At the time of penning this column it’s the twenty ninth of September 2022, sterling is virtually on parity with the greenback. The first time I used to be fortunate sufficient to go to the USA in 1979 you may get $2.5 {dollars} to the pound. Energy costs are going by means of the roof, inflation is near 10% and a few commentators are suggesting that rates of interest might triple by subsequent 12 months. The identical commentators speak in regards to the recession being a tender or onerous touchdown. I keep in mind again to the times after I was fortunate to learn to fly, after a very bumpy touchdown I apologised to my teacher. He commented, “there are solely two sorts of touchdown, good ones and dangerous ones. You can stroll away from the nice ones!” With respect as to whether we could have tender or onerous touchdown with the recession going through us, I suppose we can stroll away, however we would all be hobbling a bit.
It was excellent news that the federal government has pledged to present some assist for power costs for the following six months. We must be grateful for any assist, nevertheless it does appear to be slightly little bit of a keep of execution until the principle drivers of those power spikes are sorted out.
Opinion be divided on future steelwork costs, the shoppers’ QSs assume they are going to be happening and the remainder of the world thinks they’ll rise. How shortly they’ll rise is a matter of conjecture, but when these rises are massive and surprising, then we are able to solely count on much less steady market circumstances going ahead. There is a value the place the consumer received’t go forward with the mission. The majority of steelwork contractors have their very own facility and therefore cheap property to lend towards, maybe this is among the causes for the resilience of structural steelwork contractors in contrast with different Tier 2 sub-contractors.
The new authorities intends to introduce a “BREXIT Freedom Bill”, the place they could begin to unravel a few of the work accomplished by the EU. I don’t assume we’re going to see the top of conformity evaluation marking or the reintroduction of the outdated British codes of follow, however they could make some adjustments to employment legislation, which might be welcome. A few years in the past considered one of our ex-employees had the audacity to take the corporate to an employment tribunal. It was the primary time we’d been, we thought we had a superb defence and confidence in a beneficial final result was excessive. Well, we acquired completely battered from begin to end. It was extra like a “trial by ordeal” slightly than a court docket.
I not too long ago attended the AGM of Build UK the place they’d a “futurist” from South Africa giving his concepts of what life is perhaps like in 50 years-time, not to mention subsequent 12 months. He felt that the life expectancy of a person would possibly attain the age of 120. Does this imply he is perhaps anticipated to work till he’s 110? I don’t see that in my future. What I do see is a while off, so the following concern of NSC journal could have a Deputy President’s Column from Gary Simmons of William Hare. Something for us all to sit up for.
Mark Denham, BCSA President
The submit President’s Column November 2022 appeared first on BCSA.