A PRIME city-centre industrial estate is now fully let after a hat-trick of deals completed by commercial property agents Innes England. Innes England, acting with joint agents Commercial Property Partners, completed three deals at Castle Park last month, with the final three out of the 13 units being snapped up
Package of impact protection measures maximise safety New safety and impact protection equipment from specialist Brandsafe has been specified to support operations at a major strategic distribution centre in the East Midlands. The move sees the UK based company installing a range of safety and protection equipment at DHL Supply
Tilt-Up constructions allow the building to be more durable, but you need to know how it works, how long it has been used, and when not to use it. Tilt-Up constructions have become a ubiquitous way of building these days. It uses concrete and Design-Build methods to make the whole
BOMs in general whether they are manufacturing, or engineering contain all the components necessary to make a finished product and comprise the core building blocks of the product. However, too often BOMs are managed across multiple systems by engineering and manufacturing teams. A lot of professionals work in teams, and
Starting your own roof repair company can turn out to be an excellent venture. Besides, all buildings have roofs and, in time, roofs can become damaged or worn. Owners would call contractors to fix their roof rather than have them replaced immediately because roof replacement can be costly. Roof repair
Beard has increased its presence in the care home construction sector, after being awarded contracts worth a combined £25million with Signature Senior Lifestyle, to build two of its new developments in the south east. The sites in Caversham Berkshire and Farnham Common Buckinghamshire, are both expected to be completed in
Glencar has marked the start of the construction of the steel frame on Unit 4 at G-Park Northampton – a new 132,000 sq ft speculative warehouse which represents the final plot at GLP’s Moulton Park development. The Grade ‘A’ rated, highly specified building will be suitable for a range of
The PwC’s membership network report, Skies without Limits, recently revealed that drone technology is expected to uplift the UK’s construction industry by £8.6 bn by 2030. This growth was largely attributed to innovation and improved productivity. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated, it can offer a range of benefits for
THE end of the Brexit transition period has passed, and with it many rules and regulations are changing across the board for many industries – including construction. Jonathan Oram, national framework manager at Pagabo, discusses the changes expected in public sector procurement following the UK’s departure from the EU. What
The construction sector is regarded as being significantly conflict and dispute ridden and is one of the most claim orientated industries. Projects are usually long-term transactions with a high level of uncertainty and complexity and, as a result, they are seldom without bumps along the way. Often plans are changed
A PRIME city-centre industrial estate is now fully let after a hat-trick of deals completed by commercial property agents Innes England. Innes England, acting with joint agents Commercial Property Partners, completed three deals at Castle Park last month, with the final three out of the 13 units being snapped up to take the scheme to full occupancy. The development, located at Queens Drive, is arguably one of the prime industrial schemes in Nottingham and is home to a number of local, regional and national operators. Scott Osborne, director at Innes England, said: “We are really pleased to have completed three successful deals at Castle Park to take the scheme to 100% occupancy. Despite conditions and a challenging year, December was a really busy month for Innes England, and it is a huge accomplishment to have completed these three deals in just three weeks.” HALO X-ray Technologies, which develops materials for identifications systems for aviation security and medical systems markets, has taken Unit 2 at Castle Park, after relocating from BioCity Nottingham. Unit 6 is currently under offer to a Nottingham-based vintage fashion retailer and Unit 10 has been taken by mobility scooter and mobility aid provider CareCo, which is looking to add to its already 20 strong national stores. Scott added: “It was great to close the year out on a positive note and get these deals over the line, and it is really positive to see that growing businesses are still taking space at this popular city-centre business park, despite the current climate.” Sean Bremner, director at Commercial Property Partners, said: “We’ve had some great results on Castle Park in 2020 despite the economic backdrop. The location of Castle Park is very strong for access to the road network and exposure to labour that is shown from the results closed out at the end of the year.” Find out more at https://www.innes-england.com or join the conversation at @InnesEngland.
Package of impact protection measures maximise safety New safety and impact protection equipment from specialist Brandsafe has been specified to support operations at a major strategic distribution centre in the East Midlands. The move sees the UK based company installing a range of safety and protection equipment at DHL Supply Chain’s new 538,280 sq. ft. campus in Manton Wood, near Worksop in Nottinghamshire, including systems designed to provide safer routing and parking for more than 150 heavy goods vehicles using the site. Working on the specification side with project architects UMC Architects and main contractors TSL, Brandsafe’s also providing consultancy and project design services alongside a comprehensive aftersales support package as the multi-storey development gears up to operational capacity in 2021. Located close to the A1 and M1 national road networks, the centre reflects DHL’s commitment to reduce logistics-related emissions to net zero by 2050 and features several energy-saving innovations that exceed current regulations for a building of its type. These include daylight harvesting, intelligent LED lighting, solar thermal hot water, grey water harvesting for welfare facilities and landscaping irrigation. Armco safety barriers, featuring integrated safety ends, corners and post caps together with mezzanine, platform and side of ramp handrails, are among hundreds of items being installed by Brandsafe’s service team across a 60-acre site, which features staff car parks and connecting roads. Column protectors, flexi delineators, bollards, speed bumps and HGV parking bay wheel stops, secure cages, pedestrian access doors have also been specified as part of measures to provide the highest standards of site safety and impact protection for the workforce and site visitors. The equipment is manufactured at the company’s Milton Keynes site and sees close cooperation between product supplier and contractor teams as part of an extensive scope of work to provide added safety planning services and expertise. This is the latest success for Brandsafe, which has produced a strong business performance in the last three years on the back of significant contract wins and a focus on new product development and introductions. Further reflecting the firm’s growing reputation as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of warehouse and distribution safety and impact protection products and integrated systems, Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager, said: “The distribution campus at Manton Wood is a great example of how our products can be used together to provide a comprehensive impact safety solution for warehouse and logistics operations of all shapes and sizes. “It also vindicates our continued investment in building our capability and expertise to be able to deliver time critical, complex and high-profile contracts.”
Tilt-Up constructions allow the building to be more durable, but you need to know how it works, how long it has been used, and when not to use it. Tilt-Up constructions have become a ubiquitous way of building these days. It uses concrete and Design-Build methods to make the whole structure more durable, sustainable, and efficient. Each year, about 650 million square feet of buildings are built by using tilt-up construction. So, if you are building a new home, it would be wise to choose the tilt-up construction method. It will put up the building quicker than any other methods you can think of. But to start the tilt-up construction, you need to know some basics like how it works, how effective it is, and what benefits you will receive. The Working Process Of Tilt-Up Construction First, a large structure is made from wood, rebar, and concrete. Later, that structure is carried to the construction site and acts as the building’s exterior wall. The concrete walls are tilted up into place by a crane or a pulley. After preparing all the walls, they are then tilted into a position and act as the foundational footings. Each of these foundations is kept in place with large wooden pillars until a roof is placed on top of it and gives the whole structure a steady form. Later, concrete is poured into the gaps and the connecting parts of the walls and the roof to make the whole building sturdy and durable. Tilt-Up construction companies are experts in creating retaining walls, and the famous company Fasttilt has its own unique wall, the fast retaining wall. When Did Tilt-up Construction Become Popular Although the method may seem new and advanced to some, this method has been used since the beginning of large construction projects. There was no crane back in those days, so they depended on pulleys or lever systems. The method was popularized in the 1900s when large commercial buildings started using it and a popular magazine called “Concrete Construction” gave it the name Tilt-Up Construction. This became a modern method for building large constructions after World War Two. That is because there were fewer people to work for construction, and people needed machines and techniques to create large buildings. In the present day, with the help of computers and AI-based construction designs, Tilt-Up Construction has become more popular as it is now much safer, efficient, and less time-consuming compared to other construction methods. How Good Is It Compared To Other Construction Methods? We have talked about the popularity and the effectiveness of tilt-up construction, but how good is it? If we compare this to some other construction methods, we can get an idea of its effectiveness. Here is a list of other construction methods and how tilt-up construction is better than them. 1. Wooden Frame Construction A time-consuming method that is also labor-intensive. Although the initial building cost is low, the added cost of additional labor eliminates that benefit. On the other hand, Tilt-up construction is less time-consuming and requires less labor. 2. Steel Beam Construction This method is too costly, but sometimes, it is more durable than tilt-up constructions. The only time you should pick steel beam constructions is when you are constructing large high-rise buildings. 3. Prefabricated Steel Frame Construction This is a cheaper method than tilt-up, but there are design limitations, and not many buildings can be constructed with this method. By looking at these methods, we can see that these methods are extremely situational. On the other hand, tilt-up construction has a much better generalist use and can help with any situation. Therefore, Tilt-Up is a much better choice than these in most cases. Major Benefits Of Tilt-Up Construction Here are the significant benefits that make tilt-up construction so useful- 1. Cost-Effective This method is extremely cost-effective compared to other construction methods. It saves money in requiring less labor and can be done with cheaper materials yet yields high durable buildings. The main ingredients you need are concrete and rebar, which is very common compared to steel beams and other complex components. 2. Time Efficient This method also saves a lot of time. The concrete panels that give the building structure can be made within two or three days at best. As the concrete panels can ready the building’s structure faster, laborers can build the roof sooner, which will also be done more quickly. Last, setting up all the things can also be done in two days. This saves up a lot of time. 3. Saves Energy The tilt-up method saves money and time and saves energy, and is considered much more environmentally friendly. The walls are made of concrete and act as an excellent insulator, and it is possible to create walls with enhanced thermal properties. When Should Tilt-up Construction Be Avoided? Although Tilt-Up Construction seems like the best all-rounder method, it also has some flaws and sometimes falls behind other construction methods. For example, you might not always want concrete structures. A barn or a warehouse can be built easily with the prefabricated steel method. It is also not effective if the building is far too big such as skyscrapers. They are done better with steel beam methods because it would not lift the concrete panels that high up. Each project differs from one another, and there are specific construction methods for these projects that outshine other construction methods. So it is best to consider the building type before choosing a construction method. Final Thoughts Although there are multiple construction choices, and each serves its own purpose, Tilt-Up can be a better overall construction method used in almost all cases. Hopefully, this article has shown you the benefits of this method, and for your next building project, you should definitely try tilt-up methods if it meets all your requirements.
BOMs in general whether they are manufacturing, or engineering contain all the components necessary to make a finished product and comprise the core building blocks of the product. However, too often BOMs are managed across multiple systems by engineering and manufacturing teams. A lot of professionals work in teams, and as a result challenges are inevitable. For engineering teams more so in the electrical and electronics industry to produce quality products, they require “as-designed bill of materials”. It is no surprise that to get quality products in today’s market requires consistent and clear collaboration which as mentioned before can only be achieved through a BOM. Thanks to Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and Big data, electronic parts search engines like oemsecrets.com have enabled OEMs, EMS, CMs to use automated EBOM and stop their reliance on manual processes or siloed tools that often lead to uncertainty and confusion in the supply chain and production teams. What is an Engineering Bill of Materials? An engineering bill of materials is used to defines the design of the finished engineering product. It is specific to the design and will not necessarily list all the electronic components needed to ensure the manufacturing goes 100% smoothly and this sometimes falls short if not kept in check. A good project manager should provide support documents highlighting specifications, tolerance and standards expected for the product design. Typically, all manufactured products will start with an EBOM to avoid delays in the overall manufacturing cycle. Why is an Engineering BOM so Important? From our engineering background and years of experience working with electrical and electronic engineers and embed systems engineers we highlighted that even though electronic OEM BOMs exhibit best-in-class manufacturing standards, are reliable for repeat business and near perfect material control they sometimes fall short. Recent examples include gaming consoles, mobile phone project have ended up being delayed for months because of guess what, delays in product development which we can probably say was caused by in accurate bill of materials. Another example of why EBOM are important is if a part being used in a design becomes obsolete the product will need to be replaced and this could alter the electronic design automation (EDA) and CAD drawings since the alternative might have different dimensions need extra power and cause other parts to be swapped for others. e.g., Changing from a 2N3904 transistor to a 2N2222 by Multicomp. This will cause a domino effect in the production process. A manufacturing BOM enables the product to be turned from concept to prototype and eventually transition to a physical product and therefore, creating an accurate bill of materials is vital because it ensures that parts are available just in time when needed as well as supplementing and ensuring that the assembly of product goes efficiently. If for some reason it’s not accurate, production will stop, which reduces the profit margins by increased operation costs. The cost will increase because: Procurement or purchasing engineer will need time to locate missing parts, Machines will be idle and if they are idle they aren’t producing good and thus nor stock to sell, Manpower cost is still is being paid, until the correct process of assembly is determined, If services have been contracted to an EMS then you have to book another production order. This is why EBOMs are important as they can be shown in a hierarchical way i.e., the finished product at the top, down to individual components and materials. BOM management challenges In the past 5 years, we have seen BOM evolve from manual to intelligent cloud based structured systems like what we mentioned in the introduction. The improvement of technology and also the integration with Internet of Things technology has improved our ability as decision makers become more efficient in the way we work. Unfortunately, no single bill of material is proof enough to be used independently for production as they all have their weaknesses. Therefore, many companies leveraged more than one BOM type. Here is a list of the common challenges of BOM management: Production of Out-of-specification items Purchasing dilemmas Configuration management in regard to maintenance and service Product recall Maintaining up-to-date information If the above challenges are corrected, which often are by good collaboration and automated BOM then the common term of “Nobody owns the BOM” will cease. Article researched and written by electronic components online team Terms and Conditions
Starting your own roof repair company can turn out to be an excellent venture. Besides, all buildings have roofs and, in time, roofs can become damaged or worn. Owners would call contractors to fix their roof rather than have them replaced immediately because roof replacement can be costly. Roof repair as a business can be both easy and very profitable as long as you follow the fundamental steps in starting and maintaining oner. If you’re thinking of putting up your own roof repair company, here are some tips you can follow: 1 Learn Important Business Skills If you want to be a successful business owner, you need to know the essential skills in running a business. For a successful roof repair company like Johnson Exteriors, here are three skills you need to master: Strategic thinking: This can be used to improve your company’s profitability and help you make critical business decisions. For example, you might want to consider a new marketing strategy that will enable you to expand into a new area, which will bring more revenue into your field. Technical competence: This includes the ability to use software and computer systems effectively, such as Microsoft Office applications, understanding web-based customer service software, scheduling appointments, and creating marketing materials that have good graphics. Interpersonal communication skills: As a business owner, you’ll need to effectively communicate with your employees, customers, and suppliers. You can only make this happen if you have both good conversation and listening skills. There are also other helpful business skills involving finance, marketing, and leadership. These skills are also essential because they help you run your business smoothly and help you make sound decisions that would let your business grow. 2 Create A Business Plan Once you know the necessary business skills, you’ll need to develop a business plan. This is essential if you want to attract investors to add capital to your business. As an entrepreneur, you need to have a well-written, well-thought-out plan that will show investors how the company will be organized, how it will market itself, and how the company will make money in the future. A business plan is simply a map for you and anyone interested in joining your business to follow. It details all of the pros and cons of your business idea, as well as explaining how your roof repair services will provide a unique benefit to consumers. A quality business plan will also help you secure funding for your business in the future. 3 Gather Tools And Supplies Once you have a business plan in place, you need to gather essential tools and materials. Without these, you won’t be able to begin a roof repair job. Having the equipment you need ahead of time will make things go more smoothly when setting up shop. After you have the materials and tools you need, you’ll need to decide what type of roofing system you want to repair. There are several different roofing systems, including asphalt shingles, metal roofing, wood shakes, slate, ceramic tile, and synthetic membrane. Be sure to choose a design that you feel most comfortable repairing. 4 Marketing And Advertising Now that you have everything you need, it’s time to get started. The most common things businesses forget to include in their plan is their marketing strategy and how to make their business visible to attract more customers. You can set up a shop right away, or you can build a website and advertise. You need to take a proactive approach and market your business to determine what area you will serve first. Prepare a business card with all your contact information, which includes your business name, your full name, address, phone number, and email address. Next, you need to list all the services you will offer in your new roofing company business plan. You must mention the products that you’ll be selling in your brochures and advertising. 5 Customer Service Quality service is essential if you want to succeed at roofing. Be sure to offer quality products and services. Customers will keep coming back to you if they like your work and are satisfied with your work. Be ready to answer queries and provide information that your customers can use to repair their roofing system. You can hire one or two people for this job, or work with a third-party customer service provider if you want to save some money. Summary Starting a business is not easy, but it is possible. What makes it possible is having a good business plan and a defined set of business skills to help you run your business efficiently. Having a business plan is very important for any new business as it determines your business’s future success. Once you secure your capital, you should start gathering supplies to begin your roofing repair company. Don’t forget to also have a plan when it comes to marketing and advertising your business. Lastly, focus on customer service and providing vital information that will help your customers, which can earn their trust and build a positive reputation for your business.
Beard has increased its presence in the care home construction sector, after being awarded contracts worth a combined £25million with Signature Senior Lifestyle, to build two of its new developments in the south east. The sites in Caversham Berkshire and Farnham Common Buckinghamshire, are both expected to be completed in 2022, providing luxury care homes and assisted living communities for seniors in need of nursing, respite or dementia care. Beard was chosen to carry out the work due to its track record for innovation, excellence and quality in all stages of the building process. Added to that is the commitment to prompt and faultless delivery on all projects, prompt payment of all of its suppliers and creating a safe, Covid-secure working environment on site. Caversham will comprise 86 apartments, including a number of deluxe units, built over four floors, split across a sloping site with views across to the Caversham lakes. Communal facilities will include a café, restaurant, cinema, lounge areas, activity room, a pub, spa bathrooms, hair salon and therapy room. Farnham Common will also offer luxury assisted living and nursing in 74 studio-style bedrooms with private wet rooms, with the same range of facilities on hand to residents. Pat Hughes, director of Beard, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with Signature Care Homes on these two developments, and to be able to deliver on their vision for the highest quality living spaces for their residents. The excellence in design of the buildings and their positioning in their surroundings at both sites makes these homes particularly attractive. “In terms of the care sector it’s an important market for Beard, as we understand there is increasing demand for the kind of high-quality home and care that Signature provides. “We’re confident we can help to meet that demand, bringing the quality of construction honed over more than 120 years that Beard is renowned for. “While we’re all living and working during this Covid-19 period which is likely to be with us some time to come, we will continue to operate to the highest possible standards. We will ensure both sites are run in line with best practice and government guidance on how to keep all who work there safe and well.” Wayne Pryce, Group Development Director for Signature said: “We are looking forward to working closely with Beard to deliver two exceptional care homes that will serve the people of Caversham and Farnham Common. “Beard was selected because we have shared values and they can deliver the high quality environment that Signature residents expect. I look forward to successfully completing the project together and welcoming Signatures’ residents to their new home.”
Glencar has marked the start of the construction of the steel frame on Unit 4 at G-Park Northampton – a new 132,000 sq ft speculative warehouse which represents the final plot at GLP’s Moulton Park development. The Grade ‘A’ rated, highly specified building will be suitable for a range of occupiers including last mile logistics, 3PLs, retail/FMCG and manufacturers. The building was designed by UMC Architects and working with Lysander and Fairhurst, Glencar is due to complete the scheme in May this year. Moulton Park is one of the most successful industrial estates in Northamptonshire and is already home to a wide range of regional and national businesses. Occupiers continue to be attracted by the areas’ exceptional transport links, access to national markets and suitably skilled workforce.
The PwC’s membership network report, Skies without Limits, recently revealed that drone technology is expected to uplift the UK’s construction industry by £8.6 bn by 2030. This growth was largely attributed to innovation and improved productivity. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated, it can offer a range of benefits for civil contractors. Here Ian Barnes, Director at SITECH UK & Ireland, the leading distributor of Trimble® technology, shares his thoughts on the benefits of drones. In the last few years, improvements in drone and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) technology has changed how we use them — they are no longer viewed as just high-tech toys. The use of drones has particularly increased in the construction industry to help businesses improve accuracy and productivity. Additionally, as purchase and set up costs gradually decrease to make the technology more affordable, more construction and civil engineering businesses can benefit from the technology. There are several benefits of using drones on site, such as improving survey accuracy of large areas without difficulty, collecting and sharing data, and improving health and safety. Improving these areas can help companies keep their infrastructure projects on track and avoid costly delays. Let’s take a closer look at some of their benefits. Progress tracking According to a study from Engineers Daily, design errors account for 38 percent of construction disputes. Inaccurate and incomplete designs can push projects behind schedule and over budget as confusion mounts. Progress tracking in drones can limit these issues by capturing highly accurate site data. Contractors simply fly the drone to collect data when it’s required, meaning that there’s no need to halt construction work to complete surveys. Collected data can then be uploaded to a cloud-based platform where contractors can access the data anywhere, anytime and easily interpret the information. “Civil contractors and surveyors can use the technology to produce weekly progress reports to share across the company and to stakeholders,” explained Jan Wouter Kruyt, Director of European Operations at Propeller, who teamed up with SITECH to develop the Trimble Stratus® drone package. “More accurate progress tracking can boost overall efficiency while minimising disputes that can often derail projects. For instance, contractors can highlight the parts of a site that they are excavating and provide an estimate on how long this will take and plan the next stages of construction accordingly.” Mapping sites As well as surveying, innovations in drone software now allows contractors to produce detailed 3D maps and models using the data and site footage that they gather from flights. This highly accurate site data can cut costs because the detailed visualisations help teams align on their activities and reduce the risk of design errors that require rework later down the line. For example, Trimble® Stratus, powered by Propeller, uses a data analytics and visualisation platform to capture geo-referenced high-resolution aerial images. All they need to do is lay out their ground control points and fly the drones, enabling them to access highly accurate topographic surveys without causing bottlenecks. As with progress tracking, when 3D mapping is combined with a suitable analytics platform, you can communicate this data across your team and with third parties. Contractors can store and share a single source of truth across the cloud instead of running around with a pencil and a piece of paper. Improved digital mapping also means that every member of the team is aware of the site’s landscape, is working from the same information and immediately receives any updates. Instead of taking hours, or even days to cover the site on foot, all you need to do is fly the drone — providing a real field-to-finish solution for mapping sites. Health and safety According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual report in 2019, slips, trips and falls were the second highest cause of injuries and fatalities in the UK construction industry. Construction companies and shareholders are understandably concerned with any injuries on site and are looking for ways to minimise risk. Drones can quickly complete surveys in dangerous areas and take contractors out of the high-risk areas where these injuries could occur. Drones are piloted remotely, and this is essential when surveying sites where it is too risky to send people. In quarries, for example, surveying requires people to move around rocky and uneven surfaces that can put people in danger. Some sites also have dangerous structures or hazardous and flammable materials on-site that workers should not be in close proximity to. Instead of sending out engineers with pegs, operators can stay at a safe distance and easily fly the drone over the area to collect data, saving the surveyor time and minimising risk in the process. As drone technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible to contractors, it could deliver real productivity benefits while minimising risk to workers. It’s hardly surprising that the construction industry will receive a £8.6 bn lift over the next ten years because of these innovations. Drone flights and data processing provided in an easy to use package that covers workflow, data clarity and the practical is just one of the services developed by SITECH to support the digital worksite. For more information on how you can successfully set up your drone flights, visit https://www.sitechukandireland.com/sitech-drone-services/.
THE end of the Brexit transition period has passed, and with it many rules and regulations are changing across the board for many industries – including construction. Jonathan Oram, national framework manager at Pagabo, discusses the changes expected in public sector procurement following the UK’s departure from the EU. What will change? Jonathan said: “From the beginning of 2021, we are no longer bound by the EU Procurement Regulations, but the public sector remains bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR2015). Initially, the main impact of Brexit on the procurement process is that all future public sector opportunities will be advertised on Find a Tender, which replaces the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). “No longer bound by the EU’s regulations, the UK government has had the freedom to begin the process of reviewing the current suite of procurement regulations. The government’s ‘Transforming Public Procurement’ green paper – published last month – has some interesting thoughts around trying to bring public sector procurement into something that is more suitable for the sector as a whole, acknowledging that not one size fits all and that there are shortcomings in the current processes.” The proposals in the green paper are at initial exploratory stages, but procurement professionals will watch with interest to see how these will map into new policies in the future. Jonathan continued: “We are expecting to see amendments to PCR2015, most likely over the next 12 to 18 months – being re-released as PCR2022. There are already some additional requirements being implemented alongside the current PCR2015 requirements that tie into the government’s procurement strategies surrounding social value, carbon neutrality and SME engagements – with good examples of this being included in ‘The Construction Playbook’. “However, any future amendments would still have to be in line with the principles of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which is an agreement for World Trade Organisation (WTO) members, including the UK. This would include embedding the principles of public procurement within the law and would expand on the three existing ‘EC Treaty’ principles of transparency, integrity, and fair treatment of suppliers to also include value for money, efficiency, and non-discrimination.” Increased flexibility will be key for the future of procurement Two areas that the green paper proposes are around updating and simplifying procurement procedures, as well as the types of resulting frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, which will have the most impact. Jonathan said: “Within the procurement procedures, one of the more interesting proposals centres around what is being termed the Competitive Flexible Procedure. This would be similar to the existing Light Tough Regime, which is only applicable to procure specific social, health or other services. It would replace some of the existing procedures and give commercial teams the flexibility to design a compliant procurement process that meets both their needs and the needs of the market, which can only be seen as a good thing. “The green paper also talks about the possibility of open frameworks to introduce more flexibility. As it stands, frameworks are locked, meaning once suppliers are appointed there is currently no mechanism within the regulations to add on new suppliers during the term of the agreement. The proposed open type of framework would, at specified points, allow new organisations to bid, and for already appointed organisations to update their previously successful bid to reflect the prevailing market conditions. “The Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) process is also set to be reviewed once more. The rules were made more user-friendly in PCR2015 when compared to PCR2006, but the expansion of the scope and flexibility of DPS could see it fit for wider purposes, with the creation of DPS+. Dynamic purchasing systems are starting to become more prevalent and are proving to be a very useful tool for public sector organisations in supporting local and social value agendas.” Centralised data to support SMEs and greater accountability Jonathan also predicts a tightening up around the past performance of suppliers and how that may influence a bid, saying: “As it stands, past performance can be considered when looking at a bidder’s application for tender, but it remains difficult to exclude them because of it. “At the moment we have the ‘prompt payments’ league table, which will see a company reviewed should they fall off it. What we may see introduced in the future is a reversed form of this, with the building of a supplier list whose performance can exclude them from procurement activity.” As well as increased flexibility, the government is working towards a centralised procurement database, on which company details will exist and link together with tender processes. Jonathan said: “In reality, this is something that has needed to happen for a number of years. Making this standard practice will really help to reduce costs, as well as remove barriers for SMEs, and help with government initiatives to engage with these companies more on procurement activity. “There is a proposed requirement to provide more information throughout the life of a contract. This could be via an opensource data standard such as Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), which is used by more than 30 governments around the world and would allow more transparency and quicker transfer of information. By having this openness, supply chains will be able to run more smoothly and ensure that the correct suppliers can be engaged at the appropriate points. “Overall, any changes that come in the next few years will be positive ones from which the public sector will greatly benefit from. The introduction of much more flexibility is the key and will allow procurement and built environment specialists to work together and ensure that the best results are delivered for clients on a truly case-by-case basis.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
The construction sector is regarded as being significantly conflict and dispute ridden and is one of the most claim orientated industries. Projects are usually long-term transactions with a high level of uncertainty and complexity and, as a result, they are seldom without bumps along the way. Often plans are changed and altered by project members as they react to issues that arise and, if a problem is left unsolved, it can lead to disputes that require assistance from lawyers who not only understand the legal aspects, but also the technical parts of the project. A poorly handled dispute can and will cause you financial loss, wasted time and a great deal of stress. The key to minimising these risks is an early assessment of legal and factual issues between parties to determine the appropriate manner and forum for resolving your dispute. Many disputes that end with a contested and expensive courtroom trial could have been resolved by other means but, in some cases, there is no alternative but to litigate in the courts, particularly if there is contractual interpretation required. It is also important to look at how a dispute is covered within your JCT, NEC or private contract, as provision could already have been made for the way in which it must be handled. The process of opening a construction dispute in the courts Before enacting a dispute, it is essential to seek legal guidance and, for it to be formalised, there must first be an established basis for the claim. While the process is rather straightforward, legal systems in the UK vary, so it is important to follow the one that applies to you. A major part of the dispute process is providing evidence that you took every action possible to resolve the issue without resorting to the courts. If the case has good standing and you have contacted the relevant legal professionals, you can complete a claim form to send to the court. If the claim is considered weightier, a three-track system is used to resolve the issue. Your lawyer will work alongside you to tender the claim to either a small claim [a claim that has a value below £10k], fast track claim [a claim with a value between £10-£25k] or a multi-track claim [a complex claim with a value of £25k or more]. The court will then deliver an ‘order of directions’ that outlines the process for how the case will be conducted. This will provide you with guidance on the documents that will need to be disclosed, the due process, timetable for the trial, and other variables that are specific to your case. Other resolution options It is not uncommon for court proceeding fees to exceed the value of the initial claim, which is why legal professionals will often recommend other avenues to resolve a dispute. These include mediation, adjudication, arbitration and expert determination. The Pre-Action Protocol for Construction and Engineering Disputes requires parties involved to meet at least once before litigation commences, to discuss whether an alternative form of dispute resolution would be a more appropriate means to resolve the issue. This means most cases will have to go through some form of alternative dispute resolution before going to court. Adjudication Adjudication, in some scenarios, is a statutory and contractual dispute resolution procedure. It is the process in which a neutral third party will give a decision on a dispute and is historically most prevalent in the construction industry. This is largely because if you are a party to a construction contract you have a statutory right to refer your dispute to adjudication. If you are the successful party to adjudication, you can apply to the Technology and Construction Court to enforce an adjudicator’s decision. The decision will become binding unless it is revised in arbitration or litigation. Many choose adjudication when drafting contractual terms as it is less expensive than court proceedings and is a quick method, designed to ensure cash flow is maintained during the construction process. Expert determination Expert determination is often used to resolve disputes that are of a specialist nature, such as construction, and when there is a valuation dispute. It allows an expert to determine the dispute, and the involved parties will agree to this by contract, meaning the expert’s determination is binding. If your dispute involves a valuation, expert determination is far more economical than court proceedings, and is often quicker and less formal. Arbitration Arbitration is a confidential process which sees all involved parties agree to refer the dispute to a third party who has relevant experience in the matter at hand. Disputes are resolved based on material facts, documents and relevant principles of the law. In the UK, arbitrations are governed under the Arbitration Act 1996 to ensure they are fair, cost-effective, and quick. The law is followed wherever possible and the language used is often more user-friendly and accessible in comparison to court proceedings. There are limited powers of compulsion and sanctions available to the arbitrator if one party fails to comply with the directions set, and limited appeal rights during the process. It can also come at a similar cost to litigation at court, so it is up to you to decide which process you would like to follow. Mediation Mediation is a common form of dispute resolution within the construction industry. The mediator is an independent person, whose role is not to make a decision, judge or advise, but to facilitate discussions between you and the other parties involved to resolve the dispute. Mediators are generally highly experienced in the area in which they practice and will encourage you and the other parties involved to find a solution which will suit all your needs. By entering mediation, you can help maintain business relationships whilst saving on the cost of litigation. It is also relatively quick, with the process only lasting around one to two days. However, in some cases mediation does not result in parties reaching an agreement, meaning the