"The crisis was predictable and probably avoidable. The final confusion in communication made a bad situation worse"
Sir Andrew Foster, former chair of the audit commission, gives his verdict on the Learning and Skills Council debacle

"He’s a menace to London"
George Ferguson, former RIBA president, on Rafael Viñoly

"I’ll stay on. A million dollars isn’t what it used to be"
Keith Hawksworth, Parsons Brinckerhoff chief executive, on speculation he would leave the firm after profiting from the takeover by Balfour Beatty

"I deeply regret I have to make my peace with Jan in death rather than life, particularly since we had both found personal happiness"
Amanda Levete, ex-wife and former design partner of Jan Kaplicky, the Future Systems founder who died in January

"Pete Redfern was always very charming but it was a real baptism of fire for him. I wouldn’t wish what he went through on anyone"
A senior banker talks to Building about the process of refinancing Taylor Wimpey – during which 36,000 jelly beans were consumed at the offices of solicitor Slaughter and May

"At least give us unpaid work experience – giving a desk to a graduate doesn’t cost much. You attracted us to your industry"
Anil Joshi, a building surveying graduate and one of the thousands of unemployed graduates from construction-related courses struggling to find work in the industry

"I will not be taken for granted"
Steve Morgan, BAA’s capital projects director, on getting tough with his supply chain

Topics

Review 2009