Careers advice
Critical careers advice and information from the most influential names in infrastructure.
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ACE Benchmarking: Late payments are adding to costs
Late payments continues to be an issue, but information is scarce. Time to look at some numbers from the latest ACE Benchmarking Report, says ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin.Read more -
Payroll costs on the rise, ACE benchmarking reveals
Average payroll cost of employing an engineer with two to five years experience now tops £40,000 according to ACE's Benchmarking Report. Graham Pontin explains.Read more -
AECOM: “The most exciting adventure in the industry” says Morriss
Size won’t be a problem says EMEA chief executive Steve Morriss as consultant seals $6bn purchase of URS.Read more -
ARCADIS and Hyder: Enjoy the journey says UK boss Brookes
Second major acquisition completed last week was the ARCADIS purchase of Hyder Consulting. UK chief executive Alan Brookes explains how the integration will evolve, including retaining the Hyder name.Read more -
Q and A with Mike Putnam: Why the UK needs a lower carbon industry
The Green Construction Board hosted its Infrastructure Carbon Review conference this week. Co-chair Mike Putnam explains progress to date.Read more -
A new approach to resource management planning
Sticking to traditional approaches won’t bring the innovation needed to cut costs, says Temple's Martin GibsonRead more -
Lean – why wouldn’t you?
All the evidence shows Lean produces time, cost and quality improvements so what is holding it back asks Zara Lamont?Read more -
Engineering dominates top ten graduate starting salaries
Chemicals are claiming almost £30,000 a year, civils close to £25,000; lawyers under £20,000.Read more -
Addressing the skills shortage – act now and prevent a crisis later
Matchtech operations director Grahame Carter says there is still time get on with workforce planning and avoid the panic buying of previous skills shortages.Read more -
The apprentices
Consultants and young people alike have grabbed the opportunities offered by new engineering technician apprenticeship schemes. Jackie Whitelaw reports.Read more -
Governments must accept they are owners not clients, says megaproject specialist
The success of big infrastructure schemes requires focus on the scoping up front, says Professor Ed Merrow.Read more -
65% of megaprojects fail; find out why and how to do them right
Industrial Megaprojects by Edward G Merrow is essential reading, says Simon Murray.Read more -
Diversity: five tips to improve the balance
Paul Lambert from management consultant Hay Group offers his advice for increasing diversity in the engineering and infrastructure workforce.Read more -
Consultants become more selective over clients as workload ramps up
With market conditions improving consultants tell Infrastructure Intelligence that they are becoming more selective over who they work with.Read more -
International opportunities for consultants – what to look out for
Overseas opportunities must be approached with "eyes open", says Beale & Company associate Ben MullardRead more -
The first 100 years of women in transport
One hundred years ago, as young men headed from London to serve in the trenches of the First World War, women for the first time found themselves working in the transport industry keeping the capital moving.Read more -
President Obama's support for STEM careers shows the US is competing to win.
David Cameron and Number 10 would do well to follow the US lead, says Paul JacksonRead more -
The return of confidence
Why is confidence so high among recruiters and those looking for new jobs? Matchtech operations director Grahame Carter explains.Read more -
Roads bonanza requires investment in staff and skills - now!
Department for Transport roads director John Dowie insists that industry must get into shape to meet the challenge.Read more -
International Intelligence: Middle East managers in demand
The opportunities in the Middle East are increasing and the market is adapting to new requirements, says Bernadette Ballantyne.Read more -
This is our best chance to address the STEM skills-gap challenge
Nelson Ogunshakin is on a mission to get ACE member firms behind the Your Life campaign to get children to study physics and maths.Read more -
When is the right time to start your own business and leave corporate life?
Tim Fitch shares his experiences of quitting a major contractor and setting up a new firm - the lows and the highs.Read more -
Apprenticeships give consultants access to new pools of talent
Consultants, large, medium and small, have a big role to play in bringing new recruits into the profession through technician apprenticeship schemes, says Sheila Hoile.Read more -
UK's senior talent pipeline is up to the challenge of delivery
New generation of infrastructure leaders gives strength in depth, says Bob ReynoldsRead more -
Ask the stupid questions and other tips for international business
Understanding cultural differences can impact the effectiveness of multinational business, says WSP's Jason Brooks.Read more -
Time to pick and choose - the Infrastructure Intelligence SME round table discussion
Supporting the growing infrastructure market is presenting both challenges and opportunities for small to medium sized firms who are being more selective over clients, Bernadette Ballantyne discovered at our round table event with software firmRead more -
The end of a golden age?
As we emerge from recession infrastructure needs a new powerful narrative to maintain political support, says George Hutchinson.Read more -
The Infrastructure Century: Brunellian ambition shifts beyond our western borders
Infrastructure's power to change lives is now visible across the world's growth economies, says George HutchinsonRead more -
Government’s £15bn infrastructure investment pitch faces uphill battle to secure private finance
Market will want to know if the investments can produce double digit returns every year for seven years.Read more -
History for engineers - the past must be a vital part of our future
For architects, history is a backbone to their profession; for engineers it hardly matters says Mark Whitby.Read more -
Railway engineering design technician apprenticeship launched by consultants
New apprenticeship standard will boost numbers in training above the current record 700.Read more -
Developing an infrastructure of engineering talent
How will we increase the number taking physics A-level by 50% in three years, asks Paul Jackson.Read more -
The industry benefits from a long term infrastructure plan
The industry's own boom and bust cycles are bad for business - particularly small ones, says Jonathan SpruceRead more -
Middle East boom creates staffing challenge
Qatar's multi-billion dollar boom brings opportunity and challenge for consultantsRead more -
Network hard to boost your career in engineering and consultancy
Get involved with the ACE Progress Network - it might just help your career, says chair Lucy Carraz.Read more -
Vocational careers and the need for a Big Bang in engineering
Next week's Big Bang careers fair must prompt greater vocation career support, says EngineeringUK boss Paul JacksonRead more -
Bridging the gap in Rwanda
You'll need half an hour but here's a lovely film of some young engineers working with the local community in Rwanda to build a bridge.Read more -
Contractor beefs up mental fitness of rail staff
An innovative programme to increase the mental resilience of contractor Osborne’s rail staff has been underway for six months to improve performance.Read more -
Work-life balance critical to attracting best staff in energy sector
But gender imbalance still holds back careers for women, says new Energy Institute report.Read more -
“Our people make our company… this is good news for them” says Hyder UK boss
Nelson Ogunshakin spoke to Hyder Consulting’s UK MD Graham Reid on the day the potential merger with ARCADIS was announced.Read more -
Teachers - the vital ingredient in creating the UK's next generation of engineers
Boosting in-school knowledge of the burgeoning career opportunities in engineering is critical, says EUK's Paul Jackson.Read more