Incorporating the plans of all three former businesses – Rider Hunt, Levett & Bailey and Bucknall Austin – Rider Levett Bucknall is now guided by one business plan. As one of the world's foremost international property and construction consultancies, Rider Levett Bucknall continues to be a relevant and valuable member of global communities.
FINANCIAL GROWTH, HEALTHY FUTURE
As for most organisations, 2009 was a challenging year for Rider Levett Bucknall. Despite this, Rider Levett Bucknall is in a strong financial position to undertake the next stage of growth and development to strengthen its position as a leading property and construction consultant to the worldwide construction industry and help further meet the needs of our global clients. The company has seen an increase of over 30 per cent in turnover since the formation of the global practice. This increase in turnover can be attributed to our access into the global construction market as well as the company's ability to work more quickly and efficiently due to cross-regional collaborations.
NEW TERRITORIES
Building on market-leading positions across the globe – as the No. 1 quantity surveying consultancy in Oceania and China – the Rider Levett Bucknall global practice is expanding further into international markets. Rider Levett Bucknall's investment in the Middle East will continue into 2010 and new interests and partnerships will gain traction in India and Europe.
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
One of the key drivers for the formation of the Rider Levett Bucknall global practice was the ability to provide clients with access to specialist quantity surveying and cost management professionals for their projects anywhere in the world and contribute, ultimately, to a more productive and sustainable Built Environment.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
During 2008-2009, Rider Levett Bucknall further strengthened the Research & Development division's capabilities, guided by a five-year strategic plan and a comprehensive review of the division's overall output of publications. Building on the success of the International Report, Rider Levett Bucknall launched the inaugural Gulf Report in October 2009.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
The main focus for 2009 has been the opportunities presented to our profession through Building Information Modelling. The Qubit platform has been designed to integrate with 3D computer aided design software. The presentation and analysis of this data will provide our clients with best practice construction cost management.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Rider Levett Bucknall's global project-based corporate responsibility program "Access the World" acknowledges and embraces the diverse range of community and corporate initiatives conducted across the company's key operating regions. This includes volunteering, donations and professional services, financial contributions as well as actions to sustain the environment, for example, in the USA we offer our unique RElifing service through the "Gift of Life" program for Government agencies.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability and the carbon footprint of buildings is the global unifying issue touching everyone – it is therefore critical to all our clients and the whole construction and property industry. In 2009, we moved the sustainability challenge to the top of our agenda, rolling out a suite of innovative tools to provide our clients with efficient, cost conscious and environmentally sustainable results, now and into the future. For further information visit www.rlb.com/life.
PEOPLE
Although we looked to tightly control costs over the last year, Rider Levett Bucknall offices around the world also continue to invest in our greatest asset, that of our people, working diligently to recruit and retain top talent through various initiatives, one of which is the graduate program conducted throughout the world. We are very proud of our people initiatives and some of these initiatives were once again honoured externally. Rider Levett Bucknall won a 2009 Australian Business Award for Recommended Employer and was the only firm to rank in both The Sunday Times and The Guardian newspapers UK Top Employers Awards for 2009.