NHBC private sector registrations up 7% - June - Aug

Encouraging news from the NHBC as private sector registrations rose 7% during the June to August quarter, according to NHBC’s latest statistics.

During the period, 30,738 new homes were registered in the private sector compared to 28,660 over the same timeframe in 2017. Meanwhile, those for the affordable sector grew 23% to 11,809.

NHBC said that in London, “a considerable increase in the number of private rental sector developments and large housing association projects” during the period helped drive a 145% increase in registrations against the same quarter in 2017.

Total registrations for the rolling quarter rose 11% to 42,547 new homes.

In August, the number of new homes registered increased 1% to 13,713 year-on-year. Private sector registrations were slightly down during the month, slipping to 10,588 new homes against August 2017’s 10,738. Those for the affordable sector were up from 2,801 in 2017 to 3,125.

NHBC’s chief executive Steve Wood said: “We continue to see strong numbers in many parts of the UK with a substantial uplift in London, driven by increased activity by housing associations and the continued flow of inward investment on for-sale and private rental developments.

“The continuing uncertainties around Brexit and the UK’s economic outlook do not seem sufficient to dent confidence in the new homes market, where NHBC’s focus remains on helping developers to build more, high-quality homes for people across the country.”

We have moved. Are you ready for a move too!?

We are nearing the end of our first week in our plush new offices - just down the road from our old ones.

We all had fun moving in and the team spirit was a delight with all our staff and directors working together. 


It has enthused everyone as often a change of environment does. Are you ready to make a move too?

If you are, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please call us on 01480 405225 or email us at recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk Before you call, you might want to take a look at our latest vacancies here.

In the meantime, here is our new address. Phone and email remain unchanged.

Pinnacle Consulting UK Ltd 
1 Xenus House
Sandpiper Court
Eaton Socon
St.Neots
PE19 8EP

Tel: 01480 405225
Email: recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

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Job in Focus for September - Product Development Manager for Kitchen Products - £60k

Our Job in Focus for September is for a Product Development Manager for Kitchen products based in Nottingham responsible for managing product development, research, technical specifications and working with Sales & Operations to manage product lifecycle. The package is worth up to £60k.

Our Construction & Building Industry Job in Focus feature takes a detailed look at some of the fantastic sales & marketing construction and building materials job vacancies currently on our books. 

Job in Focus is also promoted on our website. www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk 

JOB IN FOCUS FULL DETAIL

Product Development manager leading a team for a leading Kitchen Product Manufacturer. 

Package: £50,000 - £60,000 plus bonus, healthcare, pension, company car and 23 days holiday plus bank holidays. 

Role: Product Development Manager - This role will see you take responsibility for driving profitable growth via range development and enhancement. This high-profile role will take the lead in managing product research requirements, product / technical specifications, identifying, developing and launching new products and collaborating with the sales, operations and marketing teams to deliver category development and increased market share. This will be managing a team of 6 whilst also managing the full cycle from strategic planning to product launch. 

AREA: Office based with candidates ideally living in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Mansfield or surrounding areas. 

PERSON: To be considered for this role you will need to have experience as a product development manager and be experienced in managing a team as well as your own workload. Product experience in the Kitchen, Bathroom or furniture markets is desirable. 

For further information or to discuss your career options further contact James on 01480 405225 or apply online.

Construction sector lead times are worst for 3 years due to rising demand and stock/labour issues

Construction sector vendor lead times lengthened in August to the greatest degree in more than three years, according to the latest PMI.

Rising demand, low stock and labour shortages among suppliers impacted delivery times, meaning vendor performance deteriorated to its worst level since March 2015.

The IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index slipped to 52.9 in August, down on 55.8 in July and against the no-change reading of 50.

Commercial building was the best performing sub sector, followed closely by residential work, while work on civil engineering projects decreased for the first time in five months.

Purchasing activity increased for the 11th consecutive month in August, though the latest upturn was the weakest since March. Despite stretched supply chains and rising energy-related costs, data indicated input price inflation edged down to its lowest since July 2016.

Duncan Brock, group director at CIPS, said: “If there is anything positive to note from this month, it would be that the rate of hiring remained strong. However, persistent pressures from skills shortages and slow rates of new orders will continue to hit business optimism still trailing below the survey’s average.

“The sector is hovering too close for comfort to the no change mark which makes it a contender for more disappointment next month. Though the path to Brexit is paved with good intentions, without significant progress the sector will soon be building castles in the air rather than on solid ground.”

Tim Moore, associate director at IHS Markit, said: “The degree of optimism reported in August remained constrained by external factors, including domestic political uncertainty, stretched supply chains and shortages of suitably skilled labour.”

Builders’ merchant role models inspire the next generation

Three representatives from the builders’ merchant sector will be sharing their career journeys with young people over the next few weeks. The merchant sector is one of the most popular and vibrant sectors of the building products industry, and one where we place an increasing number of Candidates. The Role Model campaign as part of UK Construction Week is a really good initiative and one we really endorse at Pinnacle Consulting.

They have been shortlisted as part of the Role Models campaign, which aims to inspire young people and show them the range of jobs available in the industry.

A shortlist of 36 people in construction has been announced, with Lauren Haines, Director at Elliott Brothers, Roger Tarry, merchant at Elliott Brothers (pictured) and Magda Dexter, Customer Experience and Internal Communication Director at Jewson, representing the builders’ merchant sector.

Haines said: "I was surprised to be nominated as a Role Model as I have taken it as part of my job to help others develop their roles within the business.

"I have gained experience from role models during my 45-year career at Elliotts and I’m pleased be in a similar position now to help others.

“I think that it’s extremely important to encourage others to build a career within the builders’ merchants industry as it is very diverse with loads of opportunities – helping customers build is very rewarding. It has been a fairly tough industry in the past for women as it has been dominated by men. However, this has changed over the years and I feel that by pushing myself forward it has helped women to secure more senior positions within the building industry.”

They will take part in an outreach programme to help build connections with local schools and colleges, and share their thoughts on key industry issues as guest bloggers for the Construction Matters Blog.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW Event Director, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for people to be celebrated in an industry that often gets negative press.

“It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the work the role models are doing, not just on a day-to-day basis, but the work they’ve personally taken on to make this industry better.

“It’s about sharing their construction career journeys and inspiring the next generation by dispelling the myths surrounding the construction industry.”

The winner will be announced on 10 October at the UKCW Stage at the NEC, Birmingham, followed by a champagne reception and a meet and greet with keynote speaker Barbara Res, who oversaw the construction of Trump Tower.

New to UKCW this year is the first Builders Merchants Federation’s Young Merchants’ Conference. A range of guest speakers will attend, including two-time Olympic silver medallist Steve Backley OBE and TV presenter and architect George Clarke.