insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 168
PROPERTY
Minimum wage property options now
available to another million people
With the news that over a million workers who
are on minimum wage have received a welcomed
pay rise this October, leading online estate agent,
eMoov.co.uk, has looked at the affordability of
property available to low-income workers.
Minimum wage went up to £6.50 this week, a
rise of 19 pence per hour. This now means those
on the lowest legal wage are set to see their pay
rise by as much as £355 a year.
The rising cost of property has been well
documented over recent years, as well as the
affordability and availability of mortgages. Many
think that being on minimum wage means that
there is little to no chance of getting onto the
property ladder, however this is not the case.
Those on minimum wage will take home £11,574
a year for a regular 37.5 hours a week job. The
Council of Mortgage Lenders have the latest
national average income multiple at 3.22. A 90%
mortgage therefore available for those on minimal
wage is £33,500.
Russell Quirk, property expert and CEO of online
estate agent, eMoov.co.uk, commented: “The
rise in minimum wage and talk of further benefits
in 2015 must be welcome news to many this
week. Next year’s general election fight has
already started with the parties targeting votes
from low-income families. Last week, Ed Miliband
promised to increase the minimum wage to £8
an hou r by 2019, while chancellor, George
Osborne, said he wanted the legal minimum to
increase to £7. David Cameron has also promised
to scrap income tax on minimum wage. These
rises now mean that at least another million
people in the UK can be the king or queen of
their own castle."
Career in architecture is child’s play for Katy
It started with a love of LEGO as a
child. Now, more than 20 years
later, Katy Murray is on her way to
realising her life-long ambition to
become a fully qualified architect.
The 25-year-old graduate has just
joined her parents’ award-winning
building design and construction
company, Directline Structures, as
a full-time designer, having gained
valuable experience at the Ashfordbased company since the age of
15.
“I’ve never wanted to do anything
else,” says Katy, who lives in Ashford
and is a former pupil of Cranbrook
School. “I used to build LEGO
walls with my dad when I was a
child and then we’d test them to
find the weak points. I soon learnt
that I could strengthen them by
overlapping the blocks!”
Katy describes herself as one of a
new generation of ‘collaborative’
architects: “Architects shouldn’t
view themselves as head of the
construction process – the so-called
‘star-chitects’ – but a part of it,” she
says. “That’s why I’ve chosen to
work at Directline Structures, where
the emphasis is very much on
teamwork and collaboration
between a trusted group of
specialists.”
Having studied design and
technology, as well as art, physics
and maths at school, Katy went on
to spend four years at the University
of Bath – one of the most highly
rated for architecture in
the Sunday Times University Guide
2014 – where she gained a BSc
(Hons) in the field. She then gained
a graduate diploma in architecture
at Kingston University, West
London. Following completion of
her university degrees, Katy is now
Part 2 qualified and will spend
another year in practice before
sitting her final exams.
Katy Murray
She has enjoyed work experience
at three Kent architect firms, but it
was at her parents’ company that
she found her real inspiration.
right through to completion. That means I have the immense satisfaction of
being involved in all aspects of the construction process and seeing a project
that started as a concept sketch come to fruition.”
Katy’s father and managing director of Directline Structures, Duncan Murray,
adds: “Katy has always been very passionate about the business and has
been working part-time with us over the last few years. We’re delighted she
has chosen to join us full-time following completion of her degree.
“There’s a world of difference
between theory and actually putting
a design into practice,” says Katy.
“My first year at the University of
Bath included a focus on civil
engineering, so I’m able to approach
construction projects with the
practical mind of an engineer, as
well as the creativity and design flair
of an architect.
“She has already been involved in a number of highly successful projects,
including a sports hall and sixth form centre. Her fresh ideas and enthusiasm
will make her a valuable addition to the team as the company continues to
expand.”
Directline Structures has been developing commercial steel buildings since
1988 and specialises in cost-effective buildings for the education sector
across the South East of England.
“Directline Structures specialises
in one-stop design and build
projects that provide the whole
package to clients, from conception
For further information, visit www.directlinestructures.co.uk,
email [email protected] or call 01580 240089.
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