Finance

Housebuilders deliver value for UK

Barclays and Homes England offer £1bn boost to SME housebuilders

Finance, News /

Barclays and Homes England are offering loans to developers who can show they will use the funds to build a range of tenures. Barclays said that the development finance will build thousands of new homes across England, and help increase the pace and volume of housing provision. The funding is open to all but a greater emphasis will be put on diversifying the housing market, as at present almost two-thirds of homes are built by just 10 companies. The FMB recently identified access to finance as one of the smaller housebuilders’ biggest barrier to building more homes. Loans ranging from £5 million to £100 million are available for developers and housebuilders who are able to demonstrate the necessary experience and track record to […]

Barclays and Homes England offer £1bn boost to SME housebuilders Read More »

Rise in interests rates has housebuilders on edge

Finance, News /

For many, historically low interest rates set the rung low enough for first time buyers to step onto the housing ladder and reassured housebuilders that if they built them, buyers would come. Now, following the steady growth of the UK economy over the summer months, the Bank of England has increased the base rate of interest to 0.75% – the highest it has been in nearly a decade. The news hardly comes as a surprise. A rise in interest rates has been on the cards for many months, however rising inflation coupled with stagnant economic growth early in 2018 meant the decision was put on hold until now. “A rise in rates will no doubt set some panic alarms ringing in the

Rise in interests rates has housebuilders on edge Read More »

RIBA voluntarily publishes gender pay gap data

Finance, News /

The RIBA has welcomed the new legislation on gender pay reporting and, although not yet required to do so, has published the 2017 data for its own staff. Employers in Great Britain with more than 250 staff are required by law to publish data on: Gender pay gap (mean and median averages); Gender bonus gap (mean and median averages); Proportion of men and women receiving bonuses; Proportion of men and women in each quartile of the organisation’s pay structure. On the required ‘snapshot’ reporting date in April 2017, RIBA did not employ more than 250 staff. RIBA data: Women’s hourly rate of pay is 14.61% lower (mean), 4.05% lower (median). No bonuses were paid. Quartile gender breakdown: Male Female Upper quartile 49.15%

RIBA voluntarily publishes gender pay gap data Read More »

construction workers

SME builders agree to five per cent pay rise over two years

Career Advice & News, Finance, News /

The announcement follows the successful conclusion of negotiations between the Federation of Master Builders, on behalf of SME construction employers, and Unite the union, on behalf of operatives. Under the terms of the deal, workers will receive a 2.5% pay rise this year and a further 2.5% increase in 2017. The rise will be across the board, with the exception of hourly rates for lower paid general operatives, which will get a bigger boost of 4% this year, followed by 2.5% next year. In order to provide employees with a greater degree of security, the Agreement includes a commitment that the 2017 rise will be inflation-proofed – if inflation in early 2017 is higher than 2.5%, then the 2017 pay rise will match

SME builders agree to five per cent pay rise over two years Read More »