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Around me hundreds of men (and some women) are forming an orderly queue. Closer inspection reveals that this queue contains many of the construction industry鈥檚 great and good, such as Davis Langdon boss Rob Smith, who cheerily says hello.

We鈥檙e gathered here to give our warmest regards to the construction industry institution known as Balfour Beatty. Or as warm as possible under the circumstances.

A little more queuing and finally we鈥檙e in the building and the networking starts. I get chatting to some Balfour Beatty people and it seems many of us haven鈥檛 been here since we were kids. The building鈥檚 as imposing as ever, we agree. Perhaps even more so tonight thanks to the weird noises blasting through the sound system (鈥淚t鈥檚 what they think dinosaurs sounded like鈥�, a cloakroom attendant explains).

鈥業t鈥檚 a bit early in January to be drinking; I鈥檒l be taking it easy,鈥� he says, giving the drinks tray a nervous sideways glance

We go through to the main hall and there it is, a giant skeleton of some kind of humongous beast. Ian Philpott, the group financial controller of Balfour, marvels at the sight. Can anyone remember what is it is, though? 鈥淚t鈥檚 a stegosaurus, isn鈥檛 it?鈥� says Philpott. Andrew Knights, divisional business development manager of Mansell, reckons it could be a diplodocus鈥�

We鈥檙e just getting into a debate based on half-remembered primary school lessons when we鈥檙e distracted by something arguably more deadly than any raging prehistoric monster: a tray floating past bearing half-a-dozen glasses filled with a highly unnatural-looking blue substance. This is the 鈥淏alfour Blue鈥� cocktail.

A swig of the stuff confirms our fears about its potential to cause bodily harm.

I was at our 75th anniversary and there were no fancy cocktails. We held the party in our office and we were given a bottle of whisky at the end of it

David James, managing director of Balfour Beatty Management, is particularly fearful. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit early in January to be drinking; I鈥檒l be taking it easy,鈥� he says, giving the drinks tray a nervous sideways glance.

Mike Bear, a consultant who works with Balfour, also raises a sceptical eyebrow. 鈥淚 was at our 75th anniversary and there were no fancy cocktails back then. We held the party in our office and we were given a bottle of whisky at the end of it 鈥� it was a reference to our Scottish connection.鈥�

Balfour Beatty is a bigger beast these days. 鈥淏ack then we were just a subsidiary of BICC Construction,鈥� (following the 1969 merger). 鈥淭hings are pretty different now, though鈥�, he says, looking round at our splendid surroundings.

After a few more Balfour Blues it鈥檚 time to head home. On the way out there鈥檚 a final treat 鈥� a goody bag. Inside, reassuringly, there鈥檚 a small bottle of whisky. Perhaps things haven鈥檛 changed so much after all.