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Construction and Engineering news and insights for Australia’s small and medium business owners and entrepreneurs. Read the latest construction and engineering news, trends and features and entrepreneur interviews about the construction and engineering industry. Or search for construction and engineering on SmartCompany. |
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News
Construction, retail and transport sectors most vulnerable to company collapses Patrick Stafford Companies are continuing to collapse due to the withdrawal of stimulus funds and fierce competition between businesses continuing to drop margins and discount. | Wednesday, 17 March 2010 |
Independent expert says Kerry Stokes' Seven Network and WesTrac merger is fair, but small shareholders might need convincing James Thomson Expert indicates minority shareholders may actually lose out on the $3 billion merger of Seven Netowrk and WesTrac. | Tuesday, 16 March 2010 |
Construction industry expands in February: Economy Roundup Patrick Stafford The Australian construction industry has managed to expand for a second month in February, but at a slower pace, according to the latest results. | Friday, 5 March 2010 |
Building materials group 7Steel Distribution in receivership James Thomson 7Steel Distribution has collapsed into receivership and been put up for sale, in further evidence Australia’s construction sector remains under pressure. | Friday, 5 March 2010 |
Retail sales grow by 1.2% in January, Tatts buys NSW Lotteries: Economy Roundup Patrick Stafford The Australian sharemarket has opened higher today ahead of the RBA's meeting where economists widely expect the board to increase the official interest rate by 0.25%. | Tuesday, 2 March 2010 |
New home sales rise 9.5% during January, Rates tipped to rise tomorrow: Economy Roundup Patrick Stafford The ACCC has said scam losses during the past year have nearly reached $70 million. | Monday, 1 March 2010 |
Building industry worried after another insurer abandons home warranty market Patrick Stafford Industry leader warns Vero’s decision to abandon its home warranty insurance operations will create uncertainty and a lack of competition which could threaten the rest of the sector. | Friday, 5 February 2010 |
Recovery will be a long grind as households feel the pinch: Access Economics Patrick Stafford A new Access Economics report shoes while the Australian economy is recovering, it will be slower than previous recessions. | Tuesday, 26 January 2010 |
Producer prices fall, shares slide again: Economy roundup Patrick Stafford Shares have fallen again this morning as nervous investors continue to sweat on changes to banking sector regulation. | Monday, 25 January 2010 |
Construction remains subdued: Economy Roundup Patrick Stafford Kraft has now been granted preliminary EU approval for a takeover bid for Cadbury, allowing the company to work on a plan attractive to shareholders. | Friday, 8 January 2010 |
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Trends
PC sales set to explode Patrick Stafford PC sales across the world are set to grow over the next year due to sustained economic growth both home and abroad in the information technology sector, according to new forecasts from IDC. | Tuesday, 16 March 2010 |
Proposal for in-flight internet access submitted by ACMA Patrick Stafford The Australian Communications and Media Authority has put forward a proposal for the introduction of in-flight internet and communications services for passengers, but Telstra isn't so keen on the deal. | Tuesday, 16 March 2010 |
Choice calls for supermarket ombudsman Patrick Stafford Consumer group Choice has called for the establishment of a supermarket ombudsman, saying it would help solve issues relating to competition and fairness. | Tuesday, 16 March 2010 |
ACCC hits out at handsets Patrick Stafford The ACCC is hoping to introduce an industry agreement with mobile carriers in order to protect consumers' rights regarding faulty products. | Monday, 15 March 2010 |
Microsoft not so hot on employees using iPhones Patrick Stafford According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft staff are concerned by the number of employees using iPhones, manufactured by rival Apple. | Monday, 15 March 2010 |
Features
Survival of the fittest Patrick Stafford The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the construction industry reveals companies are suffering from cancelled projects and higher competition, but strong players have survived and they are eyeing a recovery. | Tuesday, 28 July 2009 |
Engineers on the lookout for new prospects Robert Bryant Demand for consulting engineering services has climbed only marginally, while new work on engineering design, preplanning and feasibility assessments is stalling. | Tuesday, 21 July 2009 |
Engineering growth in the gloom Patrick Stafford and James Thomson Long-term growth projects are driving engineering profits through the downturn. | Tuesday, 23 June 2009 |
Which sectors will win and lose in the downturn? Phil Ruthven Are your sales efforts aimed at the right sectors? As the Australian economy hurtles towards recession, veteran business watcher and IBISWorld founder PHIL RUTHVEN nominates the industries that will be hardest hit - and the sectors that should hold up. | Wednesday, 18 February 2009 |
Stimulated entrepreneurs James Thomson Which entrepreneurs are set to win from the Federal Government's stimulus package? We scan the wealth list for who has just got a thumbs-up. | Sunday, 8 February 2009 |
Why the internet will beat the downturn Amanda Gome The silver lining for Quickflix in the economic downturn is the “lipstick effect”, where people indulge in cheaper at-home recreation. Founder Stephen Langsford tells AMANDA GOME how the evolving online world has changed his business. | Tuesday, 20 January 2009 |
Spilt milk James Thomson Australia’s dairy wholesale sector is coming off a good year, thanks to surging global food prices. But as prices fall, increased competition will lead to consolidation and force some companies out of the sector. IBISWorld general manager ROBERT BRYANT explains. | Tuesday, 20 January 2009 |
How will your sector perform in 2009? James Thomson The threat of recession hangs heavy over the business landscape, but not every company is bracing for bad news. In a sector-by-sector breakdown, SmartCompany reveals the industries of likely refuge in the maelstrom ahead. | Monday, 19 January 2009 |
Your HR recession survival plan The focus of businesses everywhere has changed from tentative growth to outright survival mode. But there are staffing mistakes that every company still needs to avoid. ANDREW DOUGLAS flags the warning signs. | Monday, 19 January 2009 |
Five lessons from the collapse of Storm Financial Storm Financial’s stumble into administrator’s hands wasn't just a result of the financial crisis – its strategy left it badly exposed and distracted. JAMES THOMSON picks over the remains and looks at the salient lessons for every entrepreneur. | Tuesday, 13 January 2009 |
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Entrepreneur Zone
Les Katz Patrick Stafford Lift Shop founder Les Katz had plenty of start-up problems, but is now finding his feet. | Thursday, 15 October 2009
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Recruiter rides the outsourcing wave Amanda Gome Andrew Banks heads the winning HR firm Talent2, and has built a highly successful and lucrative career from making canny calls on recruitment trends. He tells AMANDA GOME about his strategies and predictions. | Tuesday, 14 October 2008 |
Aussie’s strong growth plan Amanda Gome John Symond’s Aussie Home Loans has continued to grow despite ructions in the mortgage market. His advice? Don’t be a victim, especially as circumstances change and customer needs evolve. He tells AMANDA GOME how he positioned Aussie as an organisation th | Monday, 29 September 2008 |
Digital directions Amanda Gome John O’Neill, the chair of online strategy and digital agency Komosion, talks to AMANDA GOME about shaking the status quo in the face of the changing online space. | Thursday, 18 September 2008 |
A start-up with style Amanda Gome The brainchild behind Swap My Style is 29-year-old Shaughla Ahmad, who has brought like-minded fashionistas a new concept that combines clothes, champagne and canapes with a night out. She tells AMANDA GOME how it all came about. | Tuesday, 16 September 2008 |
Aussie’s strong growth plan Amanda Gome John Symond’s Aussie Home Loans has continued to grow despite ructions in the mortgage market. His advice? Don’t be a victim, especially as circumstances change and customer needs evolve. He tells AMANDA GOME how he positioned Aussie as an organisation th | Tuesday, 2 September 2008 |
Digital directions Amanda Gome John O’Neill, the chair of online strategy and digital agency Komosion, talks to AMANDA GOME about shaking the status quo in the face of the changing online space. | Tuesday, 26 August 2008 |
Life after Destra, and the digital future Amanda Gome Dominic Carosa, 33, was until two months ago, the founder and chief executive of digital media and entertainment company Destra Corporation. He talks to AMANDA GOME about life after Destra, the lessons he learnt, his new plans and how the digital world is | Monday, 23 June 2008 |
Building online traffic with Vroom Jacqui Walker The founders of fast growth online car hire business Vroom Vroom Vroom, Peter Thornhill and Richard Eastes, tell JACQUI WALKER how they built traffic with search engine marketing, created an innovative culture, and are planning global expansion. | Tuesday, 18 March 2008 |
Online job giant SEEKs to adapt Amanda Gome Seek founder Paul Bassat speaks to AMANDA GOME about the direction his business must take to continue on its enviable growth path. | Tuesday, 19 February 2008 |
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