THING OF THE WEEK
DREAM JOB… If you’re an electrician based in the North West, there can be fewer more high-profile jobs than the one up for grabs in Blackpool right now. The council is seeking a contractor to look after the town’s famous illuminations, which attract millions of visitors to the seaside resort every year. There is a catch though. The tender notice for the job states that the council – “cannot guarantee any volumes of work”. However, such is the age of many of the installations – such as the Mad Hatter’s tea party – that may be little more than a token disclaimer.
I’m not quite sure how to explain what’s happened tonight, because it’s still happening – but here goes…
At 4:40pm I jumped on a train from London to Edinburgh..
It was comfy, it was quiet
In hindsight, too good to last…
— James Nokise (@JamesNokise) September 25, 2023
TRAIN PAIN… If you have been on Twitter this week – sorry, X – you may have seen the enthralling tale of one passenger’s journey from London to Edinburgh on an Avanti West Coast service. You can find out what happened to James Nokise by clicking on the thread above but be warned it is likely to illicit incredulity at the state of our nation’s railways, as well as anger at the disparaging attitude towards a particular Lancashire city. It is THING’s view that it might have done Nokise some good to be stranded in Preston for a little longer, if only to afford him time to soak up some of the city’s many sights.
Neil Lucas (left) and Richard Barton have retained some large projects. Credit: via AshtonHale
NAME GAMES… Ex-Avison Young partners Neil Lucas and Richard Barton have set up their own planning consultancy called AshtonHale. You may be wondering how the name came about. The answer is simple: Richard lives somewhere near Ashton and Neil lives somewhere near Hale. Such is the complexity of the planning system, and the amount of work Barton and Lucas’s fledgling practice already has on its plate, they clearly did not have the time to spend days coming up with a profound moniker. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones.
Angel Gardens is one of two sites where the service is available. Credit: via Carousel PR
CAR SHARE… Apartment schemes these days are all about the amenity. Swimming pools, gyms, roof gardens – you know the drill. Now, Moda Living, in partnership with Jaguar, is taking what it offers to a new level. Residents living in two of the developer’s schemes – Angel Gardens in Manchester, and New York Square in Leeds – can now access an electric Jaguar I-PACE for up to 48 hours at a time. The service includes insurance, charging costs, valeting, and maintenance and is covered in residents’ rent. Is this a glimpse into the future of urban mobility?
The McGoff team posing with the book next to a DeLorean. Credit: via Philosophy PR
BACK TO THE FUTURE… McGoff Construction is celebrating 50 years in business with the launch of a short book called The Future is McGoff. The book aims to emphasise the “importance of family values and a strong work ethic”, according to Declan McGoff, chairman of McGoff Construction Services. Declan, along with brothers Dave, James, and Chris, runs the £150m-turnover McGoff Group, established by their parents Jim and Ethna in 1973.
“McGoff Construction has come so far and is almost unrecognisable from the company first established by mum and dad,” Declan said. “However, our vision is to continue to expand, delivering a wholly sustainable approach to the built environment, while fully embracing our values of excellence, passion, innovation and collaboration.”
The company’s marketing manager Sarah Sanderson has tried to capture this ethos in the book, a copy of which will be given all employees. “We wanted to do something a little different to mark the 50-year milestone,” she said. “It seemed fitting to go back to the future with the storybook that illustrates the business transformation and will be easily accessible to young and old alike.”
