PPS News & Blog

Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

20 years of PPS (Part One)

Friday, February 12th, 2010

It was twenty years ago this week that Charles St George and I had a bright idea and set up a business.   In its own small way that decision has transformed the way the development industry goes about getting planning permission.
PPS was that business and our bright idea was to help companies secure planning permission [...]

Beware the Dangers of Hyperbolic Discounting

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

I have recently come across the notion of ‘hyperbolic discounting’, a concept in behavioural economics that describes the tendency to weigh immediate costs too heavily and ignore long-term benefits.   I can’t help noticing it among some of my colleagues.
I have always been a glass half-full type of guy.   In behavioural economic terms, I guess I [...]

2009 – Goodbye and Good Riddance

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

I cannot remember a worse year for business than 2009.   Like everyone else in our game, PPS saw income tumble, projects halt and clients struggle to pay.
And in response we did everything you would expect: we cut costs, froze pay for all staff, cut pay for the senior team, put some on part time working [...]

Its only Rock ‘n’ Roll

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

As the Christmas festivities approach, a small group at PPS is hard at work preparing for their big night.   Yes, the PPS House Band, Peter Pan Syndrome, is practising for its next gig, the staff Christmas party.  
One of the few regular complaints people have about working here is that every social occasion is marked and [...]