Way of the samurai

I was intrigued to discover this week that several contractors vying to win work on Hitachi’s Horizon nuclear power plant developments have called in cultural experts to educate them on how to do business with the Japanese. I’m reliably informed lessons include presenting business cards with both hands, seating the most important person furthest from the door and keeping at least two members of your delegation between your firm’s boss and the other party. The last one, I understand, is to guard them from samurai attacks - or it was at some point, now it’s just etiquette. Whether they are expecting the final winning bidder to be decided in a kendo match is not clear.

Passive resistance

It’s fair to say the Sweett Group board and the consultant’s former chairman Francis Ives have not been getting along too well lately. Ives’ very public bid to retake control of the firm he led for 19 years was defeated by 79% of shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) last week. However, both Ives and the board did agree the firm needed to do a better job of communicating with shareholders. It seems they’ve got their work cut out. After half an hour of impassioned speeches from both sides about the future of the firm, there wasn’t a single question from the floor during the Q&A.

Bar room blitz

I have been alerted to a truly momentous anniversary celebration taking place in London next week. Planning in the Pub (@planninginthepub), a group of planners, developers and lawyers who like to discuss
town planning over a beverage or two, is hosting its first birthday bash at the Cittie of Yorke in Holborn on Tuesday evening. The group’s coordinator Liane Hartley of social enterprise Mend promises an evening of chips and beer, as well as the gift of a commemorative beer mat designed by cartoonist Rob Cowan. Late night karaoke has also been threatened …

Birthday bash

Make Architects know how to throw a party and the firm’s ninth anniversary get-together at London’s Victoria House in Bloomsbury last Thursday was no exception. Guests including Urban Splash chairman Tom Bloxham, Wates Group’s James Wates and WSP director Kamran Moazami  were entertained by vintage swing band the Bellinis while enjoying canapés from upmarket caterer the London Kitchen.

All is fayre …

Eagle-eyed readers of our print format will notice that in the magazine I’m sporting something of a “vintage” look this week. That’s because I’m celebrating! Those long-term readers who have been paying attention will know that Building is marking its 170th anniversary this year. As founder of The Builder (this journal’s original title) back in 1843, yours truly will be celebrating next week by embracing that most modern of inventions - the “world wide web”. A splendid “digital fayre” will be hosted in my name on www.building.co.uk with lots of enjoyable writings and prize-proffering competitions galore - including an intriguing “spot the building” contest and a jolly old game of hide and seek on the website featuring my good self (go to www.building.co.uk/hansom170 for competition info). There will be more about this jam-packed jamboree of digital jollity turn on our website from Friday. Let the festivities commence!