Opinion

Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday, Lighthouse Club CEO Bill Hill reveals why he thinks the day should be scrapped, what the charity is doing to make suicide preventable and how important it is for the industry to stand together and make life-saving changes. World Suicide Prevention D

Whether you’re just starting out or planning on handing the financial controls over to a family member, Paula Fraser says AAB can support you. The Chinese proverb that ‘wealth will not pass beyond three generations’ is likely to send a shiver down the spine of those who run a famil

Heather Bryant, director of health, safety and environment, explores how Balfour Beatty is taking an active approach to designing out risk across its operations. It is no secret that our industry is inherently dangerous and getting our people home safely every day is one of our biggest areas of focu

Litigation lawyer Richard McMeeken discusses a recent decision involving a building contractor which has clarified certain aspects of the law of bribery in Scotland. In Oil States Industries (UK) Limited v "S" Limited; Lagan Building Contractors Limited (in administration); John Hansen and Stuart Ir

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, Ian Heron - residential specification manager, Renewable Heating at Mitsubishi Electric - writes about the need for an urgent change in the way we heat our buildings. In June 2019, the UK became the first ma

Scott Brewster reveals why Brewster Brothers has switched back to diesel to fuel its fleet just eight months after making the transition to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The decision to switch to green sustainable fuels should be an easy one. Certainly, for our organisation, a sustainable r

The energy crisis will only worsen unless we offer a balanced smart transition where consumers decide their own energy future, says John Forster from the Forster Group. Energy prices skyrocketing, rising inflation rates and a potential year-long recession, the immediate economic picture for the UK l

Architect Bruce Kennedy says the use of biophilic design for the Heriot-Watt campus in Dubai helps bring interest and comfort into the building, particularly as it sits in such an extreme environment. When visitors cross the threshold of Heriot Watt’s new university campus in Dubai, they leave

Hazel Davies from Cruden Homes (East) discusses city living trends and Cruden's brand new stylish development - Waverley Square in Edinburgh. For the last few years, house buyers have been leaving behind urban life to seek fresh pastures in the countryside. They’ve taken advantage of changing

Andrew Diamond, partner and head of residential property at Lindsays, reveals how ‘subject to purchase’ bids hold potential for unlocking opportunities to bring more homes on to market as well as greater buying power. Contract clauses which make home sales subject to the seller buying th

Craig McClaren talks about the Royal Town Planning Institute's project to build on the strength of the nations and regions so it can better meet its members' needs. The RTPI’s nations and regions are an incredibly important part of the Institute that work within and across a diverse range of c

DM Hall property expert Calum Allmond believes it's time for a fresh look at the many ways an Energy Performance Certificate can be beneficial to property owners. In the same way that Home Reports have become an accepted part of the residential property market so have Energy Performance Certificates

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, Caitriona Jordan, head of retrofit programmes at Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), looks at the skills needed in the construction industry to support decarbonisation. Decarbonisation

Keith Kilburn and David Arnott outline how international arbitration can be used in the construction industry. International arbitration is a well-recognised dispute resolution process for construction projects throughout the world. It offers numerous benefits to parties, including the ability

As part of Scotland Excel’s ‘Supporting the journey to net zero’ campaign, David Pierpoint, chief executive officer at The Retrofit Academy, explores the skills gap in the retrofit sector and what’s needed to decarbonise housing stock in Scotland. Scotland, like the rest of t