Talking heads

"Yes. We are seeing the globalisation of construction. For example Amec has a stake in Spie Batignolles and HBG operates in the UK and is Dutch-owned. I think we are bound to see more of the larger European contractors and they will be operating in specialist markets not in mid-size services. I don't think they will be a threat to us or many UK contractors. I believe that it will make UK construction better and maybe make a few contractors pull their socks up." "I believe we will, because we have an economy and a construction industry that gives them potential they may not have in their own country. We also have overseas construction companies looking to buy ours because they are cheap at the moment. I worked for Higgs and Hill when HBG took over a few years ago. HBG's reason was that they were all 'built out' in the Netherlands. That doesn't apply to other outside contractors. They are probably looking to expand their companies and achieve market dominance - but their likely targets will be the massive projects that we don't get many of in the leisure sector." Peter Walthall

managing director

Contracts Division

Roland Bardsley Ian Russell

director (hotels and leisure)

Birse Building