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Winning recognition for the great work you do feels fantastic, and winning even more work because you've won an award for all the great work you do is even better.

The winners of the 2012 awards have said that the benefits of winning a Construction News Specialists Award go far beyond the celebrations on the night.

Yorkshire Craft Fairs has been organising Arts & Craft fairs since 1979, trading then under the name of its founder, and has been providing a market place for craftspeople to exhibit their products to the public since that time, and an opportunity for the public to see a wide range of crafts and gifts not available in their standard high street shops.

All our fairs are held in prestigious hotels and well known halls, situated in attractive visitor locations. All venues have been selected to provide pleasant surroundings for both visitors and exhibitors alike.

CEMEX UK’s Cyclist Safety campaign which raises awareness of the dangers posed to cyclists riding alongside LGVs (Large Goods Vehicles) was displayed prominently outside the entrance of The King Power Stadium in Leicester as part of the PRECAST2012 industry event last Thursday. A collaborative effort was organised by British Precast the Leicester-based trade body for concrete products with participation from the Mineral Products Association, CEMEX UK, Leicester City Football Club and Leicester City Council. The event supports the national campaign “Cities fit for Cycling” . The key aim of the Cyclist Safety campaign is to prevent collisions between cyclists and Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs) by raising awareness from both sides on how to cycle and drive safely. The police were also on hand giving vital advice to all delegates on road safety.

CEMEX UK brought along two large vehicles, fitted with additional features aimed at cyclists and encouraged them to climb aboard and see the “cabs-eye-view”, to educate them about the potential dangerous blind spots for the driver surrounding the lorry. Cyclists from the local area attended during the day and the demonstrations were found to be a real eye-opener with visitors noting that the blind areas around the lorries are far larger than one would imagine.

Future Forestry - Meeting the needs of society in the 21st century.   CBI Conference Centre, Centre Point, New Oxford Street, London
Did you predict the public’s reaction in February last year to the Government's proposed change in woodland ownership in England? Do you have a clear idea of the international and domestic forces that will shape forestry and forestry businesses over the next decade? Do you know all about carbon trading and how forestry fits in?

We’ve seen the industry's reaction to policy decisions, huge public concern over forest sell-offs, biosecurity challenges, changing planting demands, economic drivers that bring tough financial decisions, increased and often bureaucratic legislation, and a potential long-term skills shortage on the horizon. The list goes on.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Durham County Council and a development consortium led by Carillion Developments, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP have entered into a development agreement to invest £27 million into a scheme that will breathe new life into a derelict site in the heart of Durham City, which will secure up to 1,200 jobs as well as regenerate the historic riverside site.

Neil Graham (HCA), Helen Hawkley (National Savings and Investments), Neil McMillan (Carillion), Cllr Neil Foster (Durham County Council) & Allan Cook (Arlington Real Estate) outside the disused ice rink

The 0.77ha Freeman’s Reach scheme on the east bank of the river Wear will replace the disused ice rink that was bought by the Regional Development Agency and is now owned by the HCA. Following community consultation, a detailed planning application will be submitted to the Council in the autumn.

JOB hunters look this way – a huge event aimed at getting hundreds of people back into work could provide the answer. Severn Vale School, in Quedgeley, will play host to more than 40 employers and training providers all looking for talent.

The likes of EDF Energy, Carter Construction, the Royal Navy, Glevum Security and Dyson are all on board for the event, which takes place on Monday from 2pm to 5pm. It has been pulled together by Gloucester MP Richard Graham. Talks with employers about coming on board for the event started towards the end of last year. He said: "This will be the fourth one we have done and at the last jobs fair in Barnwood, 500 people turned up over the course of the day.

From an artistic point of view, it doesn't look like a medal contender.
And at a cost of £335,000 to the taxpayer, this Olympic sculpture might not win any prizes for value for money either.
The 17 sandstone boulders mounted on 8ft stainless steel poles are being built in a muddy field in Weymouth, Dorset, near where the Olympic sailing events will be held.

The designers say they will 'inspire' people who see them in the run-up to the Games, and represent the 'dramatic' coastline. The formation of the pillars is supposed to represent a flock of birds or shoal of fish.

The Construction Products Association welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement confirming an increase for investment in infrastructure projects in today’s Autumn Statement, although overall capital spending continues to fall.

In the final part of a special report on the problems facing the capital, Brian Ferguson explores the possible routes ahead

AS THE great and good of Edinburgh mingled at the launch of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations yesterday, it was hard to escape an impression all was well in the city.

With budgets tightening in towns and cities across Britain, Edinburgh is preparing to roll out an extravagant welcome mat for what is still billed as “the world’s best New Year party.”

It will herald what the tourism industry is convinced will be a bumper year for the city in the global spotlight, basking in the reflected glory of London’s hosting of the Olympic Games and the expected spin-off for our festivals.

Hopes are also high that the arrival of the giant pandas, the unveiling of the revamped Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the long-awaited arrival of Primark on Princes Street are all signs the city is striding out of the rubble of the recession.

Yet behind the scenes, many key figures in the city concede that Scotland’s capital is at a crossroads.

There is an overwhelming sense, particularly among those who insist on speaking anonymously, of the need for a new long-term strategy for the city to encourage investment and large-scale regeneration schemes.

Fears over a looming shortage of office space, of the city’s retail offering slipping further behind Glasgow, and concerns over how to kick-start the building of new housing are not difficult to unearth.

Major developments are running years behind schedule, some have stalled completely and others have been sent back to the drawing board. Only yesterday it emerged that the Scottish Government had intervened over the fate of Leith Docks by ordering a new masterplan after work on previously agreed schemes had drawn to a halt.

Projects such as Caltongate, in the Old Town, and the transformation of the old Royal High School, on Calton Hill, are not even on the starting blocks, despite the best efforts of the council to engineer investment. Factor in expected disruption from almost three years of further construction of the tram and it is little wonder the voices of optimism are muted.

Tom Buchanan, the city’s economic development leader, said: “There is no denying that the building and property development market has taken a hit, not only in Edinburgh but nationally and internationally. There have been a number of major investment projects that have not developed as far as we might have liked.

“Although the evidence may not be on the ground yet, discussions are always ongoing with interested parties to ensure investment can take place when conditions allow.

“Whether new projects are about to come to fruition, or are merely on the horizon, there are many grounds for optimism but there can be no complacency.”

DONALD Anderson, former leader of the council, now head of a public affairs consultancy in the city, said: “There can be no doubt that Edinburgh is facing some huge challenges.

“Just this year, according to a PKF study, Glasgow has now overtaken Edinburgh as a tourism destination, though it remains to be seen if this will be maintained. Glasgow is to be commended for such a great achievement, but it is also a warning to Edinburgh.

“Much good work has been done to encourage investment in the centre of Edinburgh, but the challenge of delivering modern sized shops in the city centre is a formidable one. And these are just two of the lower profile issues being faced by a city that has lost its place in the vanguard of the city renaissance in Britain.

“While Edinburgh was first among cities to develop major events like Hogmanay, our Christmas events and our summer festivals, most other cities are catching up.”

Professor Joe Goldblatt, an expert on international tourism and events at Queen Margaret University, also warned against complacency. He said: “The question arises as to whether we are standing upon the threshold of unprecedented future success or perhaps risk decline due to civic and political trepidation and insecurity.”

The warning signs are there. The official European Cities Monitor is regularly quoted by the city council for Edinburgh’s high rating for the quality of life it offers. In the most recent survey, it is rated at 11, alongside Oslo, and just behind London.

But the main survey, which rates the best cities in which to locate a business, has seen Edinburgh slip four places, to 31, putting it behind Glasgow. Edinburgh is rated as one of the worst cities at promoting itself and its availability of office space is also one of the worst, while Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester rate among the best in Europe.

Angela Lowe, a partner at Cushman and Wakefield, which produces the European study, said: “Edinburgh does not actually do too badly in our survey, but it has slipped down the rankings.

“However, the reality is most other cities in Britain, outside of London, have been affected by the same factors as Edinburgh and the city still has quite a lot of office space lying empty.”

MR BUCHANAN insists the council has played a “key role” in helping steer the city through what he admits have been “stormy waters”.

A BUILDER has been presented with a seal of excellence. Steve Wyman, 30, of Kinmel Bay won a Wales Pride in the Job award from the National House Building Council (NHBC) for his work on St Francis Park Estate in Prestatyn. The site manager for Anwyl Construction will now travel to London to take part in the UK-wide awards dubbed the “Building Oscars”.