already exist for Highways Authorities to drive improvements but are they being used effectively?
Read expert viewpoint Data Centre Insight: Achieve greater certainty of returns
Businesses can achieve greater certainty of returns from establishing IT needs, delivering and running the built asset, to disposal of consolidated space which is surplus to strategic requirements.
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100% visibility of actual costs can reduce expenditure programmes by up to 7%
As the utilities sector drives for true partnership working through open book contracting, it’s much harder to achieve financial certainty, with a lack of cost transparency and waste in major programme delivery.
Read expert viewpoint The return of council housing - creating communities in the face of recession
The end of ‘right to buy’ allows local authorities the freedom to manage their own housing resources. Innovative ownership, funding and delivery solutions must now be quickly developed if the benefits are to be maximised.
Read expert viewpoint Effective programme management enables delivery of complex projects
Delivery of complex programmes of work in a highly regulated industry is challenging at the best of times, so what part should the Programme Management Office play in delivery?
Read expert viewpoint Making transport, highways and public realm assets work harder for less
Difficult choices call for smarter choices. With looming public spending cuts predicted to be 10 - 30% by 2015, this is a time of ‘more for less.
Read expert viewpoint Simulation modelling improves productivity, efficiency and quality in healthcare
As increases in health spending continue to outstrip GDP growth across the developed nations, spiralling public sector debt means that tough choices will be needed over the next few years.
Read expert viewpoint Total cost of ownership enables positive outcomes for Data Centres
It is critical for data centres to fully understand the concepts of cost and price. In simple terms, price is money coming in, cost is money going out, and profit, by definition, is the remainder after subtracting cost from price.
Read expert viewpoint Reduce the risk and increase the certainty of infrastructure project finance
Project Finance Lenders need to be clearer on the robustness of their contractual and commercial agreements tested against their financial projections and predictability of completion dates.
Read expert viewpoint Gaining a competitive advantage through speed to market and flexibility
How many CRE teams really see themselves as giving their organisation flexibility and speed?
Read expert viewpoint How to secure decent homes funding and leverage its value
In the 2010 Spending Review settlement, the Coalition Government made available £2.1 billon to deal with the Decent Homes backlog from 2011-15.
Read expert viewpoint How transport can create a lasting legacy
Engineering commercial outcomes will be the key to realising connectivity, socio-economic benefits and demonstrable value but yet as an industry, and prevalent across international boundaries, we still have some way to go.
Read expert viewpoint Obtaining investment for improved primary care facilities in a reformed NHS
Any GP practice submitting proposals for new premises will need to ensure it can demonstrate that the costs of the facility represent value for money and that the development will make a clear contribution to delivering sustainable quality improvements.
Read expert viewpoint Driving efficiencies through all levels of the supply chain
Every major utility company has over the last ten years carried out some form of supply chain initiative with the goal of harnessing potential savings through better engagement of the supply chain.
Read expert viewpoint Delivery of the new power generation challenge requires optimum delivery strategies to succeed
All major power generation suppliers have started to review their generation portfolio in light of the Large Combustion Plant directive and UK and European targets for low carbon generation.
Read expert viewpoint Are utilities maximising the potential of their direct labour organisation?
Under regulatory and shareholder pressure to deliver operational savings, and customer pressure to perform well, utilities have adopted a variety of approaches to increase the use of their direct labour organisations.
Read expert viewpoint Best in class asset strategy optimises vital utility investment
Short-term reactive planning is the worst of all worlds. The hot issue of the day is recommended to be addressed now but how many other significant issues remain buried and festering with massive performance risks?
Read expert viewpoint The future of water utilities
The water industry is entering a defining period that has probably not been seen since privatisation. Almost halfway into the first year of AMP5 we are starting to see some significant structural changes in the industry.
Read expert viewpoint Unlocking the full value of your estate
In the wake of the government’s efficiency drive, most authorities have reviewed their portfolio to seek efficiencies and identify potential disposal programmes.
Read expert viewpoint Where has the Market Gone? Finding the Golden Deals
Even the most optimistic of commentators are beginning to wilt under the relentless barrage of ‘gloom and doom’ prevalent in our industry at the moment. The question is, where are the ‘golden deals’?
Read expert viewpoint Managing rising costs - the power of partnerships
It is perhaps the recognition that the world has changed fundamentally since the credit crunch that could drive a essential step change to our industry.
Read expert viewpoint Procurement and contracting strategies to meet clients’ project promises
Given the volatility of the oil and gas construction market with soaring costs delaying projects or even causing questions around investment viability, there is an ever increasing pressure to achieve cost and time certainty.
Read expert viewpoint Strategic asset management is now pivotal in delivering industrial profitability and sustainability
Strategic asset management involves the management of capital, equipment, people and other resources to minimise risk and to maintain and support all company assets.
Read expert viewpoint A robust asset strategy optimises investment capacity and improves outcomes for tenants
These are challenging times for the affordable housing sector. Against a backdrop of the most severe cuts in public expenditure in a generation, a number of major factors are impacting registered providers.
Read expert viewpoint Greater focus on equipping costs delivers better value
There is a huge focus on ‘rationalisation of the Estate’. The agenda of delivering ‘more for less’ and driving performance out of assets tends to rely on reviewing the physical building where services are delivered.
Read expert viewpoint Bottom line improvement through effective operations performance management
Utilities need to focus like never before on measures that rapidly reduce the real cost of their operations.
Read expert viewpoint Realising strategic goals through effective programme management
All too often power utility companies start their long term investment programmes with the objective to ‘be the best’ - with world class programme management. However, best intentions time and again begin to fail.
Read expert viewpoint Deliver better health outcomes more efficiently through effective procurement
Up to 12 per cent of NHS purchasing budgets are wasted on overpaying for items. About £12 billion annually is spent on buying health service equipment. If you talk about 12 per cent of that, it takes us into the low billions.
Read expert viewpoint The Scottish budget - higher impact through innovation
Finance Secretary John Swinney has had to agree some significant concessions with opposition parties, but has proved the sceptics wrong, with his plans being pushed through Holyrood for a fourth consecutive time.
Read expert viewpoint Operational Efficiency of Airport Assets is the Key to Sustainable Growth in the Current Market Turmoil
The success and failure of airports is directly linked to the health of the airlines operating from them and the demand for the slots they command.
Read expert viewpoint A sustainable asset management strategy optimises costs and protects asset value
Airport owners and operators need to optimise operational and maintenance costs to combat declining passenger numbers.
Read expert viewpoint The search for capital - leveraging financial capacity and improving performance
The next five years will see a major change in the affordable housing landscape with all organisations needing to source capital or debt.
Read expert viewpoint London's Prime Residential Market: Gilt Edged Returns or a Minefield for the Unwary?
The cautionary headlines in the UK mainstream residential market are in vast contrast to those related to the continued boom in the London prime market.
Read expert viewpoint Why optimising non-commercial revenues might mean aviation asset survival
The speed of change and shift in air travel dynamics has outstripped the pace of evolution of airport asset development. As a result airport owners and operators are often not realising the full potential from airport terminals.
Read expert viewpoint Realising strategic goals through effective programme management
With so many different targets and reports, departments may respond to individual drivers rather than adopt a holistic approach. Real improvement in sustainable operations will only be delivered if it becomes part of overall business planning.
Read expert viewpoint Financing Expansion and M&A in Data Centres: What are the options?
The data centre industry is one which has enjoyed a phenomenal growth story for many years. However, this investment opportunity has not converted in to an easy sustainable funding model for development.
Read expert viewpoint Resourcing a new wave of estate transfers?
Potential legislation which could require local authorities to co-operate with tenants seeking ownership of their estates, may lead to a new wave of estate stock transfers. Officers should start preparing now for future requests for support in this area.
Read expert viewpoint Zero carbon definition offers a new practical approach
Housing Minister Grant Shapps stated that he would provide a fixed definition of zero carbon homes within weeks of coming into office. Several months later we are still waiting but we can estimate some of the details.
Read expert viewpoint Asia: Creating a model for the aviation sector
As the Asian economy continues to grow, the need to create better transport infrastructure becomes more pressing than ever, particularly in urban centres such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.
Read expert viewpoint Delivering 20% cost savings needs a radical plan – is the Government’s blueprint up to the task?
The Government Construction Strategy sets out a radical path to improve the performance of the public sector client and to transform the way in which public sector projects are procured.
Read expert viewpoint Decommissioning North Sea Assets
The North Sea decommissioning industry may be in its infancy but its future potential is evident. According to some analysts there are over 600 offshore platforms in the UK, of which more than half are over 15 years old.
Read expert viewpoint Local Authority Asset Ownership
Some councils have responded to the tough 25% budget cuts by reducing headcount, salami slicing departmental service budgets, axing non-essential capital programmes and have even contemplated unpalatable decisions.
Read expert viewpoint How To Release At Least £183 million From Primary Care Assets Alone
'The Health and Social Care Bill signals significant change ahead. Trusts are already looking to unlock savings and improve service through estate rationalisation, creating a more efficient solution for the local health economy.’
Read expert viewpoint The value of external data in regulatory price submissions
Overall in the next five-year period the electricity grid will invest about £6 billion with a further £7 billion likely to be spent by the electricity distribution network operators.
Read expert viewpoint The new framework – how to gain competitive advantage
The Department of Communities and Local Government and the Homes and Communities Agency have launched the 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme which sets out the framework for providers to bid for a share of £4.5 billion unallocated remains.
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