NEWSBRIEF

Mott macdonald wins airport job

A Mott MacDonald company began a 25-year concession to run Africa's first fully privatised airport last week. Mott McDonald is acting as general manager of the facility at Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and its partner Schipol will be responsible for managing operations.

compulsory land purchase simplified

Surveyors and landowners have joined forces to launch a new, low-cost resolution procedure aimed at simplifying compulsory purchase land disputes. The Country Landowners Association and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is offering a fixed cost, one-day mediation hearing.

consumer spend affects retail confidence

Worries about consumer spending are affecting confidence in the market for retail premises. But plans for new shopping developments are expected to grow in 1999, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in a new survey published on 13 November.

universities back BUILT ENVIRONMENT

A joint project to boost training and technology in construction has been announced by Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Strathclyde. The Centre for the Built Environment will assist companies in obtaining hands-on technological advice over a period of up to 12 months by accessing the Teaching Company Scheme, run by the University of Strathclyde, which provides new graduates to companies free of charge.

HSC launches workplace accident debate

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published a discussion document inviting people to participate in a debate about whether more should be done to encourage employers to investigate workplace accidents and take action to prevent recurrence. At present, there is no law which explicitly requires employers to investigate the causes of workplace accidents. Comments should be sent by 2 March 1999 to: Chris Rowe, HSE Policy Unit, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS.

wml group joins rentokil and rotch

WML Group has signed an agreement to join forces with Rentokil Initial and Rotch Properties to market an integrated range of property management and financial services to major companies, property owners and the public sector. The new company is called Trident Management Solutions.

arc takes over drings' keynsham site

Building material supplier ARC has taken over the Keynsham site of the stonemasonry firm Drings of Bath. Drings went into receivership in October. After buying it from the receiver, ARC has merged Drings with its Bath and Portland Natural Stone division.

paul myers joins celtic technologies

Paul Myers has moved from his post as principal design engineer with Amec Civil Engineering to join Cardiff-based Celtic Technologies. Myers will be a business team leader responsible for the remediation of contaminated land.

bandT rakes in £4m profit in six months

Bandt, the scaffolding and industrial services group, has made a pre-tax profit of £4 million in the six months to 4 October 1998 on a turnover of £40 million. Figures in the equivalent period last year were £2.7 million and £36 million respectively.