24 September, 2009

Ethics and the Built Environment

This is the first part of a two-parter on ethics in the built environment sector. This first part will look at where I believe the debate on ethics in the sector is currently while the second will start to reflect on particular ethical issues and determine how some of the great western philosophers would have … Continue reading “Ethics and the Built Environment”

22 September, 2009

OFT seem to think lowest price bidding is good competition?

Today saw OFT’s announcement of fines averaging 1.5% of turnover for around 100 companies caught in its two-year investigation of ‘bid rigging’. The coverage raised some interesting issues for me: 1. For once, the industry’s spokespeople did well. And much better than when the story first broke in April 2008. Specifically, I heard Stephen Ratcliffe, … Continue reading “OFT seem to think lowest price bidding is good competition?”

2 February, 2009

Reverting to type

Last week I went to the regular meeting of the Herts and Beds Constructing Excellence Club. A big turnout, over 50 people, and a very good presentation by Renewables East.  Paybacks are much lower than 10 years ago. But the conversation afterwards turned to the extent to which the recession will mean that such ‘nice-to-haves’ … Continue reading “Reverting to type”