EWS Tributes pour in for true visionary Max Fordham IN BRIEF Economic scars of pandemic revealed Consulting engineers saw drops in revenue growth and headcount last year, according to a new study, by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), that reveals the scars left by the pandemic. Aces Benchmarking Study for 2021, published last month, covers about 60% of the sector by market value. It shows staff numbers decreased by an average of 4.2% at larger firms and 17.4% at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This led to a drop in overhead and operating expenses by 17.9% and 19% for large consultancies and SMEs respectively. Revenue growth was also down sharply for large companies 1.7%, compared with 6.3% in 2019. SMEs revenue growth fell to 1.3% from 3.4% two years ago. Industry mourns father of modern building services Industry figures have been paying tribute to building services pioneer Max Fordham FCIBSE FREng, who died last month, aged 88. Max set up Max Fordham & Partners in 1966, with his wife Taddy. The company become one of the most influential in the building services sector, with many of its alumni going on to form groundbreaking design practices of their own. Consultant Bill Bordass said of Max: What a mind, what a character, what a legacy his imagination, his buildings, the firm that bears Building services pioneer Max Fordham, who died last month, aged 88 Chip shortage could squeeze boiler supply A global shortage of semiconductors is constraining the availability of boilers at a time when demand is exceptionally high, according to the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). Although it had not seen direct evidence that a shortage of chips is affecting production, the CLCs product availability working group is to increase market surveillance to spot early signs of disruption. It added that, because of the size of orders, there is a bias in the supply chain towards automotive and electronics firms, which may cause issues for manufacturers of boilers and building-related electrical systems when semiconductors are in short supply. Gas grid set to deliver hydrogen from 2023 Plans published by the Energy Networks Association show that Britains gas grid will be ready to start blending hydrogen in the countrys network from next year. Britains hydrogen blending delivery plan outlines how all five gas grid companies will meet the governments target for gas pipes to be ready to deliver 20% hydrogen to homes and businesses from 2023, as a replacement for up to a fifth of the natural gas currently used. Britains gas-fired power plants will also be able to use blended hydrogen to generate cleaner electricity, the plan says. his name, and the generations of scientists that he turned into environmental designers and engineers. One of the great champions of sustainable building design, Max was CIBSE President in 2001 and won the CIBSE Gold Medal in 1997. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1992 and, in 2008, won the prestigious Prince Philip Designers Prize. Terry Wyatt, FCIBSE and CIBSE pastpresident, said: He was a prominent figure in our profession, which is now diminished by his departure. Simon Allford, co-founder of architects AHMM and current RIBA president, said: He was a true visionary a pioneer of sustainable design and engineering. He collaborated on projects across sectors from housing estates to theatres and arts centres helping to create a vast portfolio of exceptional buildings. Rod Bunn, past editor of CIBSE Journal, said: Max was a father figure to the industry. We owe him a great debt. Maxs contribution to engineering extended beyond building services. He patented inventions and brought new rigour to delivering building performance. More recently, Max Fordhams contribution to Passivhaus buildings design won the consultancy consecutive CIBSE Building Performance Awards for housing, with Maxs own Passivhaus home winning Residential Project of the Year in 2021. Other notable projects under his leadership include Tate St Ives, Alexandra Road estate, Camden, the Judge Business School, and Manchesters Contact Theatre. Work-life balance key for engineers Building service employees are in a bullish mood about their prospects and many are looking for more flexibility on work-life balance and location, according to the latest Hays/CIBSE Journal annual salary and benefits survey. The proportion who feel positive about their career prospects has nearly doubled, from 35% this time last year to 68% now. The average pay rise recorded in the survey was 3.4%, which compares with 1.1% last year. Nearly half (45%) of the engineers surveyed said they had moved jobs in the past 12 months, and a further 31% had considered moving. The main reason given for wanting to leave their current role was the salary or benefits package (27%), followed by location (26%). More than half (60%) said they would be prepared to accept a lower-paid job for a better work-life balance or a job with more purpose. A third (33%) said they would be prepared to take a lower-paid job for better work-life balance alone. Nearly half (48%) said they would be tempted to change employer if offered flexible hybrid working, and 47% said they would prefer their organisation to increase its focus on flexible working. More than three-quarters (78%) said an organisations purpose is important when considering a role. Andrew Swain-Smith, chair of building services engineering at BDP, said: People are looking to move for reasons other than salary. Clearly, people dont change jobs without seeking to maximise the opportunity to increase their salary, but I dont see that as a driver in the same way as in the past. 6 February 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Feb22 pp06-07 News.indd 6 28/01/2022 16:02