Construction industry gossip: Gnome unknowns

By Hansom2020-01-24T06:00:00

Gossip on a gnome pun that earned a job, Icelandic construction workers and the architectural gingerbread winners.

Too good to be true

Beware those trying to do good and making a bit of a hash of it. A visit to Lincoln contractor Lindum last week to talk about the state of regional contracting saw its chairman David Chambers offer this salutary lesson. He says an over-zealous manager decided to shut its Peterborough office early one Friday afternoon last summer, telling no doubt delighted staff to “enjoy their weekend”. Turns out the move rather backfired as panicked suppliers and subcontractors ended up calling head office to find out what was going on. “They thought we’d gone bust,” Chambers remembers. Ironic, given the firm’s latest results out in March will show its 11th consecutive year of profit.

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