The industry is getting in shape, with directors tackling the high jump, architects cycling through time, Boris jogging and islanders getting ready for a long swim. And some soccer tournament, apparently

Banned wagon

While we鈥檙e in no position to talk about jumping on the World Cup bandwagon I raise a sceptical brow at some of the press releases we鈥檝e received. What connection could WD40 have to football, for example? I鈥檒l leave you to ponder that, but the 鈥渂est鈥� so far has been Atkins, which sent a note on the opening of South Africa鈥檚 first high-speed railway, for which is developed a cooling system, among other things. The link to the World Cup? 鈥淭he England squad will need to maintain their cool if they鈥檙e to have a chance of lifting football鈥檚 greatest prize.鈥� Don鈥檛 stop cringing yet, though. There was also this example of clinical finishing from Steve Tasker, Atkins鈥� project director: 鈥淭his project showcases Atkins鈥� ability to provide a full service under a tight schedule while finding innovative solutions for technical challenges that were simple and direct - always the most difficult goal to score.鈥�

Tricks of the trade

Finally, after years of waiting, nail-biting qualifiers and defiance of 鈥淓ngland鈥檚 curse鈥�, it鈥檚 here. Yes, the construction industry at last has the chance to unleash its keepy-uppy skills on the world stage. 好色先生TV has launched its nationwide search for the industry鈥檚 best soccer skills, whether it鈥檚 headers, stepovers or Cruyff turns. You can check out the stars so far on our website and if you reckon you can do better, we鈥檇 love to see you prove it - so video yourself, put it on YouTube and send the link to buildingweb@ubm.com.

Down to earth leadership

Coping with a recession is all about detail: allocating resources, entering new markets and squeezing extra value from your staff. But Ken Gillespie, the boss of Galliford Try鈥檚 construction arm, offered some altogether more practical advice last week. As the recessionary gloom descended in the wake of Northern Rock, he suggested that board meetings should be held on the ground floor so directors couldn鈥檛 throw themselves out of the window. A practical solution and, more importantly, cheap.

Last minute trip

Always fancied a holiday in the Maldives? You鈥檇 better hurry. The islands have the lowest high point of any country on earth - a trek up its tallest mountain would require a climb of 2.3m - and it has been given 76 years before being submerged by rising water levels of the Indian ocean. And rumour has it that the Maldivian population of 300,000 could be relocated. It is understood that a large area of land in East Africa has been earmarked as a potential new location. Whether a whole new series of cities or just one large community will need to be built is, as yet, unclear but they are going to need one hell of a removal van 鈥�

The cycle of history

Our web editor Alex Smith is leading an architectural bike ride alongside Richard Fenne, associate architect at Austin-Smith:Lord, as part of the London Festival of Architecture. The Velo2Velo ride on Sunday 27 June connects the 1948 Olympic velodrome in Herne Hill with the 2012 arena designed by Hopkins Architects at the Olympic park. To book a place on this and one of the many other rides, visit .

Send any juicy industry gossip to hansom@ubm.com