Profiles

Vice Admiral Tim Laurence has commanded warships, but trying to improve the public sector’s purchasing skills has been no less demanding, he tells Paul Jarvis. Read more...

Despite all the heat of the election campaign, politicians still aren't acknowledging the extent of change needed in public services, says Ben Lucas, the head of the 2020 Public Services Trust. Big changes are needed, he tells Max Rashbrooke. Read more...

Tough European targets will make waste a big topic for the next government even as funding for infrastructure shrinks. Here, we talk to the three people hoping to be in the hot seat after the upcoming election about how they would tackle the waste problem. Read more...

Shadow waste minister Anne McIntosh believes she knows how to meet the European landfill targets – and is ready to take up the challenge. She talks to Paul Jarvis Read more...

The UK doesn’t need grandiose waste projects, says Liberal Democrats waste spokesman Tim Farron, it needs lots of smaller schemes that have local support. He talks to Paul Jarvis Read more...

Early struggles gave Dan Norris, the waste minister, a deep desire to change the world. But it’s not just Britain’s waste mountain on his mind as the election looms, he tells Paul Jarvis Read more...

Everyone wants to talk about cutting the environmental impact of buildings. But Robin Nicholson, the head of the Zero Carbon Schools Taskforce, says it’s going to take a huge effort from everyone involved – particularly the construction industry. He speaks to Max Rashbrooke Read more...

Adrienne Bloch, one of the industry's liveliest figures, has long had a passion for giving new life to public buildings. The partnerships industry needs to reconnect with that community spirit – and rethink how it deals with failure, she tells Max Rashbrooke Read more...

Adrian Ringrose, the new head of the CBI’s public service reform drive, insists he’s not out to lobby for PFI. But he does want to see the private sector “extend and deepen” its role. He talks to Max Rashbrooke. Read more...

Northern Ireland’s John Cole thinks he can get hospitals built ‘20% better and 20% cheaper’ than he could using PFI. But can he back that up? Max Rashbrooke reports. Read more...

Last month saw the launch of Local Partnerships, a merger between the 4ps and the local delivery arm of Partnerships UK (PUK). PPP Bulletin editor Max Rashbrooke met up with the new agency’s interim chief executive, Richard Buxton, and the head of PUK, James Stewart, to discuss their plans for the new agency. Read more...

PFI could still be used north of the border, claims Barry White, the new head of the Scottish Futures Trust. But profits will be capped. By Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi. Read more...

Mairi Johnson, the woman in charge of school design, first got into public policy in order to fight the views of architectural conservatives like Prince Charles. Now, she’s tackling sub-standard school buildings. By Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi Read more...

Bouygues chief Lionel Christolomme was “too French” until overseas experience widened his horizons. He talks to Max Rashbrooke Read more...

Does Sir Bob Kerslake, the man who must deliver the government’s vision for millions of new homes, have a plan to ride out the downturn? Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi finds out. Read more...

Stephen Jones of the Local Government Association warns the recession could knock infrastructure investment off the agenda. He talks to Amanda Nicholls. Read more...

How are sponsors dealing with the spiralling debt markets? Adrian Ewer, chief executive of John Laing, talks to Amanda Nicholls. Read more...

Will BSF be safe under a Tory government? Shadow education minister Nick Gibb says it's time to look again at our legacy of school buildings. Read more...

A banking super-power could be good news for the PPP market, says Gershon Cohen, HBOS's head of infrastructure. Read more...

Rebeca Omonira-Oyekanmi talks to Vince Cable about where the Liberal Democrats would take PFI Read more...