To celebrate building their 500,000th home, leading national housebuilder Barratt Homes have commemorated the landmark with a fun, interactive digital street tool. The Barratt Homes Through the Decades tool looks back at the past seven decades to see how culture, street scenes, and house buying have changed throughout the years. Starting back in the 1960s, users can visit each decade right through to the 2020s and the current landscape.

The tool begins its journey way back in the swinging 60s. It celebrates many iconic events, notably the first moon landing, the formation of the Beatles, and the Concordes first flight. Flower power ruled the era, like tie-dye, bandanas, and knee-high socks were often the fashion of choice.

The housing market was also noticeably different, the average house price was only £2,530 as lava lamps, bean bags, and egg-shaped furniture the trend.

As the tool travels through the decades’ many fashions and trends are celebrated. Iconic music, stylish cars, epic blockbuster films, and contemporary dances all feature as it takes a nostalgic look at how culture has changed over the years.

The housing market also considerably changes as townhouses and apartment blocks became more popular and the typical property value steadily rises, reaching £197,890 by the end of the 2010s. It then concludes its journey in the 2020s as COVID-19, face masks and social distancing became the new norm.

David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, said: “To mark the significant milestone of completing our 500,000th home, we wanted to take a look back at how much things have evolved over the past seven decades.

“This digital tool will take viewers on a journey from the 1960s right up to today so they can explore what made each era so iconic.

“Creating communities has been a lasting legacy of ours since 1958 when Sir Lawrie Barratt first founded Barratt Homes and we are extremely proud of our contribution to society over the past 60 years. We now look forward to a new era of house building, one rightly shaped by the green agenda but still very much grounded in community.”

Barratt has always had quality at the forefront of its mind. In 2020, it was awarded the maximum five-star rating from its customers (HBF) for the 11th year in a row following the results of the annual Home Builders Federation satisfaction survey.

Looking to the future of housebuilding and its next 500,000 homes, Barratt has pledged its commitment to creating a positive environmental, social, and economic legacy for future generations.

The post Barratt Homes Through the Decades Tool first appeared on Economic Journal.

March 29-31, 2020 (West Palm Beach, FL) – Opal Group, a global conference organiser that caters to top executives and influencers, is excited to announce the Opal Exchange 2020. This three-day event is for institutional investors, money managers, and consultants who will be given effective networking opportunities. Opal Exchange will take place at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, FL on March 29-31, 2020.

Opal Exchange is the premier one-on-one networking event held by Opal Group in 2020. The unique format of the event utilises a 1-on-1 meeting scheduler that pairs attendees with like-minded delegates. Between the meetings, provided meals and cocktail receptions, you are given various opportunities to expand your network, build relationships, and gain leads. Some of those within the financial industry that will be attending include foundations, accounting firms, family offices, hedge funds, venture capitals and so much more!

“If networking is what you are looking for than look no further. We designed this event to push you into new relationships and opportunities each step of the way” said Opal Group’s producer, Doug Borths.

Opal Group puts their effort to only provide premier events, and accurate information. Unlike many other event making companies, Opal Group offers a unique conference format that consists of a combination of discussions, hands-on workshops, panels, one-on-one meetings and round tables to all of their attendees. Additionally, Opal Group ensures that each event will allow for any meaningful relationships to be created between the attendees.

For more information on Opal Group’s Impact Investing Forum 2020, visit www.opalgroup.net/trk/oexc2002.html

The post Opal Group’s Exchange 2020 first appeared on Economic Journal.

March 29-31, 2020 (West Palm Beach, FL) – Opal Group, a global conference organizer that caters to top executives and influencers, is ending the month of March with a bang. This three-day event is for delegates, money managers, and consultants who will dive into the topic of impact investing. The Impact Investing Forum will take place at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, FL on March 29-31, 2020.

2020 marks the fifth year anniversary for Opal Groups Impact Investing Forum. Today, we see an increase in companies proving that mission-driven and communication based strategy, can attract value based workforce, investor base, and like-minded consumers. We’re bringing those who are leading this trend like top influencers, experienced investors, money managers, and service providers, to speak at this event. Some of the topics they will touch on will be defining impact investing, portfolio construction, asset class opportunities, the role of the investor and more!

“Our events give you the chance to not only learn, but network with knowledgeable investors that come from all over the country which makes it a one of a kind experience.” said Opal Group’s producer, Doug Borths.

Opal Group puts their effort to only provide premier events, and accurate information. Unlike many other event making companies, Opal Group offers a unique conference format that consists of a combination of discussions, hands-on workshops, panels, one-on-one meetings and round tables to all of their attendees. Additionally, Opal Group ensures that each event will allow for any meaningful relationships to be created between the attendees.

For more information on Opal Group’s Impact Investing Forum 2020, visit www.opalgroup.net/trk/iifc2002.html

The post Opal Group’s Impact Investing Forum 2020 first appeared on Economic Journal.

• Saudi Arabia has more than $1.1bn worth of projects planned for the next decade, according to a report by dmg events and MEED Projects.
• Demand for Facilities Management services expected to rise as a result, reveal FM EXPO Saudi event organiser, dmg events.
• The Kingdom’s only facilities management and cleaning event, FM EXPO Saudi and Saudi Clean Expo, will run from 11 – 13 February at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.

FM EXPO Saudi and Saudi Clean Expo, the Kingdom’s only facilities management and cleaning event, will return for a 4th edition at Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center from 11 – 13 February 2020, announce event organisers dmg events.

The announcement comes as demand for facilities management services is increasing on the back of thriving construction activity in the country. With over $1.1bn worth of projects planned over the next decade, Saudi Arabia boasts the largest pipeline in the GCC region, according to a recent report by dmg events and MEED Projects.

Citing Saudi Vision 2030 as a major driver for the Kingdom’s construction plans, Event Manager at dmg events, Paddy O’Neil has commented: “The Saudi government’s vision has prompted development of mega-projects across multiple commercial spaces be it in the retail, tourism or residential sector, all of which will soon require expansive facilities management services.

He adds: “In line with the sustainability pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, completed and upcoming properties are also expected to withstand the test of time, stay cost effective, and run with minimal impact to the environment, making it even more important for asset owners to carefully consider which operational and maintenance solutions to invest in.”

Bringing the best of the facilities management and cleaning industry together under one roof, FM EXPO Saudi and Saudi Clean Expo will present an unmissable opportunity for building stakeholders to find all they need to maintain their properties to the highest standard, and with the newest processes.

Products on display at the event are expected to be the latest and most cutting-edge in the field, displayed by over 30 of the markets leading brands. Heavyweights signed up to exhibit at the event include the likes of Chbib, Al Majal, Nilfisk, Essity, and Reza Hygiene to name but a few.

Mohannad Zughayer, Area Sales Manager at exhibiting company Rothoblaas SRL has commented: “Saudi Arabia is developing very fast towards the facility management industry to assure functionality, comfort, and safety of the built environment. The pedigree of the Kingdom within the region also plays a huge role, and for this reason it needs to be preserved in its state of majestic modernity.”

Designed to enrich the sector, FM EXPO Saudi and Saudi Clean Expo will also feature a free-to-attend workshop series made up of 20 sessions. Visiting professionals will be able to benefit from CPD (continuing professional development) certification points through these workshops, whilst getting to know the latest facilities management trends and techniques.

Organised by dmg events LLC, FM EXPO Saudi is sponsored by Al-Hajry Overseas (Titanium Sponsor), Infor (Lanyard Sponsor), Enova by Veolia (Headline Workshop Sponsor) and Tamimi Group (Registration Sponsor), and is proudly supported by Riyadh Chamber. The event is co-located with HVAC R Expo Saudi and Stone & Surface Saudi. The events are held from 11 – 13 February 2020 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.

The post Saudi’s $1.1bn Projects Pipeline Set to Boost Facilities Management Sector first appeared on Economic Journal.

Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and Fira de Barcelona have established a partnership to hold the 2020 European Wireless Global Congress within the framework of the IOT Solutions World Congress, set to take place from 27th to 29th October at the Gran Via venue. This is the main global event specialising in Wi-Fi that attracts more than 1,000 key decision-making professionals linked to operators, service providers, technology and software companies, and user companies and entities across the world.

Wireless Broadband Alliance –a body focussed on promoting and enabling co-operation between service providers, enterprises, cities and technology providers to improve and advance the customer experience of Wi-Fi – is the organiser of the Wireless Global Congress, which every year holds one event in the USA and another one in Europe. In 2020, Chicago will be the venue for the North American edition of the WGC in June, while the Spanish city will host its European counterpart in October and have the option of extending its partnership for a further four years. Frankfurt and London were the last European cities to host this international congress.

Notably, the Barcelona Wireless Global Congress will take place co-located with the IOT Solutions World Congress, an event organised by Fira de Barcelona and the Industrial Internet Consortium that focuses on demonstrating the real impact of IoT on the digitisation of industries, together with other disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, blockchain and digital twin. At the previous edition, the IOTSWC brought together 350 exhibiting companies, more than 300 speakers and 16,000 professionals from over 120 countries.

With this partnership, the two technology events will capitalise on the synergies created when it comes to bringing together companies and professionals from around the world while generating meeting and networking spaces to boost shared knowledge, promote standards, detect challenges and accelerate business opportunities, placing Barcelona at the epicentre of the digital transformation of industries in October 2020.

Key Global Events

According to WBA CEO Tiago Rodrigues, “This will be a big year for the world of Wi-Fi and this partnership with the IoT Solutions World Congress will be a good platform to highlight the developments in Wi-Fi that can make a major contribution to digital transformation of economies and businesses”. Rodrigues also explained: “During the year I expect to see a growth in roaming federations that will make the use of Wi-Fi easier and smoother for consumers, operators, cities and enterprises, as well as the release of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E making use of 6 GHz bandwidth to improve the speed of connections.”

In keeping with the above, Salvador Tasqué, Fira de Barcelona’s Director of In-House Business, rated the arrival of the Wireless Global Congress (WGC) in the city highly positively: “We are very pleased to be co-organising this key global event in the Wi-Fi ecosystem, which continues to enhance the position of Barcelona and Fira as a leading international venue for technological congresses”. Tasqué also stressed that the connection established between the WGC and IOTSWC “will serve to increase the convening power of the two events specialising in disruptive technologies that are leading the transformation of industry, economy and society”.

In 2020, the WGC Barcelona agenda will cover topics such as the opportunities opening up with the next generation of Wi-Fi services (Wi-Fi 6 and 6 GHz), intelligence gathering and data analysis, the Wi-Fi customer experience, synergies with the IoT ecosystem, the impact of Wi-Fi cybersecurity, identity management, location services and the role of Wi-Fi in the future of the connected vehicle. Its sponsors include Boingo, Cisco, GlobalReach and Intel.

Meanwhile the IOTSWC 2020 will be showcasing the transformational power of digitisation with exponential technologies such as IOT, AI, 5G, quantum computing, robotics, blockchain and digital twin. It will provide real solutions and knowledge to guide the different industrial sectors through the implementation of these advances, ensuring welfare and sustainable growth.

The post The Leading International Congress Devoted to Wi-Fi Arrives in Barcelona Together with the IOTSWC first appeared on Economic Journal.

Infocus International Group has released the Real Estate Finance, Investment, Valuation & Modelling workshop and it will be holding in Singapore from 20th to 22nd November 2020. The registration is open now and there are limited seats available.

Real estate construction or investment requires a high level of technical expertise in building and using financial models if the building is to be profitable for its builder or owner. This has not always been available, with the result that a large percentage of real estate has been built or bought without the necessary understanding or planning to underpin decision making. The consequence of this lack of planning has often been disastrous. Therefore, professionals have to continuously upgrade and evolve especially in this dynamic real estate market in order to keep pace with one of the most active and profitable investment opportunities.

This course will teach all the available techniques of real estate finance, investment and development, and how to apply them practically through the use of Excel, as well as providing insights into real estate modelling software such as Estatemaster and Argus. An extensive use of regional case studies will be adopted to illustrate the principles covered. Ultimately, participants will get practical tips on layout and style in building and analysing user-friendly models which are available as additional benefits of attending the course.

Past participant from HLC commented, “Very relevant to what we are doing, particularly building a feasibility. Trainer is very passionate about subject matter – very engaging presenter. Also, small group size was good – more personal interactions.”

Benefits of Attending

• Place real estate in a global context and appreciate what key risks are for the sector
• Learn market analysis techniques, data and reports
• Analyse the risk and returns of investing in real estate
• Develop land banking, investment and development bank proposals for real estate
• Evaluate discounted cash flow valuation, investment and development frameworks and financial models for lending analysis
• Integrate leases, tax and finance into real estate lending at project and corporate level
• Analyse and build robust models for complex property development and portfolio
• Take away a wide range of financial models for real estate
• Use both debt and equity financing structures and techniques
• Model any real estate investment scenario
• Be inspired. Just one good nugget of inspiration will repay the cost of the course hundreds of times over

Simply email to weslyn@infocusinternational.com or call +65 6325 0274 to register your attendance. For more information, please visit www.infocusinternational.com/realestate.

The post Registration Is Now Open for Real Estate Finance, Investment, Valuation & Modelling Workshop first appeared on Economic Journal.

The Public Private Partnership (PPP): Financing, Projects & Contracts workshop is back for 2020. With more sessions in different locations, Infocus International is delighted to bring one of their best events to professionals from all around the world.

“Excellent course for anyone involved in PPP. Highly recommended. Excellent course director!” said Beverly Nelson, the project manager for PNG Ports Corporation.

This workshop provides sector-by-sector analysis of PPP models and structures, covering infrastructure, transportation, energy, healthcare, housing, water & waste, finance & economic affairs, IT & telecom, aviation, defence, commerce and other relevant industries. At the end of the workshop, participants will construct and use a real PPP model based on a real example by using Excel.

Sessions Available

• 30 March – 3 April 2020, Kuala Lumpur
• 22 – 26 June 2020, London
• 31 August – 4 September 2020, Johannesburg
• 11 – 15 October 2020, Dubai
• 23 – 27 November 2020, Singapore

Course Highlights

• Financial & Commercial aspect of PPP, e.g. funding, how to attract investors, project finance, ROI.
• Project aspect of PPP, e.g. project planning, cost control, risks, implementation.
• Legal aspect of PPP, e.g. contract, regulation, dispute resolution.
• Sector-by-sector analysis of PPP models and structures.
• Building a real PPP model using Excel. Benefits of Attending:
• Source funding for local and international projects.
• Evaluate the successes and failures of private finance.
• Know when a project should and should not be delivered through private finance.
• Implement, structure and strategise PPP/PFI projects.
• Review PPP financing options and financial models to optimise ROI.
• Appreciate different models of private finance infrastructure delivery.
• Learn best practice for the delivery of PPP contracts.
• Analyse financial and legal aspects of PPP contracts.
• Place local PPP projects in global context and evaluate the future structure, challenges and prospects for infrastructure in the region.
• Apply the principles of US, European and global private finance experience to other markets.
• Develop an understanding of the future of private finance for infrastructure.
• Learn best practice in PPP modelling.
• Build a reliable PPP model from scratch using Excel.

Simply email to weslyn@infocusinternational.com or call +65 6325 0274 to register your attendance. For more information, please visit www.infocusinternational.com/ppp

The post Public Private Partnership (PPP) Workshop Is Now Available in Five Locations first appeared on Economic Journal.

Infocus International Group is accepting registration for Project Finance & Project Financial Modelling workshop. Answering to the demand from professionals around the world, this comprehensive workshop will be held at three different locations: Dubai, Singapore and Johannesburg.

The first 3 days of the programme provide project financing skills participants can immediately use upon return to their workplace. Participants will learn demonstrated analytical strategies to assess the degree of risk and benefits of specific project financing, along with the elements of the day-to-day business and operational aspects. This programme is also designed to enhance the checklists and benchmark metrics by which can reduce losses and which will be viewed favourably by both management and the regulatory community.

The last 2 days of the programme cover financial modelling techniques, including how to model the role of debt, debt covenants, cash waterfalls, intercreditor relations, restructuring and rescheduling of debt, how to model risk, and the role of equity and its rewards. In the course of the 2 days, participants will build and evaluate a range of project finance models, covering projects as diverse as conventional and renewable energy investments, mines and private hospitals. You will overcome the most complex aspects of building a reliable model, including uncertainty, currency and timescale mismatches, debt amortisation, depreciation, control account waterfall, cost structures, and the ability to easily shift time scales, as well as the ability to identify and control key sensitivities through spreadsheet simulation.

Upon the successful completion of this course, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion bearing the signatures from both the Course Director and the Course Organiser. This Certificate will testify your endeavour and serve towards your professional advancement.

Sessions Available

• 16 – 20 February 2020, Dubai
• 13 – 17 July 2020, Singapore
• 9 – 13 November 2020, Johannesburg

Course Highlights

• Financing strategies and methods.
• Project finance analysis.
• How to negotiate the best interest rates.
• Tips to approach banks and equity providers for project finance.
• Mitigate project risks.
• Build cash flow cascades to forecast debt capacity and investor returns.
• Apply project finance techniques in specific industrial sectors in an Asian/African context.
• Best practice in financial modelling.
• How to make highly accurate assumptions.
• Different model types for projects (oil, gas, power, renewables, mining, transport etc.).
• How to build a reliable financial model from scratch using Excel.
• Best way to present models to investors.
• Understand government policies that may hinder project finance in different countries.
• How to manage good relationship with stakeholders & government bodies

Simply email to weslyn@infocusinternational.com or call +65 6325 0274 to register your attendance. For more information, please visit www.infocusinternational.com/projectfinance.

The post Registration Opens for 2020 Project Finance & Project Financial Modelling Workshop first appeared on Economic Journal.

Unified Communications refers to the integration of various real-time communication channels such as voice, video, text and data into one solution, which aims to boost communication and collaboration within a business. Unified Comms come in many forms, including the integration of a company’s customer communication channels (i.e. email, social media, web and chat) or simply the pairing of various internal channels such video conferencing and instant messaging (i.e. Skype for business).

Improving productivity is a challenge all businesses face, and Unified Communications proposes various ways it can address this challenge. A study found that businesses adopting UC experienced on average a 52% improvement in workplace productivity as well as a subsequent 25% increase in profit. Sounds promising, but how does UC help achieve this?

Improved Speed

Firstly, Unified Comms can significantly add speed, and therefore productivity to business processes. For example, in contact centres, UC can help by improving customer response times. With all of an organisations’ communication channels merged onto one platform, (i.e. social, email, web, chat, telephone, SMS) it becomes much easier to pick up these queries/ conversations as well as respond to them. For sales teams, unified comms can be vital as it means each team is alerted of queries much quicker and so have a better chance of converting each ticket coming in. With the help of UC, staff across various departments now address more queries during their working hours, thus boosting productivity.

Internal Collaboration

Secondly, UC can have a positive impact on workplace collaboration and communication. Presence apps let you know in real-time if your colleagues are available for meetings, calls/ call transfers, or collaboration on projects. Having this information can be very practical, as often you cannot physically see your colleagues and therefore determine whether they are available to speak or not. Presence apps can eliminate unnecessary call transfers and can also ensure that when a colleague needs to assemble a team or communicate or reach various people, they know when and how they can do so, which improves internal communication and productivity.

In addition, video, visual and messaging capabilities integrated together (onto one platform) enable employees to remotely facilitate virtual meetings with each other, eliminating the need to move between offices/ locations and ensure everyone is present at the same time. This helps speed up internal communication and can significantly improve productivity.

Mobility

Lastly, implementing UC can enable employees to work remotely, accessing their data and work files even when they are not in the office. An article written by the Telegraph found that many employees who commute to work also like to get work done whilst making their journey in. More than a fifth (22%) said working on their commute allowed them to get more work done, and more than a quarter (29%) said that they were able to do so because of the access they had to technology. This goes to show how UC can create tangible benefits for productivity, by giving workers access to their work station even when they aren’t at the office.

Similarly, a nine-month study by HBR found that productivity in call centres increased when employees were given the ability to work remotely from home. The study found that those who worked from home completed 13.5% more calls than their counterparts in the office, and the business itself saved around $1900 per employee on furniture and space over the nine-month period. Working from home couldn’t happen without enablement from UC technology, and so it’s implementation can facilitate home working which can boost productivity.

To sum, Unified Comms can boost business productivity by improving speed in the contact centres, which can lead to quicker response times and more conversions. In addition, UC can boost internal communication and collaboration, making teams more efficient and effective which can boost productivity. Lastly, UC enables remote working which means employees can work even when they are not in the office (ie commuting or at home) which has been shown to increase productivity.

Author Bio

Guest blog by Stefan Docherty, Marketing Executive, Call & Contact Centre Expo

www.callandcontactcentreexpo.co.uk

The post How Unified Comms Can Improve Business Productivity first appeared on Economic Journal.

February 6, 2020 (New Orleans, LA) – Opal Group, a global conference organiser that caters to top executives and influencers, will host a three day exclusive event that aims to provide broad education and information on investing, fiduciary responsibility, pension funds, and more. The Investment Education Symposium  event will take place in Royal Sonesta New Orleans on February 19, 2020 – February 21, 2020.

Opal Group’s Investment Education Symposium will discuss from the selection of money managers to the key decision makers and other representatives of the nation’s largest pension fund, endowments, foundations, and other institutional investors.

Participants of this conference will have the chance to exchange ideas and learn from other delegates and presenters who manage some of the largest capital flows within both the traditional and the alternative investment communities. Institutional investors will come from across the country not just to network but also to learn from the nation’s leading institutional investors, asset managers, hedge fund managers, consultants, and more.

Unlike several other events, Opal Group’s events are personalised for the most experienced and knowledgeable leaders from a variety of industries.

Opal Group produces unique meetings for the nation’s top executives to collaborate and share best practices, foster new relationships and connect with their peers in a relaxed setting. Our carefully curated content and high-level networking helps executives achieve the most challenging objectives while saving time and money.

For more information on Opal Group’s Public Funds Summit, visit opalgroup.net/trk/iesc2002.html

Register today using the discount code EJIES2020 for 15% off!

Contact:

Kimberly Pacheco
Marketing Coordinator
kpacheco@opalgroup.net
212.532.9898 x210

The post Opal Group’s Investment Education Symposium 2020 first appeared on Economic Journal.