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Posted February 29, 2000

MASS Systems moves on up
MASS Systems, developer and distributor of IT based business solutions, has relocated from Richmond to Bracknell as part of its continued expansion.

Live traffic information soon a reality
Motorola and Trafficmaster plc have announced that they are to co-operate with Blaupunkt, supplier of navigation systems, to provide dynamic traffic information directly onto its satellite navigation systems, via GSM.

Are you sure you've got time to read this?
Stressed at work? It could be your emails that are causing it.

Companies face 'Double Whammy' on staff perks
Companies face even higher than expected NIC increases from April after little-noticed amendments to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill says KPMG.

US H&S body drafts national ergonomics programme
Earlier this month the American Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the draft of a national ergonomics standard which could require businesses to redesign their workplaces.

SMEs are technology-shy, says e-minister
SMEs are failing to exploit new technology, according to the minister for small business and e-commerce, Patricia Hewitt.

RICS and the IBC in merger talks
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has confirmed that it has been approached by the Institute of Building Control (IBC) about a possible merger of the two professions.

ISS reports best year ever
Denmark based ISS posted its best results to date yesterday and says it is on course to turn itself from the world's largest cleaning company into what it calls The Service Enterprise.

DEGW to work on a medical learning centre in the US
Stanford University's School of Medicine has retained DEGW North America to prepare the strategic brief and program for the renovation of its medical library and new education building.

New Chairman of Foundation for the Built Environment
Hugh Try, Chairman of Try Group plc, has been elected Chairman of the Foundation for the Built Environment (FBE).

AMEC Facilities restructures business unit
AMEC Facilities has announced a new management structure for its resident business unit which will increase flexibility to its account management structure and improve customer service.

Lucent unveils next generation solutions at CeBIT
At the CeBIT 2000 communications trade show which opens today in Hannover, Lucent Technologies will be showcasing next generation networking solutions, announcing solutions for optical networking, communications software and high-speed access.

Record growth in call centres
Commentators may be predicting the demise of the call centre but they created more than 35,000 jobs in the UK last year, according to a new report by Deloitte & Touche.

Gardner Merchant becomes Sodexho
As of yesterday, catering and support services provider Gardner Merchant is to change its name to that of its parent company Sodexho.

Survey shows staff value workplace services
A national research study shows the rising value of support services in the UK workplace.

Transfers from temp to perm made easier
Proposals to make it easier for companies to take on agency staff permanently have been announced by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, following consultation on modernisation of employment agency regulation.

Public to have say on Brunswick Centre listing
Perhaps mindful of the reaction to other examples of early modern architecture, the views of the public are to be sought on the proposed listing of the Brunswick Centre, a pioneering example of post-war design in London's Bloomsbury.

Windows 2000: It's finally here but are you ready?
Major corporations, governments and small businesses face varying risks and benefits with Windows 2000 and migration timing, says the Gartner Group.

Audit Office reports on MI5 & MI6 buildings
The National Audit Office has finally released reports on the procurement of new buildings for the security services which have been kept secret since the early nineties.

Nortel Networks brings wireless Internet to office
Corporate customers of GSM operators will soon be able to access the company intranet as well as the Internet from a single, mobile device with an innovative Internet Protocol (IP) based wireless office solution from Nortel Networks Nortel Networks.

Glasgow approves schools project
Glasgow City Council has approved the biggest secondary schools investment programme in the UK.

KPMG Consulting, Microsoft & Compaq launch new e-purchasing solution
Powerful web-enabled technologies will provide significant cost savings for UK companies through improved purchasing practices, according to KPMG Consulting, Microsoft & Compaq.

New appointments at AMEC and Argyll
AMEC Facilities has appointed Gary Maloney (pictured top left) and Andy Chesterman to its business team.

AMEC and AGRA to merge
AMEC plc and Canadian based AGRA Inc. have reached an agreement to merge.

Thorburn Colquhoun appoints MoD specialist
Thorburn Colquhoun has appointed Les Venus as new Business Development Associate Director.

NACORE and IDRC may merge
In a move with echoes of the facilities management profession in the mid-eighties the two leading global corporate real estate organisations are in merger discussions.

BSA clamps down on illegal software
Construction servicing firm Plot Build Ltd and architects firm Paul Brookes have settled with the Business Software Alliance (BSA) for use of illegal software on their company network.

Businesses to Challenge Workplace Parking Charges
The proposed workplace parking 'tax' is to be strongly opposed by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

MWB eyes Liberty building
Marylebone Warwick Balfour, the developer of serviced offices, has had "informal talks" with Liberty about acquiring space in its flagship building on Regent Street.

Office Of Government Commerce gets head
The Government signaled its determination to exploit the potential of e-commerce with the appointment of Peter Gershon as Chief Executive of the new Office of Government Commerce.

Keele banks on student rooms
Keele University has launched a bond issue, the first in the UK, backed by rental income from its students' study bedrooms.

Posted February 14, 2000

Britain's business leaders fail to practice what they preach
Over 97% of British business leaders believe that major British companies will be left behind by foreign competitors if they refuse to take electronic business seriously.

NACORE/IDRC Awards Dinner
The award for Corporate Real Estate Executive of the Year was presented to Gren Collings of Post Office Property Holdings last Thursday at the fourth annual Corporate Real Estate Awards Dinner, hosted by the UK Chapters of NACORE and IDRC.

Rent for London Assembly building is "good deal" says Government
The new building for the London Mayor and Assembly (elected on 4th May) to be constructed on a site near Tower Bridge will be a very good deal for London announced Minister for London Keith Hill.

Posted February 11, 2000

PricewaterhouseCoopers advises on Army College PFI deal
PricewaterhouseCoopers has advised the UK Ministry of Defence on its appointment of Defence Training Services Ltd to design, build and operate the new Army Foundation College under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Inward investment expert is new Director of CBI Wales
As the Labour Party struggles with its leadership in the Welsh Assembly the Confederation of British Industry has appointed an expert on inward investment as the new Director of CBI Wales.

one2one working on video e-mail over mobile network
one2one has teamed up with Israeli software specialist GEO to look into providing video emails over GSM mobile phones.

Posted February 10, 2000

New online catering information service
A free on-line consultancy service - www.caterchat.com - has been launched by catering consultancy Catercheck.

Sulzer Infra CBX to operate two hotels
Westminster City Council has awarded Sulzer Infra CBX a 15-year contract for the management of two hotels.

Agreement on pensions for transferring employees
"Admission Agreements have put the final piece in the jigsaw of employee protection for those transferring from local government to outside service providers. This is a landmark in partnership,"

Posted February 9, 2000

MacLellan's tax return
Integrated facilities services provider MacLellan International, a subsidiary of Haden MacLellan Holdings plc, has won a major new public sector contract.

A dose of flu or Monday morning blues?
New research launched on Monday by The Industrial Society reveals managers blame stress and low motivation for a high number of cases of absence from the workplace, despite what their workers are telling them.

Training initiatives from BIFM
The British Institute of Facilities Management, BIFM, has just released its April training programme which includes two new features.

Posted February 8, 2000

Major lighting conference set for July
A millennium lighting conference is being organised by The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and the Institution of Lighting Engineers.

New role for PFI in NHS modernisation
Alan Milburn, the Health Secretary, has announced an expanded role for the private finance initiative in the new programme of modernisation for the NHS.

Cognition wins reseller award
Cognition Solutions, provider of business IT solutions to FM suppliers as well as companies in construction, engineering, manufacturing and distribution, has been given an award by UNIX software company SCO for which it is a reseller.

Posted February 7, 2000

Dome engineers expand into light and sound
Multi-disciplinary practice Buro Happold, engineers for the Millennium Dome, has added lighting design and acoustic consultancy to its portfolio of building services engineering services.

New lighting system for Citypoint
Delmatic, supplier of lighting management systems, has been awarded the contract to supply an advanced new system for the fit-out of the new Citypoint tower in the City of London.

Posted February 4, 2000

E-business will transform procurement
Never mind selling flights, music or vacuum cleaners over the internet, business-to-business applications or B2B is where it's at...

Employer does not protect teleworkers - US rulings
Lately, there has been much discussion about who is responsible for the health and safety of people working from home. Now, a conclusion seems to be in sight...

ABB wins £10m Gunwharf Contract
ABB Steward Ltd has won the Gunwharf Quays mechanical, electrical and public health services contract, worth over £10 million.

Posted February 3, 2000

Government to look at impact of e-commerce
The Department of Trade and Industry has launched an inquiry into the environmental and social impact of e-commerce.

No escape from the internet - even in the lift!
Lift and escalator company, Otis plc, has announced its intention to form a strategic alliance with digital technology experts, Next Generation Network (NGN) and IBM...

Single standard of competence in electrical industry  
A new initiative aimed at ensuring the competence of electrical contractors has been launched by the Electrical Installation Industry Liaison Committee (EIILC).

Posted February 2, 2000

New workplace web site
The DTI has launched a new web site to promote management practices which, it is hoped, will improve workplace performance.

Towards the Wireless Existence
The UK firm Psion and mobile phone giant Motorola are to join forces to develop a range of mobile internet access devices.

Climate change levy: consultation for CHP schemes
The DETR has released its consultation paper for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes.

Posted February 1, 2000

Project teams have the tools but fail to make best use of them
A report from The Building Centre Trust looking at construction projects says there is some way to go before recent investment in hardware and software begins to pay off in increased efficiency.

More change in the electricity industry
The Government is pushing ahead with new electricity trading arrangements, in search of more equitable results from the wholesale power market and a better deal for consumers, both corporate and individual.

Piecemeal solutions borrow trouble
The great majority of organisations pursuing e-business applications seem to be taking a series of separate steps, rather than following an integrated strategy.