Built environment, construction, property, blokes with their arse hanging out…whatever you want to call it, this industry is an interesting place right now: a dire need for home grown talent like engineers, but a market where the roof seems to have caved in. Why my old friends at commercial real estate giant CB Richard Ellis have cancelled their 2009 world conference (jolly) for staff, clients and sponsors. At Canada last year we were treated to some warbling from Sheryl Crow (I think I left my watch in her hotel room) but we’ll have to wait to 2010’s event to heckle her again. We’ll be getting stories from a couple of construction industry specific career fairs this autumn, but against expectations right now, Balfour Beatty has shaken off the gloom and reported a 25% rise in half-year profits (£95m compared to £76m last year). As Britain’s biggest infrastructure firm, their current order book stands at over £12bn, which is 14% better looking than the same time last year. Big boss Ian Tyler said the firm had seen no slow down in orders. Good work chaps. Also a doff of the bowler hat to maintenance and building group Interserve who, by focusing on contracts in the growing Middle East market, has seen its half year profits up by almost 20%. Get Sheryl Crow on the phone!  

2012 will be here before you know it, bringing in the new money of Chinese, Russian and Indian tourists. A committee of MPs are therefore “baffled” as to why the Government has cut £9m worth of funding to VisitBritain – the agency that promotes British tourism abroad. Heathrow Airport also got a shoe-ing as for the sixteenth time it heads the list of worst European airport for delays. This acts as a disincentive for people visiting the UK – along with a weak pound to the euro, a reputation for poor customer service, and the chance you might be in the same room as Peaches Geldof. Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism, said even the biggest brands such as Mars need to be marketed and the UK is no exception. “The Government must realise that tourism is not just about holidays - it delivers much more than economic benefits. It improves the quality of life for people in the area, helps cultural development and attracts investment.”

Man, you gotta listen to me. We’ve droned on about Scots wunderfirm Aggreko for over a year now. “Don’t care. Not heard of them” says you. Well, its time to pay attention sunbeam: Aggreko are the world’s largest supplier of temporary power. At its most basic that means generators to building sites…as well as festivals, gigs, disaster areas, war-torn countries. It’s Rambo with a spanner and an electric guitar. Now, to prove their worth, they’ve predicted to beat city targets (and there’s not many out there who can say that.) The firm are supplying power to the UEFA Euro 2008 football tournament in Austria and Switzerland, and is also installing cables and power at the venues for the Beijing Olympics in August. Plus our “wot global warming?” attitude to every day life means that more of us are using their air conditioning boxes. The company will have to spend about £1bn on new equipment over the next five years to meet its growth targets, and equipment is nothing without the people to use or deliver it. Get on to them!

The Football Association (FA) is looking to recruit a campaign team to run England’s bid to host the World Cup. If you think that there are more qualified people than yourself out there, bear in mind this is for the 2018 World Cup! Australia, Russia and the United States are also in the running. FIFA will make its decision in 2011. The recruitment firm Odgers Ray and Berndtson say the ideal candidate will have strong skills in building relationships to persuade members of FIFA to vote for the British bid.  The budget for bidding to host the games will be £15m so we from our Olympic experience we can double that and add ten to find a truer figure.

With £60m in their trouser pocket to spend, you’d think that booze maker Diageo was a she-in for some 2012 sponsorship. But Olympic chiefs are expected to back away from offering the firm a deal, concerned that a tie-in would provoke a backlash from health campaigners. Come on! The marathon with Johnnie Walker; archery with Archers; Wait (sic) lifting with Guinness…As ever it’s the government’s fault, as they have made it their mission to ensure the London games deliver lasting benefits to the nation’s youth. High profile “tier-one” companies already signed up such as sponsors include adidas, BA, BT, EDF Energy and Lloyds TSB.