If the Government eventually gives the go-ahead for the multi-million pounds redevelopment of New Street Station, then every effort should be made to give the work to local firms.
That is the view of one of the bosses of Rider Levett Bucknall, the quantity surveying and project management group.
The argument is that the scheme has been so championed by the people of the Midlands, with all the associated angst, there should be some return.
It won't happen that way because of EU tendering requirements, but Mark Weaver, managing partner of RLB's Birmingham office, feels strongly on the issue.
"It is important that the project goes to local firms," he insisted.
And RLB is among those looking to pick up some of that work.
RLB, a global alliance of three companies, has a number of Midlands projects either on the go or which it is looking to progress.
It is working on the big Wolverhampton Interchange transport hub scheme which is set to complete in 2012/13. And it is bidding for the quantity surveying on a £100 million mixed use scheme planned for Digbeth by the Naus group.
The Bucknall side of the alliance covering Europe and the Middle East has a long history.
It has been on and off the stock market and is currently owned by 92 partners - the structure is comparable to a law firm.
Last year it notched £35 million in fees and the Birmingham office has expanded to more than 100 staff from around 30.
It works more or less equally for the public and private sectors and worldwide the alliance has more than 2,000 people.
Yet RLB UK chief executive Lance Taylor says there is work for 2,350 if they could get them. The problem is a shortage of skilled people.
RLB is trying different solutions - from looking to recruit graduates from India to offering bursaries at Old Swinford Hospital School.
It is currently particularly proud of winning work on the 2012 London Olympics - it is acting for Locog, the London organising committee.
The six year contract involves overseeing the creation of 156 venues - RLB's Birmingham, London and Sydney offices are involved.
"It will be ready, it will be fantastic and we should be proud of it," said Mr Taylor.
The global credit crunch does not worry RLB. "Our response is to have our fingers in more pies," said Mr Taylor.
Albeit he does see it having an effect including a levelling out of house prices - he fears Birmingham's city living market could well be hit including the risk of another bout of negative equity emerging. Other prestigious projects are working with Tesco on renewable energy initiatives, and with BAE Systems on hangars and runways in relation to the Eurofighter/Typhoon.
