Going up

Just the job
Employment among last year’s architecture, building and engineering graduates has risen 14.5% compared with those that graduated in 2009, says the Higher Education Careers Services Unit.

Taxing time
Scottish cabinet secretary Fiona Hyslop called for a reduced VAT rate for building repair, refurbishment and maintenance in a debate on the value of architecture and placemaking for the economic development of Scotland.

Doors opening
October marked an upturn for the UK housing market according to the latest figures from the RICS, with 8% more surveyors reporting a rise in newly agreed sales, although London remains the only region recording rising prices.

Going down

Setting sun
More than six local authorities are to scrap or suspend major solar panel installation projects following the government’s decision to halve feed-in tariff subsidies from December.

Taking a break
Richard Diment, the director general of trade body the Federation of Master Builders, is “on leave” after questions were raised about his performance.

Under cover
Hammersmith & Fulham Council is accused of being undemocratic, after it revealed plans to restrict councillors’ access to “commercially sensitive” information in planning applications by major developers.

Quoted

‘We’re a crew of architects aboard a ship in very choppy sea, and up there in the crow’s nest is Kenneth Frampton’

Grafton Architects’ Yvonne Farrell masters the art of flattery at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland annual conference