It is a truth, almost universally acknowledged, that operating as a medium-sized company with a major focus on public sector work is really not the place to be at the moment. Especially one specialising in health and education. But Bob Bond, chief executive of South-west-based contractor Rydon, which falls into every one of these categories, insists life in the middle doesn't have to equate to a death wish: "It's not a bad place to be if you have a good business model." He does concede, though, that there is a serious flipside to being a faster-moving, more "agile" smaller firm: "You can react more quickly if you are a speedboat but if you hit a rock, you know you've hit it," he smiles. Rocks there are aplenty: cuts in public sector work, a flailing education sector and the uncertainties of health reforms.
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