Posted October 29, 1999
Flexible working saves money - official
Minister for employment Margaret Hodge has welcomed the findings of an
Institute of Employment Studies report confirming that companies can save
thousands of pounds by adopting 'family-friendly' work policies.
Environmentalism
yet to be taken seriously in many companies
A study of FTSE 500 companies has found a huge disparity in the
scope and effectiveness of environmental programmes currently in place.
More news from the frontiers of technology
New research reveals that the UK is a much more 'wired' nation than previously
thought. 40% of all adults now have access to the internet.
Posted October 28, 1999
Barclays trials electronic procurement system
Barclays Bank has launched a test of Echo, a new e-procurement package,
at two NHS Trust sites with a view to rolling it out on a wider scale
next year.
A
revolution in office products?
If Peter Frost is right, January will see the end of the traditional
approach to buying office supplies.
Green issues rise up the agenda
As deadlines for development and implementation of the Climate Change
Levy approach, the whole question of energy consumption and greenhouse
gas emissions is taking on a new urgency.
Three STEPS left 
The Inland Revenue confirmed last week that the Newlands consortium will
not continue to the next stage of the STEPS PFI project to transfer the
estate of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs & Excise to the private sector.
Posted October 27, 1999
Better results from a different approach to
information management
Knowledge management programmes, a widely adopted business initiative,
tend to focus on the wrong target, claims KPMG.
Practical
test of a wireless future
Leading technology analyst The Gartner Group is well advanced in
a thorough testing programme focusing on the practicalities of wireless
solutions.
Unions set to target call centres
With TUC general secretary John Monks branding call centres the Ônew mills
of 21st century Britain', white collar unions are due to launch a recruitment
drive in what is still a rapidly expanding sector.
Posted October 26, 1999
Limited impact of change - but the trend is
unstoppable
More than half of the UK's large companies have introduced new management
and working practices in response to changing business conditions in recent
years. But, says Reading University's Virginia Gibson, the impact on employees
so far is remarkably limited.
Fewer
injuries at work - but more illness
New figures released Monday by the Health & Safety Commission show
that ill health associated with work has risen by over 120%. At the same
time, workplace injuries are down by 19%.
Best practice advice: briefing is critical
and continuous
Don't rely on handing over a written document, say the experts at the
Construction Best Practice Programme.
Posted October 25, 1999
Government money right on time
As the so-called e-minister, announced a £15M commitment to develop internet
technology and fight fraud, research by Unisys suggests many firms have
yet to take the threat of electronic fraud seriously.
E-business
on a rising trend - but slowly
A new study from PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals that e-business
principles are being adopted in business-to-consumer organisations much
faster than in business-to-business organisations.
The future is wire-free
Orange chief executive Hans Snook has told the Telecom 99 conference in
Geneva that the power of the internet will only be fully realised when
people can access it whenever and wherever they need to...
Posted October 22, 1999
Big changes ahead for the City?
A new report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research claims
that up 12,000 jobs could disappear from the City of London over the next
two years.
Most
managers believe they are working too hard
Two-thirds of UK managers say their health is suffering as a result
of over-work. Nine out ten say they have no time to think about anything
else.
Stress? Where's the problem, ask employers
In yet another study of workplace stress, the Institute of Occupational
Medicine has found decidedly mixed attitudes amongst employers about their
role in resolving stress issues.
Posted October 21, 1999
HQ unaffected by decision not to float
Ron Adam, operations director at HQ Executive Offices, the UK arm of HQ
Global, says it is 'business as usual' despite the parent company's decision
to postpone an initial public offering (IPO).
Worrying
about the euro next?
In a new study of current corporate issues, Bull Information Systems
has found that 50% of UK businesses are already worrying about euro compliance...
Major change in strategy and practice needed
to cut public procurement bill
The National Audit Office has weighed in with its views on what is needed
to achieve the targeted cut in government spending of £1bn over three
years.
Posted October 20, 1999
New building occupancy cost code launched
IPD, the property performance measurement specialist, has launched its
'total occupancy cost code' - with the full support of all key players
in the industry.
Ofgem aims to get tough with electricity suppliers
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets is worried that electricity
generators may collude to keep prices unreasonably high.
Say good-bye to the business card; Say
hello to the e-business card
CD-ROM technology is about to find its way into your pocket, with the
impending launch of electronic business cards.
Mitigation of Loss for Unfair Dismissal
A question which often arises in dismissal cases is whether the employee
needs to look for alternative work in a notice period granted to them...
Posted October 19, 1999
Opportunities in online energy purchasing
Last week, i-FM reported on a recent in-depth study of utilities' websites.
The results were overwhelmingly negative...
Big companies getting serious about Y2K
Details of the latest study of Britain's Top 1000 companies reveal that
virtually all believe it is necessary to take action to protect their
business from things that might go wrong as a result of the millennium
bug.
Lack of ideas has become a problem
Following a joint investigation of innovation, 3M, NatWest and the CBI
have concluded that there is simply a lack of new ideas in UK business.
Posted October 18, 1999
IoD sets out its commitment to the future
of
e-business
The Institute of Directors has recruited Jim Norton, formerly head of
the Cabinet Office e-commerce team, to lead its own e-business awareness
and training initiatives.
FMs in the new-build driving seat
In a recent paper for a RICS 'cutting edge' research conference, John
Hicks, Andrew Brown and Michael Pitt of Heriot-Watt University argued
strongly in favour of involving facilities managers in capital building
projects.
High cost of workplace violence
The HSE has released the results of the largest ever study into violence
at work. These record an average of 1.2M incidents in England and Wales
each year.
Posted October 15, 1999
Most utilities' websites fail to please
Andersen Consulting has followed up its study of the growth of e-commerce
applications, reported here 23 September, with a review of the websites
of major utilities companies.
BBC finds new offices too quiet
The BBC's accountants have found that their new open plan offices are
just too quiet. Every time the telephone rings, staff are startled out
of their concentration.
Business confidence grows - but slowly
The latest Deloitte & Touche/CBI survey shows that confidence amongst
business and professional firms is on the rise, but more slowly than it
was last spring.
Posted October 14, 1999
KPMG and Compaq launch ERP alliance
KPMG has coupled its IT and business expertise with Compaq's technology
resources and operational management experience to offer clients a 'future-proofed'
enterprise resource planning (ERP) package.
Benchmarking gets the government seal of approval
So-called e-Minister Patricia Hewett has launched a benchmarking package
aimed at helping companies to improve competitive performance.
Benchmarking find its place in health
& safety
New benchmarking guidance from the Health and Safety Executive promises
to deliver a series of benefits.
Sulzer Infra wins manufacturing FM
contract
Sulzer Infra has extended the scope of its work for Xerox UK with the
award of a £5m contract for facilities management at the company's Mitcheldean
manufacturing complex near Gloucester.
Posted October 13, 1999
Y2K: progress on compliance, but new work
slows down
The Financial Services Authority, charged with monitoring millennium bug
problems in its sector, reports that the last business at risk of failure
has managed to get itself off the danger list.
More on the future of communication
BT is back in the news again with plans to kick-start the videoconferencing
business by launching a new high quality, low cost service.
Government proposes self-certification
of
building work
Construction minister Beverley Hughes has published a consultation paper
setting out proposals to enable clients or contractors to certify that
their projects comply with Building Regulations.
Trillium buys out Symonds' interest
in PRIME FM
company
Property services group Trillium has acquired Symonds' 49% interest in
Trillium Facilities Management.
Posted October 12, 1999
More on the future of wireless technology
Microsoft and BT have launched the first large-scale practical trial of
wireless internet services.
If it's not stress, it may be the food
Nutrition expert Penny Hunking today warns that people's health is 'shamefully
overlooked' by many employers.
Industry update: new office, new job,
new award
SI CBX parent group Sulzer has formed a new company in Ireland
- Sulzer Infra FM - and will be advertising for a managing director within
the next couple of weeks.
Posted October 11, 1999
Halifax gears up for new ways of doing business
The Halifax is set to occupy a 5000sqm building on an Edinburgh business
park, where 500 staff will launch a new internet banking service.
Industry round-up: results and opportunities
Multi-disciplinary property group Chesterton has turned itself around,
converting a £1.5M loss for last year into £4M of pre-tax profit this
year.
And you thought you had property problems
-
chapter two
NatWest, looking increasingly vulnerable to the takeover bid from the
much smaller Bank of Scotland, could see its headquarters reduced to a
brass plate if it loses.
Posted October 8, 1999
Tax system stifles flexible working
The government needs to rethink how tax regulations influence work patterns,
says Ernst & Young.
Industry lines up for fight over climate levy
The CBI is warning that the government is in for a battle over the proposed
Climate Change Levy unless the rate is reduced or the concessions are
increased.
Clear desk policy
A senior vice president at No 1 PC manufacturer Compaq told a New York
conference earlier in the week that the desktop computer is as good as
dead.
Posted October 7, 1999
MCI attacks European telecoms companies
US-based MCI WorldCom, marked its £70bn takeover deal with Sprint by criticising
European telecoms providers for lagging behind the pace of the market.
Expanding markets prove to be the key management challenge
In a study of the concerns facing senior business executives, IBM has
found that globalisation - or at least 'Europeanisation' - is their prime
focus.
The future is blue
Bluetooth, the short-range wireless communication standard, is beginning
to make its presence felt.
Posted October 6, 1999
It's for you, and you, and you
Despite recent expressions of concern about the possible hazards of microwave
emissions, the mobile phone industry appears unstoppable.
Now it's getting serious
Millennium watchdog Action 2000 reports that many hotel and catering businesses
are ignoring its 'last chance' campaign.
Industry update: new skills, new contracts,
new recognition
WS Atkins has extended its service range with the £2M acquisition of Ventron
Technology Ltd.
Posted October 5, 1999
Business alliances fail to perform
Alliances between companies have been hailed as one effective strategy
to drive up efficiency and competitiveness...
ICL gears up to handle date change
problems
ICL has announced the steps it plans to put into place for the millennium
'prime risk' period of 27 December to 7 January.
Stress at the top of the list?
Business information group Gee has questioned over 300 organisations and
found that stress has overtaken the common cold as the biggest cause of
absence from work.
Posted October 4, 1999
Old troopers march on
Two well known figures in British FM have come together to launch a new
company that aims to bridge the gap between training and implementation
in change management.
Benchmarking misses the mark
The results of i-FM's straw poll on the value of benchmarking are overwhelmingly
negative...
Videoconferencing: will it ever take off?
In those quaint old days of the 'jet age', technology pundits promised
that we would soon see a videophone on every desk and in every home...
Posted October 1, 1999
One-stop shop days are numbered?
The 'total' approach to outsourcing may not have quite had its day, but
there is growing evidence that many companies prefer to do business with
a series of niche operators.
More on disability law: government calls in
the BBC
Yesterday, i-FM reported that many UK businesses are unprepared for the
October 1st deadline for compliance with the Disability Discrimination
Act.
And you thought you had property
problems
The Bank of Scotland, whose audacious bid for NatWest is still on the
table, plans to move almost all of the larger bank's 1700 branches if
its acquisition is successful.