The property and construction sector is a very traditional sector and maybe a little slower in moving forward with the times when it comes to development of individual personnel.

Product and safety training may be high on their list of priorities – more than many other sectors and for good reason. But when it comes to personal improvement the sector may lag behind some other sectors. Here are a few tips on Professional development for people working in the sector

Personal development brings not only benefits to the individual but also the organisation they work for as well. The following points can help improve your position in the market place:-

Retain and sharpen old skills Skills that you have developed in the past that may have become slightly rusty should be sharpened. It is always good to brush up on your skills because over time, especially if they are not used constantly – They can start to fade out.

Development of new skills Professional development will allow a great deal of new skills and knowledge to be learnt. The whole point in getting involved in further development is to advance your abilities and grow as a person, so that you can perform more highly skilled and demanding tasks. It allows you to build specific knowledge and competencies that are related to your role and can prove to be priceless in the workplace.

Industry trends – keeping up-to-date It is important to ensure you are up-to-date with industry trends and developments and personal learning can ensure you are doing so. Not only can this help you to perform your own role but also this helps the company understand their position in the marketplace and can assist strategic decision-making.

Fresh Perspectives It allows you to draw upon fresh perspectives from outside your company and role and think about new ideas and opportunities. By reflecting on these things, you can bring creative solutions back to the company. It can help you to learn relevant tools and best practices that can be brought to the company’s strategy and performance. New knowledge creates real-time solutions and innovative initiatives for the company.

Networking opportunities By going on courses, visiting construction industry events and other avenues to professional development, you will meet new people and network with industry experts, leaders and like-minded individuals. Building relationships like this can be extremely useful for finding out about career opportunities, work related guidance, business opportunities and insider information etc. This network can come in handy in your current company as well as your future career. Socialise with colleges and clients in bars and restaurants and set yourself aside as a excellent communicator. and finally…

Social Media Get interactive with clients and colleagues on social networking sites. Social media is fast growing. You can share your experiences and topical industry issues with others. This will help with knowledge and also networking and can be a great way of getting positive messages out about your business!

You can use it to develop your online profile and attract customers to your business

Remember, people do business with people, not companies. Linkedin for example is used as the premier business networking tool, and it is certainly changing the way that businesses network and recruit. It can also be used as a good tool to gain information from your professional network.

Certainly consider getting advice from a social media expert who works in and understands the property and construction sector.

So, in summary… Professional development is about moving yourself to the next stage in your learning curve. However, not only can this development be of use to you, as an individual, but it can also benefit the company you work for. Because of this, property and construction companies should consider maybe sending their staff on professional development courses in order to reap the spin-off benefits.

Physical security such as window bars and grilles are a bold and highly visible security solution. While this provides a more obvious deterrent to criminals, it also has a greater impact on the aesthetics of a building.

Security bars can be ugly and unwelcoming, creating the impression that a building isn’t “safe”. For residential buildings, they may even devalue your house, as they can be off putting for buyers. Inside the building, occupants may find they feel “closed in” or trapped by bars on windows. Should you wish to install more pleasing window security bars, there are decorative versions available.

Claire Butler, Commercial Manager at Manchester based Window Safety Solutions said “It’s difficult to choose the right window security solution whether it’s for your home or business. Think about your area and why you need protection – if burglary is your main concern either window bars or grilles will give you peace of mind. If vandalism is more of an issue for you security bars may not be enough.”

Window Security Solutions offer protection in the form of retractable window grilles, polycarbonate window shields, security bars and other security grilles. Security grilles range from decorative visible deterrents to unobtrusive meshes. Window Security Solutions have a number of specialist grilles that are designed to look like tinted glass, while offering outstanding protection.

Window Security Solutions also offer security solutions which are more aesthetically attractive, but still offer excellent security measures for any property.

The Hammerglass polycarbonate window shield, for example, means no more broken glass. It’s the best form of shop window protection on the market. There is no need for security grilles or security mesh. It’s a polycarbonate window shield which means it’s an unbreakable window!

Claire went on to say “This is an excellent product for any shop or business, providing 24 hour window protection without unsightly window grilles, bars or even roller shutters. Roller shutters often have a detrimental effect on towns and villages which is why town planners look for alternatives. There is no need to request planning permission when installing and it will act as secure and yet visually appealing than other window solutions.”

For more info go to: www.windowsecuritysafety.co.uk

A new study has revealed the extent of unemployment across the country. The problem is so severe in some parts of the country that up to 80 candidates are said to chase every vacancy.

The review by recruitment site Adzuna found 73 claimants apply for every job in Stoke-on-Trent, compared to the 80 applicants in Hull. The five worst cities have remained in the bottom five spot for the second year in a row, with Hull taking the worst spot for the second year running. In contrast, Reading, Cambridge, London and Milton Keynes were among the best cities to find a job – suggesting the North-South divide in employment continues unabated – with fewer than two claimants per vacancy.

It seems no industry is immune from the slowdown in recruiting. Even the financial sector, including accountancy and financial advisers, has seen a reduction in vacancies. The review found that the best cities to find jobs in finance include Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, with Cambridge, Southampton and Luton ranking the lowest.

Charlotte Gallagher, manager director of P3 People Management, Manchester’s leading HR consultancy, says: “There has never been a greater time to ensure companies in finance, which sadly have not been immune to the economic downturn, are getting the very best from their recruitment process.

A company’s success is highly dependent upon the people working within it – your staff have the opportunity to make a positive or negative impact on your business – so it is important you recruit the right people. Getting the selection process wrong carries considerable losses in terms of recruitment costs, lost sales, missed deadlines and lower staff morale. Businesses need to match the dynamics of your company, the career opportunity and the candidate, giving you the opportunity to do more than just fill a position.”

With so many people applying for every job, consultants at P3 People Management can ensure you get the right person for the job. Charlotte adds: “We will help you seek out the very best, using personality profiling and other fail-safe techniques. We can also help you draft a tailored job description.”

For all your recruitment HR needs contact P3 People Management on 0161 941 2426 or visit www.p3pm.co.uk

Fire may be one of humankind’s greatest discoveries, but it is also one of our most dangerous. Although deaths from fire have fallen in the past quarter of a century, injuries are on the rise and it has never been more important to make your home and business safe from fire risk, and easy to evacuate in the event of a fire.

Fire safety is as important in the workplace as it is in the home. Flammable materials and the hectic pace of working life are extra hazards found in offices around the UK. A well-practiced evacuation plan is a must, as is a well-maintained fire alarm system. Tools to fight small fires, such as fire extinguishers and hoses in boldly marked containers should be a given and sprinklers are also a popular option in office blocks.

Fire and Window Safety – Fire shutters

A new trend in fire and window safety is the development of fire shutters. Fire shutters and barriers are designed to prevent the spread of flames from one compartment to another. They block the path of fire and smoke, providing crucial extra evacuation time and limiting property damage, as well as providing invaluable security to a property.

Fire shutters can be seen on many commercial buildings today. They are mostly used for added security to create a versatile, visible and very strong steel wall to stop unwanted visitors entering a property. In the past number of years security manufacturers have taken the next step with Fire technology to develop fire shutter systems, which offers all the values of a traditional shutter but with added fire protection.

Some of the benefits of fire shutter systems are that they offer effective added security and act as a highly visible deterrent, plus unlike fire and smoke curtains, fire shutters are more robust when exposed to extreme climate conditions.

Claire Butler, Commercial Manager at Manchester based “Window Security Solutions said; “Fire detection and prevention technology is constantly evolving and being developed to ensure that the best measures and procedures are in place to protect lives and buildings”.

“We are considering developing a range of fire shutters at Window Security Solutions to meet the need for fire protection within window security products. To this end, we are keen to find out from companies, is fire safety a consideration when choosing window security? If so, what type of products do you purchase?“

Property Aspects Magazine appreciates the contribution to this article from www.windowsecuritysafety.co.uk

Those in the construction and property trade face unprecedented challenges. The UK’s stagnant economy has forced many companies to adopt a ‘back to basics’ business plan to help keep them afloat. It has also forced them to be flexible with their approach.

Every day we read reports about the rise and fall of property prices. This week we hear from estate agents and property analysts that the housing market is on the turn. According to the latest Land Registry figures, house prices increased by an average of 1.1% in January in England and Wales.

This bounce can partly be attributed to a rush of first-time buyers to secure a home before the exemption to stamp duty on cheaper properties ends on the March 24. But experts also say that easier access to mortgages is beginning to help aspiring homebuyers after four years of market frustration.

It makes hopeful reading. It may also lead many businesses in property and construction to look again at their business and build a strategic plan to move it forward. Charlotte Gallagher, Managing Director of P3 People Management, Manchester’s leading HR consultancy, says one of the key elements in the building trade is ‘flexibility’.

She says: “The building sector has felt the full force of the financial pressure, with a lot of building projects being left unfinished or forced to scale down. They are having to assess their business and build a strategic plan to move forward. Essentially, businesses need to go through ‘due diligence’ to objectively assess their management team and their business’ strengths and weaknesses.”

Charlotte adds: “Businesses are having to compete in a very competitive market, forcing many of them to go back to basics and focus their business strategy. This will undoubtedly save them money in the short and long term helping them weather the financial storm that we are all facing.”

Consultants at P3 People Management, who work with a number of construction and property businesses across the country, can advise and assist with all your recruitment needs.

For help and advice to take your business forward with a structured plan, contact P3 People Management on 0161 941 2426 or visit www.p3pm.co.uk

Winter has now passed and we have survived the freezing temperatures, but as we have seen recently, despite having a drought, many commercial business premises can still be susceptible to water damage from flooding.

Quite often we don’t take the same care and responsibility over our commercial premises as we do our homes yet they are just as susceptible to flooding. Taking a few precautionary steps such as checking the insulation and condition of your pipes can be time worth spent if it will help you avoid major damage to your premises as well business interruption.

If the unthinkable occurs, the impact on profit and business productivity can be just as severe as the water damage itself. It is critical businesses act quickly to resolve the issue and get back on track at the earliest opportunity but negotiating commercial property insurance claims are notoriously lengthy and unless you’re experienced in dealing with claims handlers, you may not receive the full settlement required which will ultimately leave you out of pocket.

Resolving water damage claims can be incredibly stressful. This is partly because insurance companies have fewer loss assessors than in the past and there are simply not enough to go around, especially when demand is exceptionally high as is the case in very cold winters.

Businesses can significantly increase their chances of a swift resolution and appropriate settlement by hiring their own loss assessors who will chase the claim on your behalf and challenge any reluctance from the insurance company to pay out.

Independent loss assessors understand how to correctly mitigate a claim and what evidence needs to be gathered so as not to prejudice a policyholder’s position with their insurers. They are also experienced in assessing the financial cost of any damage or business interruption to maximise any payout.

Geoff Williams, director of Manchester-based loss assessors Cherry and Griffiths, said: “Time is of the essence when dealing with water damage claims. Salvaging work and damage restoration obviously needs to take place quickly to have the best possible effect but businesses can jeopardise a potential insurance claim if the work carried out isn’t in line with the insurance company’s requirements or destroys any evidence they require.

“Our experienced professionals will manage your water damage insurance claim from start to finish so there’s no danger of any mistakes which could cost you your settlement, relieving you of the stress and frustration of dealing with insurance companies. With winter now on our doorsteps it would be wise to not only check your pipes but also familiarise yourself with an experienced loss assessor in case the worst should happen.”

THE complex and frequently changing nature of employment law make it a minefield for employers in the construction and property sector amongst others..

The law is regularly reviewed with the most recent changes introduced on February 1. Understanding and implementing these new changes can be incredibly difficult and time consuming for bosses – and businesses are acutely aware of the ever present threat of employment tribunals.

Employment law is a subject which will affect us all at some point during our working lives. Basically, employment law overseas the rights of employees, workers, volunteers and anyone else who can be classified to be in a working capacity. It also looks after employers and gives them certain rights.

pAmongst the most common legal issues that can result in Tribunal claims are:

• Unfair and constructive dismissal

• Redundancy

• Employment rights e.g. minimum wage, working hours, maternity and paternity rights etc.

• Workplace discrimination and harassment

Recent changes to the law include increases to the limits on certain employment tribunal awards and other amounts payable under employment legislation. The maximum unfair dismissal compensatory award has risen from £68,400 to £72,300 and the maximum amount of a week’s pay for the purpose of calculating a statutory redundancy payment, and the basic and additional awards for unfair dismissal, increased from £400 to £430.

Charlotte Gallagher, managing director of P3 People Management, Manchester’s leading HR consultancy, who work in the property and construction sector, says: “Employment law can be a minefield for employees, but it is essential that it is understood and implemented. The complex and frequently changing law can make it time consuming and difficult for businesses to get their heads around.”

P3 People Management offer an Employer Advice Line where clients can get guidance and advice on every aspect of HR, including the complexity of employment law, and ensure that whatever the problem ,it is resolved in a positive, timely and legally compliant way. Consultants at P3 People Management can translate the complications of employment law into practical, commercial and simple to follow actions.

For help with employment law and other HR queries contact P3 People Management on 0161 941 2426 or visit www.p3pm.co.uk