This month’s construction industry gossip: Cutting edge

Oar-some dealmaking

If you’re going to agree to a deal to sell a majority stake in the business you’ve spent two decades building, then you might as well do it somewhere nice. Phoenix ME’s Lee Compton tells my hack it was at this summer’s Henley Royal Regatta that the finishing touches were put to the sale with US private equity firm HIG. Rowing’s not really his bag, Compton adds; horse racing and motorbikes are more his thing, but, still, it’s not a bad place to do a bit of business.

Rogers’ great escape 

Peter Rogers of Lipton Rogers fame made a most entertaining contribution to a leadership panel discussion my journo attended recently. Career moves can be driven by many things, and it turns out that on one occasion Rogers quit a job to keep his liberty. Recalling a project in the Middle East a long while back, he said he had felt forced to close a site down because of his own concerns for safety. He was vague on the details but was clear on one thing: “All hell broke out and I nearly ended up in jail.” Not so much a career move, then, as a narrow escape from a life behind bars.

High-up networking

Approaching 80 this year, one of Rogers’ top tips for younger generations is to network and develop skills – even if it takes you to unexpected places and people. He said he went to America when he was starting to look at developing high-rise offices. And with a cheeky smile, he added: “Actually, as an aside, I was there with Trump on the first Trump tower.” Proof, perhaps, that networking really can take you to dizzying heights.

All’s well that ends well

My hack spent the last week of September up in Liverpool with the comrades. But while most of the Labour party were up north boozing through evening receptions, down south it was fighting to keep its former leader’s former seat. The importance of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election was not lost on those at the party conference. At a fringe event on leaseholders, an audience questioner introduced himself as a councillor from Camden. Not missing a beat, the event chair cut in: “What are you doing here? You’ve got a by-election!” Well, it all worked out OK for them in the end.

Not all of these rhetorical flourishes are winners. My hack was left scratching his head after hearing the promise to go ‘ham and hard’ on housing development

Dubious coinage

From Harold Wilson hailing the “white heat” of technological revolution to Neil Kinnock condemning the “grotesque chaos” of the Militant Tendency, conference has often provided a platform for Labour politicians to cement a memorable phrase into the party’s collective consciousness. But not all these rhetorical flourishes are winners. My hack was left scratching his head after hearing Anthony Okereke, leader of Greenwich council, promise to go “ham and hard” on housing development. 

The green mile

Stories of the late, great Tony Pidgley flowed during Berkeley’s Rob Perrins’ fireside chat with Build UK’s Suzannah Nichol. Recalling Berkeley’s move into London, Perrins stressed the value of joint ventures, political allies – and keeping up appearances. Bentley-loving Pidgley knew the mood demanded a greener image, so he arrived for meetings with Labour mayor Ken Livingstone in a Lexus. His chauffeur simply drove the Bentley home. It was all about the optics.

Extra, extra…

Building hacks, like most journalists, love an exclusive. So our attention was grabbed by an email in our inbox with the header “EXCLUSIVE” and a story embargoed for the next day. Was it news of a high-profile departure? Or maybe a takeover deal? It turns out the PR firm was offering Building the thrilling news of their client’s ranking in the Top 150 Consultants list… which was actually compiled by Building and published in full a few days previously. Hold the front page.