December 2008 - Halcrow

attention on the areas of potential growth –
as one door closes, the business is striding
through another.
This heightened engagement with global
issues is intended to inform and shape every
level of the business – from group strategies
to individual project plans.
As well as pre-empting potentially damaging
scenarios, the committee’s findings highlight
where Halcrow could contribute to decisionmaking
processes at a global level.
This recognition mirrors the board’s
keenness to tap into the wealth of knowledge
simmering beneath the company’s surface.
Evading
the financial
maelstrom
Halcrow will focus its attention
on the areas of growth – as one door
closes, the business is striding
through another
Les Buck, group board director and
committee chair, outlines the thinking:
“The RSC’s findings can be taken on at any
and every level. Rather than simply expanding
upon last year’s business plans, we need to
be looking ahead, and trying to judge how
world events will affect each element of
our operations.”
cted
Les points out: “We’ve always just quietly got
on with what we’re good at. I believe that we
can – and should – be offering considered,
impartial advice to policy makers and begin to
influence the influencers.
“Free of political shackles, we are in a great
position to provide expert, objective support
As global markets implode, what
is Halcrow doing to mitigate the
crisis? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
An advantage of Halcrow’s
international reach is the ability to
move its metaphorical eggs around
many baskets, pumping additional
resources into regions less affected
by Wall Street’s woes.
Halcrow is
hedging its bets as
it hedges its funds
Group board
director
Les Buck
– it’s just a question of raising our profile in
the broader context. Policy-makers can come
to us for the same reasons that clients do.
We don’t just tell people what they want to
hear – we use our skills to assess available
evidence and arrive at a sound decision. Now
we’re looking to our senior thinkers to step
outside their offices and carve out positions
of prominence.”
Les highlights the appointment of Andrew
Kluth, group sustainable development
director, as a step in the right direction.
RSC members
Les Buck
Alasdair Coates
Ken Mair
Nigel King
Matthew Wernham
Rachel Fowler
Tenia Chatzinikoli
David Birch
Aaron Burns
Andrew’s recognised expertise
and niche knowledge will
present Halcrow as
a voice of authority
on sustainable
development issues.
“This is just a taste
of things to come,”
says Les. “We’ve
got the skills and
the people – now we
just need to make a
bit of noise about it.”
In the Middle East, for example,
Halcrow’s profits for the first eight
months of 2008 were 16 per cent
above predicted levels. And while
the property business group is
experiencing understandable
challenges, Halcrow’s multispecialism
set-up allows it to shift
focus towards areas of growth.
More specifically, Alan Saffer,
group finance director, has been
spearheading a drive across the
company to push down debts and
reduce outstanding invoices.
A critical review of Halcrow’s
payments has shed light on areas
where significant savings can
be made.
Halcrow is hedging its bets as it
hedges its funds, and while dark
clouds gather over companies
worldwide, Halcrow can look
forward to a bright future.