DETAILS have been revealed for the redevelopment of the former HSBC building on Whitefriargate in Hull city centre, which will see the site create a thriving home for creative, digital and tech businesses. An eclectic mix of heritage and creativity, the development will combine high-tech workspaces with places to connect
THERE is a big focus in the Construction Playbook on procuring for value and harnessing the power of SMEs within the industry. Chief executive at Pagabo, Simon Toplass, discusses how our approach to SME relationships and treatment, and the procurement planning process will deliver on several of the core principles
NATIONAL framework provider Pagabo has launched its central procurement technology platform, which places everything at the fingertips of its users. It gives clients and suppliers access to a fully integrated procurement process through intelligent dashboards that provide real insights into projects, suppliers, social value and all the relevant information they
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
Equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) has long been a topic that has dogged the construction industry. There’s no golden bullet for fixing decades of limited progress, but the steps being made in the industry at the moment are nothing but encouraging, according to executive chairman of Pagabo, Gerard Toplass. Anyone
Recent government reports have pinpointed the procurement sector as a key driver to support the construction industry and solve the challenges faced by the public sector. GERARD TOPLASS, executive chairman of framework provider Pagabo, discusses the need for creating a new quality benchmark – or ‘gold standard’ for frameworks –
UK RESIDENTIAL and commercial developer Godwin Developments has today (Tuesday 15 December) gained approved supplier status on Pagabo’s new national developer-led framework, worth £47 billion. The approval will enable Godwin to be directly appointed on developments or bid for contracts to deliver residential schemes such as housing, student, and multifamily
Those in the public sector working on procurement will need to radically adapt and change the way they work to support change in the construction industry and respond to the challenges faced by the country. So says LORD KERSLAKE, non-executive chairman of framework provider Pagabo. “Today’s government guidance on sourcing
MENTAL health provision in the North East is set for a boost following the award of contracts to deliver an extension to the Sunniside Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. Procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Professional Services Framework, national project and programme management consultancy Faithful+Gould and leading construction firm Morris & Spottiswood – who
We are celebrating hitting our latest social value milestone, marking £3bn in social value being enabled by works procured through our frameworks since 2017. Continuing Success This marks another milestone in a hugely successful year for our firm, which saw the launch of our new Major Works and Professional Services
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
DETAILS have been revealed for the redevelopment of the former HSBC building on Whitefriargate in Hull city centre, which will see the site create a thriving home for creative, digital and tech businesses. An eclectic mix of heritage and creativity, the development will combine high-tech workspaces with places to connect and socialise in the heart of Hull’s old town. The city centre location will feature individual and shared workspaces, meeting room facilities – suitable for video conference calls, podcast sound booths, a private members club and restaurant facilities. Gerard Toplass, local businessman and executive chairman of Pagabo, one of one of the businesses driving the refurbishment, said: “This building is a prime example of why you should never look down when you are in Hull. You should always look up to make sure that you don’t miss any of the city’s truly tremendous architecture – including this striking Grade II listed Victorian building. “We’re really excited and proud to have revealed plans for Hull’s former HSBC building. Being one of the city’s oldest streets, Whitefriargate backs onto the old town and is a fundamental part of Hull’s heritage. “There has been a lot of residential development happening in Hull and the surrounding areas, which will no doubt attract new businesspeople to the city. We want to support the local community by creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to thrive, as well as further cementing Hull as a hub for local, national and international businesses to both grow and succeed.” The refurbished building will be the home to several businesses headquartered out of Hull, including national framework provider Pagabo, software management company Sypro and their partner company, Social Profit Calculator. Gerard continued: “Another fundamentally important element that we hope 55 Whitefriargate will provide for companies is a space to train and upskill their staff via ‘learning’ days. We believe that it’s important for modern-day employers to be able to offer their workforce opportunities for self-growth and personal development on their own premises, and we believe that this new facility will do just that. “It has been great working alongside local contractors and Hull City Council to bring our vision to life, and I would like to personally thank them for their ongoing support.” Lettings are being managed by Garness Jones, with high initial demand seeing the entirety of the ground floor space already fulfilled. Space and flexible terms remain available for the building’s first, second, third and fourth floors. For more information about 55 Whitefriargate or to register your interest, please visit https://bit.ly/3cTPkjg.
THERE is a big focus in the Construction Playbook on procuring for value and harnessing the power of SMEs within the industry. Chief executive at Pagabo, Simon Toplass, discusses how our approach to SME relationships and treatment, and the procurement planning process will deliver on several of the core principles outlined in the playbook. Programme versus project With social value to consider as well as physical delivery costs, there is a huge education process that needs to happen led by framework providers, contractors, and consultants to help identify what best value and whole life value actually is. Framework providers like ourselves need to work with public sector organisations to define this, looking at whole programmes rather than on a project-by-project basis. We have an important role, especially as many clients seek to use frameworks to ensure they get the best possible outcomes. This outcome-based approach is another key focus within the playbook, and it is where the creation of a gold standard for frameworks would benefit absolutely everyone working in procurement. For example, frameworks will vary in commercial offerings, so transparency of cost will be important, to ensure contracting authorities aren’t caught out by hidden extras. In the same way that the public sector needs to consider the suitability of a consultant or contractor, it also must choose a framework provider equally as carefully. This means providers must provide simple, affordable and accessible solutions, but more than this they must be transparent about their costs and compliance as well. An excellent example of the action of looking at outcome-based approaches of a programme of work is our recently launched developer-led framework. The projects procured via this framework will be many, and lasting for many years, so all parties must work together to examine the best value – not just simple, monetary cost – beyond the construction phase and across the whole lifecycle. This whole life approach to best value enables us to embed all the key elements we need to be considering for the built environment moving forwards, from delivering true social impact on a local basis, to working towards the government’s goals for net zero carbon. This can all be outlined and embedded into the procurement process, and even within the contracts themselves as KPIs too, particularly within the NEC4 suite of contracts. Preparation is key One of the earliest lessons of my career was that the biggest enemy of good procurement is lack of time, and that rushing the preparation should be avoided at all costs. This is something that has stuck with me throughout several decades of working in procurement, and feeds into our focus on excellent, expertise-led procurement services at Pagabo. What has really resonated with us about the Construction Playbook is that ten of the 14 key policies outlined fall within the first of the five phases of procurement – i.e., within the preparation and planning phase. This section alone is half of the entire 83-page playbook, so it demonstrates the old saying ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’. A huge focus must be placed on getting the preparation spot on to make sure that project success is not threatened, and the best outcomes can be achieved for all parties involved. SMEs are the future of construction The Construction Playbook ultimately aims to deliver a better and fairer industry, including prompt and fair payments – something that is really important to focus on in the conversation around SME engagement. It’s clear that the government is keen to involve SMEs, and ensure their early engagement in programmes, but it’s crucial that this involvement is fair – including proper and prompt payment. This is highlighted even further when we examine the impact of the pandemic on these businesses. Insolvency practitioner Real Business Rescue recently released its Business Distress Index for Q4 2020, with the data revealing that the number of UK SMEs in significant financial distress is now 620,000. If this isn’t startling enough, that figure had risen by 14 per cent from the previous quarter. Construction is second only to fishing as one of the least innovative sectors in the UK, which means we have a real opportunity to make a huge stride forward in how we do things – and SMEs are central to this. They serve as the engine room of our industry, being best placed to bring forth the new ideas, products, services and tech adoption and will help us move out of this comfortable zone where we keep to ‘this is the way we’ve always done it’. The industry has been banging the SMEs and innovation drum for years, but the important thing is to put words into action. At Pagabo, 70 per cent of the suppliers across our ten frameworks are SMEs, and during the latest episode of our ‘Building Blocks’ podcast it was great to hear from Peter Masonbrook at Faithful+Gould that 83 per cent of its supply chain are SMEs. Willmott Dixon’s national account manager Andrew Brookes also joined the podcast discussion. He shared the various innovations taking place within the main contractor organisation, from the small pockets that are constantly happening across its live sites and offices, to larger, business-led approaches such as investment in products for standardisation and digitisation – another two key areas covered by the playbook. Pagabo’s relationship with industry SMEs goes beyond simply appointing them to our frameworks. We have a set of robust KPIs in place which ensure our suppliers are working with local supply chains on every project they undertake. By putting this process in place we’re able to track both the spend on and engagement each supplier has with local SMEs. Another example of this is our work with health tech brand Moodbeam. We’re currently undertaking a series of trials to understand how to best integrate its wearable wellbeing device into our on-site health, safety and wellbeing strategies in the construction sector. Simply put, we cannot afford to lose SMEs within our industry. They will be central to building
NATIONAL framework provider Pagabo has launched its central procurement technology platform, which places everything at the fingertips of its users. It gives clients and suppliers access to a fully integrated procurement process through intelligent dashboards that provide real insights into projects, suppliers, social value and all the relevant information they need. My Pagabo simplifies the full tender process, allowing clients to track projects from initial engagement, right through to completion. The new platform is designed specifically to create a smarter, faster and easier way of working for everyone involved, and has seen the team dedicate more than 6,000 hours of time into the development. All the information clients may need will be centralised within the dashboard and separated out into several key sections. Clients can view the frameworks available to them and digitally sign the client access agreement for others within the platform. They will also be able to see all of the suppliers available to them, with each one having an individual profile showing the key company information, case studies and good news stories. My Pagabo also has integration that allows clients to view the Creditsafe score of all suppliers on the platform. The platform gives clients the ability to input all the necessary data for their organisation, and to onboard all the team members involved in procurement processes. Live projects can be viewed, and new ones can be started quickly and easily from the projects section. Julian Penna, business analyst at Pagabo, said: “After pouring quite literally thousands of hours into the development of My Pagabo to ensure we have created the most effective procurement technology possible; we’re thrilled to be fully launching the platform to kick off the new year. “The key thing for My Pagabo is providing a simple and central process, combined with instant access to all the information users need within a central platform. It brings procurement into the future through the use of digital and will allow clients to manage their complete procurement processes – including all correspondence – in a central location. As well as the obvious benefits of streamlining, time saving and less physical paperwork, clients will be able to manage the entire process from the outset starting with an expression of interest, through the tendering and awarding process – all backed up with a dedicated customer support service. Charlotte Brogan, design and build manager at Wildgoose Construction, who has been involved with the beta-testing of My Pagabo, said: “I’ve found using the My Pagabo platform easy to use and it’s made the procurement process very simple. The platform has allowed us access to frameworks that we’re eligible for, to register interest and submit important documents, which saves us a lot of time. “The construction industry is always changing. A lot of new technology is coming in, there’s lots happening around training new members of staff, and projects are having to find more efficient ways of working. The My Pagabo platform helps to streamline that, it addresses all of these items in the procurement stages, which is where we need to get that push. There’s only so much you can reduce costs in construction without compromising on quality, and this platform helps us to narrow down costs right at the start of a project.” Anne Giliker, procurement manager at Red Kite Learning Trust, who has been using the My Pagabo platform, said: “The My Pagabo platform allows me to manage my tenders and see where everything is up to at each stage of them as I go through. It’s incredibly simple and organised, allowing me to access all of the latest information that’s coming through from suppliers and I can see where everybody is during the entire process.” Simon Toplass, chief executive at Pagabo, said: “Our mission at Pagabo is to provide the industry with the best procurement processes possible, and the launch of My Pagabo really underlines this digital-first approach that is needed within the industry. “Social value is always at the heart of everything we do – and My Pagabo is no different. Users will be able to view our overall social value statistics for our network of frameworks, but the platform will also be fully integrated with Social Profit Calculator. This means that clients will be able to effectively and accurately measure the end-to-end, real life impact of their projects. “We believe that technology is there to help, not hinder us and this new platform will do a lot of the heavy lifting for our clients – saving them time, allowing them to engage with suppliers like never before, and making the whole end-to-end experience much better for clients.” Working with an independent specialist solicitor, Pagabo has put security and data protection at the forefront of activity, with terms of services, and acceptable use, privacy and cookie policies all in place to protect the data of all users. The platform will be free to use for all Pagabo clients. For more information about My Pagabo, please visit https://www.mypagabo.co.uk/.
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/
Equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) has long been a topic that has dogged the construction industry. There’s no golden bullet for fixing decades of limited progress, but the steps being made in the industry at the moment are nothing but encouraging, according to executive chairman of Pagabo, Gerard Toplass. Anyone that works in property and construction will tell you that there is not enough diversity in the industry, despite great progress being made over the last decade in particular. Just one in eight people who work in the industry are female, while a 2018 report on diversity showed that just 5.4 per cent of workers in the sector are BAME. As Amos Simbo, founder of the BPIC Network, said on the latest episode of Pagabo’s Building Blocks podcast, the fact that the topic of equality, diversity and inclusion – or lack thereof – is even being discussed shows how things have progressed, and how seriously it is now being taken in the industry. But just discussing it is no longer enough. Unfortunately, there are decades of poor practice on this front that need to be undone, and it’s no easy task. The experiences of Faithful+Gould’s Ella Sanders – who was actively discouraged from a career in construction while at school – illustrate that there’s still a way to go to mitigate the damage that has been done in the past, which is the key contributory factor behind the ugly statistics. It’s not something that is going to be done overnight, but the slow and steady progress being made currently is absolutely a step in the right direction. Especially given the industry’s historically poor performance around ED&I, it’s also important that we benchmark ourselves against other industries, see how we stack up and take learnings from their approaches where appropriate. Jenny Hinde – who, as executive director of The Clear Company works in ED&I across several industries, including construction – told us on the podcast that there is a real push from people working within the industry to get things right on the ED&I front, but this is largely coming from the bigger organisations. These companies are looking to take the lead and not be driven by their clients on embracing ED&I. However, this initiative doesn’t yet seem to be permeating down to SME level to the same extent and getting this to happen is an important stage on the journey. As Dara Jafari, associate director and ED&I lead at Faithful+Gould pointed out on the podcast, there is an important distinction to make between the professional side of the industry and the site work side. While both face similar challenges in terms of ED&I – and there has been a genuinely positive shift towards embracing the importance of a diverse workforce – the approach to tackling this can’t be one-size-fits-all. It’s important not to forget the “inclusion” element of ED&I. Jenny touched on the use of divisive language – “blue collar” and “white collar” being a prime example – and even the difference between the terms of employment for on and off-site workers as key indicators of the lack inclusivity. The question – as she put it – doesn’t just need to be “how diverse are we?”, but “how diverse and inclusive are we?”. The good news is that the shift is definitely happening. Those on the podcast that dealt with public sector clients all agreed that they had seen greater focus on ED&I in bid documents, and importantly that shift had progressed from questions about simple compliance to ones asking more about how it is being delivered in practice. Most impressively, there also seems to be a desire from those clients to learn more about that delivery, and how they can replicate it within their own structures. Acting upon this self-awareness is absolutely critical to ensuring we handle these challenge in 2021 and beyond. As Dara pointed out, it’s one thing for a board of directors to identify that they potentially have improvements to make where it comes to ED&I, but it’s quite another for them to recognise that – for that very reason – they themselves may not be best placed to solve the problem. It’s a long battle, and not one that is going to be won overnight. However, the positive steps being taken across the industry show us that we are moving in the right direction. You can listen to the most recent episodes of Pagabo’s ‘Building Blocks’ podcast on Anchor and YouTube.
Recent government reports have pinpointed the procurement sector as a key driver to support the construction industry and solve the challenges faced by the public sector. GERARD TOPLASS, executive chairman of framework provider Pagabo, discusses the need for creating a new quality benchmark – or ‘gold standard’ for frameworks – to ensure that the public sector and communities around the UK benefit from the best procurement processes possible. “What is evident from recent government legislation, including the National Infrastructure Strategy and The Construction Playbook, is the need to support public sector partners in their bid to create the very best buildings. From schools and hospitals to prisons and major infrastructure, the government has shown that it is committed to delivering ‘better, faster, greener’ solutions to support our recovery from COVID-19 and build the economy of the future – and is asking the construction sector to be very much part of that. “The focus on procuring for value is a big step in the right direction. The government is trying to get purchasers to understand the whole life cost of schemes, rather than just the upfront costs, which is a drum that many people in the industry have been banging for some time now. “This means there is a big education piece with purchasers on what ‘best value’ and ‘whole life value’ actually is – it is not just about monetary cost, and we need to work with public sector organisations to define this. “Central to this will be framework providers. They are an efficient method for government to procure public works – but many clients across the public sector also use frameworks in order to get the best possible outcomes. This is where the creation of a ‘gold standard’ for frameworks would be at the benefit of everyone working in procurement across the industry. It would enable authorities to get the best from procurement processes and achieve the best outcomes in terms of social value. And indeed, this is something that is detailed in The Construction Playbook. “Pushing for this ‘gold standard’ is something that we welcome for procurement, particularly as it’s clear that the government expects that use of frameworks is going to grow and recommends their use. This will lead to more frameworks and even potentially more framework providers, so having an industry standard for this practice will be really important in enabling such public sector bodies – and the communities they serve – to reap the benefits. “For example, some frameworks are much more expensive to procure works through than others, and so transparency of these costs will be important so that authorities aren’t caught out by hidden extras. In the same ways that the public sector needs to consider the suitability of a consultant or contractor, it must choose a framework provider equally as carefully. This means that framework providers must provide simple, affordable and accessible solutions, but more than this they must be transparent about costs and compliance. “We would urge the government to consider setting out a kitemark approach so that public sector procurement professionals can feel assured that they are working with the right framework provider – and ultimately that they can rely on the organisation they are procuring works through. “However, with a radical change in the procurement process within the public sector, as well as the sector itself undergoing changes, there will be a need for providing excellent consultancy and training to public sector workers. This has to happen so that both the wider construction sector and procurement can effectively work together, and work at the same pace. “A big challenge is also going to be how procurement professionals will be trained on what is needed. The use of technology is going to be really important with this to help us remove red tape and bureaucracy for the public sector’s benefit. Digital technology and digitally enabled procurement and delivery could be enormously helpful in ensuring that the rest of the principles are achieved in practice. “A prime example of this is modern methods of construction (MMC), and the way they are being used more widely. Our view at Pagabo is that MMC is not a separate function, but rather a function of construction overall – and where it can be used, it should be used. We want public sector organisations to be able to look at a scheme that’s being procured and be able to not only procure the expertise but also the best delivery methods – which will only drive better social return – on a scheme-by-scheme basis. “This is an area that Pagabo is currently working to improve within the sector. We are currently working with Social Profit Calculator on the creation of a ‘Smart Construction Calculator’. This software aims to use historical data on MMC projects to build a baseline measurement for social value – this software will allow a client to look at the social impact of a scheme built with traditional methods and compare this to the use of MMC for the same scheme. “But most importantly in the sector, we need to work towards talent density within procurement, properly set up frameworks that have good coverage of suppliers, lots and geographies, and the use of digital technology – all wrapped up in compliant practice with social value at its heart. “Ultimately, if stakeholders adopt what has been outlined in recent government reports and play by those rules, then it will get the traction it needs within the industry. Mavericks will adopt the practices outlined early on, and there may be some criticism to the changes, but then will come widespread adoption. But it all starts with ensuring these rules are widely understood everyone in the industry from public sector bodies, to procurement professionals and the wider construction sector.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/
UK RESIDENTIAL and commercial developer Godwin Developments has today (Tuesday 15 December) gained approved supplier status on Pagabo’s new national developer-led framework, worth £47 billion. The approval will enable Godwin to be directly appointed on developments or bid for contracts to deliver residential schemes such as housing, student, and multifamily schemes, as well as senior living projects. The EU-compliant framework, which will run for five and a half years, will assist Godwin in partnering with public sector organisations through single site development agreements valued between £20m and £40m across London, South West, East of England, East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, North West and North East England. In addition, the business will also be eligible to cover projects worth up to £40m in London, South East, Midlands and North of England, delivered through either special purpose vehicles, joint ventures, LLP or other corporate structures. Acting on behalf of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, the Pagabo framework will cover a range of developer-led schemes within the construction industry and is open to all public sector bodies including schools, universities, local authorities, police and emergency services, NHS organisations, health and social care providers and housing associations, as well as central government departments and the Ministry of Defence. The business secured a place on the framework after a rigorous OJEU compliant tender process, covering relevant experience, financial suitability as well as contribution to social value and technology implementation. Lindsay McCombe, senior development director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are really proud to have been awarded a place onto this prestigious national framework. As an established UK developer with credentials across the residential and commercial sectors, we bring over 20 years of experience in property – from identifying sites through to design, planning permission and full build – and have a solid track record in both single-site schemes as well as projects delivered via SPVs, LLPs or joint ventures. “We are also passionate about enhancing local communities by attracting investment and creating homes and jobs, improving public realm, skills and opportunities, growing infrastructure and the provision of affordable homes. Similar to the UK government, we see construction and support for the public sector as a key component of recovery and long-term prosperity. We look forward to working with procurement departments in our appointed regions to realise their regeneration programmes.” Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said: “With all our frameworks we aim to simplify the whole procurement process, ensure flexibility and provide greater choice for clients, all packaged up with OJEU compliance – our developer-led framework is no different in that respect. It will allow developers the ability to procure works through a compliant and simple to use framework and help the public sector with vital expansion plans, creating an overall more robust sector. “We’ve been absolutely blown away by the response we’ve had in this tender process and are really pleased to be bringing a unique procurement offering to market with such a strong set of companies.” Stuart Pratt, group development director at Godwin Developments, said: “It is fantastic to be concluding 2020 with news of our appointment to the Pagabo framework. Today’s award is an acknowledgement of our growing national capability, strong in-house team and exceptional advisory board – all of which will be able to support public sector teams across the country as they seek to improve infrastructure and services across their towns and cities. “I would also like to thank Pagabo for providing us with the opportunity to be a part of their programme, and we look forward to working closely with their teams over the next five years and beyond.” For further information on Godwin Developments visit www.godwindevelopments.co.uk
Those in the public sector working on procurement will need to radically adapt and change the way they work to support change in the construction industry and respond to the challenges faced by the country. So says LORD KERSLAKE, non-executive chairman of framework provider Pagabo. “Today’s government guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes has been published at a crucial time – when the UK is still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and as it moves to a new relationship with the European Union. “The Construction Playbook is a positive and powerful document with great information on how we can together create a transformation of the construction sector. This document is really important and bigger than people realise – given the size of the construction sector in this country and that it makes up 10 per cent of our economy. “The report has some particularly positive things in it in terms of health and safety and its primacy in construction and the way it innovates. The report also acknowledges the huge importance of social value and the need to assess projects in terms of their whole life costs and procure for value. Thirdly, and crucially, the importance of digital in construction. “The report itself features an in-depth analysis on how we move forwards as an industry and how we will take on board these really important issues. “This is going to involve as much of a change on the procurement side in the public sector as it a change in the construction sector. “This means a radical change in the process of procurement within the public sector to encourage and support the sector itself changing. There will therefore be the huge task of investing in training and development of the public sector here. And if that doesn’t happen, there is a risk that the sector looks to change but then finds the procurement isn’t changing to keep pace with that. It is vitally important therefore, but both construction and procurement need to work together. “We need to ensure that the principles of the document are followed through in practice so when we talk about social value it is not a theoretical thing – but is real delivery of social value. Which means that you have to ensure that social benefits are maintained when the contract has started – not just calculated at the beginning. “Digital technology and digitally enabled procurement and delivery could be enormously helpful in ensuring that the rest of the principles are achieved in practice. I think that the things that Pagabo has done with its Future of Construction initiative anticipates many of these issues and it fits very well with the approach that Pagabo has taken to try and change its business. “One issue that I couldn’t see as much about creating a diverse industry. “The playbook talks about delivery but more work needs to be done and more thought needs to be given to how this is done across the public sector – a huge and diverse set of organisations. “The playbook is important post COVID. COVID has been the focus in the construction sector and within local organisations – and of course, the ‘here and now.’ This has almost certainly crowded out the longer term thinking by government. “But what I do see are welcome documents such as this playbook, as well as the government’s Fairer, Faster, Green document on infrastructure and the prime minister’s ten-point plan on zero carbon. It’s all part of the ‘building back better’ agenda and now is the right time to be thinking about all of these aspects. “The construction industry is vital to the UK’s economy and this playbook acknowledges that – and it encourages collaborative work across the public sector and private sector. It also notes that the principles and polices in the playbook aim to transform how we assess procure and manage public works projects and programmes. “The document is a good guide for how the UK can deliver beyond COVID. But now we need to deliver together – and procurement is at the core of that delivery.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/.
MENTAL health provision in the North East is set for a boost following the award of contracts to deliver an extension to the Sunniside Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. Procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Professional Services Framework, national project and programme management consultancy Faithful+Gould and leading construction firm Morris & Spottiswood – who were appointed through Pagabo’s Medium Works Framework – will deliver an extension to the mental health facility, which is run by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. The project – which has been valued at almost £1.8m – will see Faithful+Gould provide multidisciplinary services including initial design, and Morris & Spottiswood lead on the extension’s construction. Karen Carter, regional relationship manager for the North at Pagabo, said: “We’re delighted to have been involved in the administration of this vitally important development of the Sunniside Unit’s mental health facility – a service that will help to support members of the surrounding community for years to come. “We are incredibly pleased that Faithful+Gould and Morris & Spottiswood have both been appointed for this project via our frameworks and that they will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with us to further cement Pagabo as a viable route to market for healthcare organisations and NHS Trusts.” The Sunniside Unit provides inpatient admission, assessment, treatment and discharge planning to any patient within the Gateshead area who either has a diagnosis of a functional mental health illness (over the age of 65), are presenting symptoms of acute psychiatric distress and require assessment for diagnosis or are presenting acute psychiatric distress and are in crisis where there are risk indicators of danger to themselves or others. Lawrence Inkster, director of Faithful+Gould, said: “I am thrilled that we have been appointed to provide multidisciplinary services for this much-needed development in Gateshead. Time was very much the essence on the project and our position as Pagabo’s multidisciplinary framework provider has allowed us to assemble the team to hit the ground running. Our expertise within the healthcare sector and experienced team will help to bring to life the building’s extension and provide a space in which people feel happy, safe and supported.” Matthew Wall, frameworks manager at Morris & Spottiswood, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Gateshead to deliver this new and much-needed mental health facility within the local area. The turf cutting ceremony really is a milestone moment for not only the client but the full delivery team, all of whom have shown amazing commitment to getting the project up and running in record time. “This is our first direct award via the Pagabo framework, and it has demonstrated what a valuable and time saving mechanism this procurement route can be when the full team commit to working collaboratively.” Paul Swansbury, development and commercial works manager at QE Facilities Ltd, added: “This investment into local health services, such as what is provided by The Sunniside Unit, is a testament to our commitment to support surrounding communities as much as possible with both their physical and mental health. In what has been a turbulent year for so many, it’s never been more vital to support one another and so we hope that this brand-new extension will provide hope to so many for the foreseeable future and beyond.” Kelly Chequer, nurse consultant in older persons’ mental health at the Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust, said: This investment in older people’s mental health is extremely positive for the residents of Gateshead who need admission to hospital. We are pleased that our clinical staff and patients have been able to influence the design of this modern facility which will eradicate all dormitory accommodation and provide mental health modern facilities with single ensuite bedrooms.” Joann Crowder, ward manager at the Sunniside Unit, said: The patients and families have been closely involved in designing the new environment and I know the experience and safety of someone in hospital will be greatly improved with the high standards of the new environment. The design team have listened to every request from the patients and the nursing team and we are all looking forward to seeing the new ward.” Work is now underway on site, with the extension due to complete by Spring 2021. For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/.
We are celebrating hitting our latest social value milestone, marking £3bn in social value being enabled by works procured through our frameworks since 2017. Continuing Success This marks another milestone in a hugely successful year for our firm, which saw the launch of our new Major Works and Professional Services frameworks go live in April, the appointment of several members of staff and the announcement of a transformational research collaboration with The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to name but a few. The figures have been enabled through our full suite of frameworks. As well as figures relating to the financial benefit to local economies, the measurement includes the creation of more than 2,750 jobs and the safeguarding of more than 11,000 jobs, as well as 900 work placements and more than 700 apprentice roles. Simon Toplass, chief executive officer at Pagabo, said: “Driving positive social impact for individuals, communities and businesses up and down the country is one of our core business values at Pagabo, so hitting this landmark £3bn enabled figure is a really proud moment for us. “Social value is firmly at the heart of everything we do, and we make a conscious effort to be as directly involved as possible in order to help our clients generate the best social return possible from their projects. And there is of course no doubt that social value is set to play a bigger part than ever in the future following COVID-19 – especially when it comes to job safeguarding, job creation and the development of employment opportunities in the immediate future.” How Social Value is generated We generate our figures using Social Profit Calculator (SPC) – the market-leading online tool accredited by Social Value UK and Social Value International. SPC uses robust government data and methodologies to help organisations understand, evidence and measure the social impact of their work. Simon said: “Most organisations will already be delivering some form of social value through their employment of staff, skills development programmes and through working with local supply chains. The important next step is knowing how to measure these things and how they equate to true benefit for local communities. This is something that SPC is perfectly placed to do, accurately calculating the financial value of social, economic and environment impact of work. “It’s highly likely that we are going to see a significant push over the coming years regarding industry standards of data collection for social value – especially when it comes to regional differences. Tools like SPC will continue to grow in importance – as will the need for cross-industry collaboration to build a picture of what good social value looks like around the country for clients.” We are set to announce the successful applicants for our brand-new developer-led framework – worth £47bn – in December. For more information on how we enable social value, click below: Social Value Social Profit Calculator
