Concept hunts big firms' staff

Arthur Adair, who project managed the RICS Coventry HQ and the Birmingham NEC, recently joined Concept's Birmingham office.

He is to strengthen the boutique PM's presence in the public sector and particularly in further education. Adair has also worked for Davis Langdon on the flagship Matthew Boulton College project in Birmingham.

Tim Wood, managing director of Concept, said he was poised to take on a partner from another big name company. He said: "More people from large firms are looking to deliver to one or two good quality clients, and deliver well. People are starting to think about smaller companies and getting away from the ‘rat race' environment of the big players."

Wood added that although his company was small, employing about 20 people, it offers salaries towards "the top end of the market".

In a similar move, smaller firm Clarus Consulting last month lured project manager Chris Norman from big name Mott MacDonald.