Month: April 2017

Clever Procurement = Collaboration, Integration and Communication, it’s not rocket science!

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On Wednesday 26th April 2017 we hosted another constructing excellence breakfast event at Addleshaw Goddard in Leeds, this time themed around procurement, in particular the roles and responsibilities of the clients, key considerations for those bidding for work and some of the crucial behaviours and processes behind successfully winning tenders.

Always an important (and popular) topic, we welcomed around 30 individuals to the event; principally contractors, subcontractors and architects, however it was also nice to see a number of clients in the room. We believe clients are key to driving improvement in our industry so the more we can provide platforms and encourage them to share experiences and learn from each other for the benefit of the industry, the better!

Our first speaker was Cliff Jones, Head of Construction Procurement Team with the commercial division at the Department of Health (DH) UK. Cliff has been working with DH procurement for over twenty years, including developing and implementing the DH ProCure21+ and now P22 frameworks. Cliff talked principally about setting realistic budgets and programmes from the outset and the importance of full supply chain collaboration and integration. He also emphasized client expectations in terms of issues/problems and risks that arise, i.e. the need for early warning protocols and communication – the DH in particular have a huge issue with correcting defects following handover due to the presence of key end users (clinical staff and patients) and therefore good aftercare is crucial. Cliff’s presentation was full of useful advice and tips for all attendees wherever you are in the build process.

Then onto Philip Collard. Philip is Managing Director of Marketing Works Training and Consultancy Ltd and CEO of myConsole a digital platform that provides bidding analytics, real-time bidding analytics based on potentially widespread and disparate datasets held by a business internally. This was not a sales pitch, Philip was actually here to share his insights into the importance of an organised and unified bidding process and how digitisation, data collection and analysis can support this. He then went on to talk about how companies can then leverage the knowledge and efficiencies this process gives to develop winning bid strategies. As always, the central theme to this presentation was collaboration, integration of process and people and the importance of data and feedback & how we can use digital to facilitate this.

Slightly veering into thinkBIM territory here but one final thought from Philip, how far ahead do we think the industry is in terms of digitisation… one above farming apparently (see slide above). Hold that thought.

All the presentation slides are listed below along with our storify from 26th May collating the best images, tweets and comments from the event.

Our next event will be on Wednesday 24th May and is a joint event with RIBA where we will hear the findings from the RIBA Client Liaison Group’s ground-breaking ‘Working with Architects’ survey and debate critical issues in the client-architect relationship. More details and booking here.

 

‘Working with Architects’ – Client Survey Excellence Event

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Wednesday 24th May 2017

Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Leeds

08:00 for registration, 8:30-9:45 with networking until 10:00

Breakfast provided!

Join us on 24 May to hear the findings from the RIBA Client Liaison Group’s ground-breaking ‘Working with Architects’ survey and debate critical issues in the client-architect relationship.

What should clients do to get the most from their architects? In a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, how can architects reassure clients? How should architects communicate the value they add? Is it important for architects to follow up post-completion? How should contractor-clients and architects work together?

Architect and client speakers will take quick-fire turns to sketch out what they need from each other and how they could improve their relationship for a better, more viable, sustainable, resilient, and fit-for-purpose built environment. Audience members will be invited to engage in the debate from the floor.

Nigel Ostime of Hawkins\Brown Architects and Chair of the RIBA Client Liaison Group said, “This entertaining format is designed to get you thinking about your work practices by putting yourself in others’ shoes. Ultimately, it is part of a bigger effort to improve effectiveness, collaboration, efficiency, productivity, and, of course, outcomes in the construction industry.”

The debate is a partnership with Constructing Excellence and organised by the RIBA Client Liaison Group, whose market intelligence research helps architects to adapt to construction clients’ changing needs.

SCHEDULE

8.00 Networking reception – drinks and breakfast

8.30 Welcome and presentation: John Orrell, Director at DLA Design, the chair, will summarize the ‘Working with Architects’ survey findings and then open the debate.

  • Architect voice: The architect representative Nick Moss of SixTwo Architects will describe what he needs from a client, and his idea of a bad architect.
  • Client voice: The client representative Lee Savage of Moda Living will explain what they need from an architect, and their idea of a bad client.

9.30 Question and answer session: John Orrell will invite questions or comments from the floor.

9.45 Final networking

BOOKING LINK

*Please note, this link will direct you to Leeds Beckett University online store (Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber is run by Leeds Beckett University)

Click here to book online

 

To get involved join us at

Addleshaw Goddard LLP, 3 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, Leeds LS1 4ER

Wednesday 24th May 2017 08:00-10:00

Buildforce Northern Alliance Launch

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A new initiative connecting service leaders and veterans with construction careers

A message from Caroline Logan, Buildforce

Following the success of the launch event at the Tower of London in January, our alliance is rapidly expanding and are excited to have a growing presence in the North. With over 140 Service Leavers and Veterans registered already, we need to know we have the opportunities and mentors in place throughout the United Kingdom to offer support and guidance.

We have now put plans in place to mobilise a Northern BuildForce Alliance to complement our Southern Alliance; the inaugural meeting is being held on 25th May 2017 at the KCOM Craven Park Stadium in Hull between 2 -5 pm.  The venue itself has been provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC and the Hull Kingston Rovers Community Trust as part of their commitment to the Military Covenant and of supporting initiatives that improve life’s chances of ex-Forces personnel.

We would like to enlist your support and ask you to reach out to any fellow construction companies, construction related companies and consultants, both large and small and encourage them to attend and become a part of our Alliance.  We will be asking for your input, advice and guidance on the best ways to execute BuildForce, in order to maximise its potential across the industry.

Please confirm your attendance to info@buildforce.org.uk  and forward to any interested colleagues.

A list of our FAQs and further information can also be found on our BuildForce website: buildforce.org.uk

You can also download our industry information pack which will give you more details about how to get involved.

Hope to see you there!

 

Investment Opportunity – Kirkstall Valley Development Trust

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This is a one-off chance to create a centre for sustainable education in two heritage mills based in 200 acres of green space in inner Leeds involving the universities, community and private sectors.

Kirkstall Valley Development Trust is one of Leeds most ambitious community driven projects. The Trust was set up in 2016 to develop a learning and leisure park over 200 acres of inner Leeds and to refurbish two heritage mills that lie at its heart. The Trust are working with Leeds City Council, University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, the Centre for Alternative Technology and local community groups to create:

  • A Centre for Future Cities (CFC) in Abbey Mills teaching practical and high level skills for sustainable living, focusing on water, energy, food and housing.
  • Environmental education particularly aimed at young people
  • Energy, growing and nature projects
  • On site power sourced from the river and solar panels
  • New parkland and wildlife areas
  • Improved access, with cycle and walk ways
  • Two refurbished heritage mills
  • Workspace for sympathetic small businesses
  • Flexible community space
  • A public café / bar, events and exhibition space

The CFC intends to be a genuine partnership space bringing together different sectors. It will focus on key areas of city life that need to be, and are being, transformed: transport, energy, food and nature, housing and work. It will do this by:

  • Providing real world opportunities for research and learning from an early stage in development
  • Co-creating and sharing knowledge and understanding between different groups – communities, enterprises, policy makers, researchers, learners
  • Being an exemplar of sustainable good practice in urban scale developments
  • Recognising challenges, evaluating and adapting

Further details can be found at the Trust’s website here

**INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY**

During 2017 the Trust will undertake development work financed by our community share issue (running until April 20th) which will hopefully followed by a development grant from Heritage Lottery to pay for architectural and surveyor fees, project management, marketing and community engagement. Initially we are looking for investors via our crowdfunding page which can be accessed by clicking the link below.

We are very close to our initial £40,000 target so please do support us if you can!

Clever Procurement – What it means for Clients and the Industry

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Wednesday 26th April 2017, Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Leeds

08:00 for registration, 8:30-9:30 with networking until 10:00

Breakfast provided!

Cliff Jones is Head of the Construction Procurement Team within the Commercial Division at the Department of Health (DH),UK.  He has been involved with the development & implementation of the DH ProCure21 & DH ProCure21+ Frameworks. Cliff is also a member of the Construction Clients Group Board at Constructing Excellence.

Cliff will provide some thoughts on the following and what it means for all.

  • Realistic budgets and programmes and what Clients and the Industry need to consider
  • Industry collaboration throughout supply chains,selection of contractors and supply chains
  • What is expected when problems/risks arise

Cliff will also cover the development of the Construction Clients Leadership Group which is currently evolving to replace the CE Construction Clients Group.

Philip Collard has been Managing Director of Marketing Works Training and Consultancy Ltd, a specialist construction industry management consultancy, for over 25 years. During that time he has helped over 2000 firms improve their market and client facing behaviours. Now also CEO of myConsole, a digital platform that drives certainty in bidding through increasing win rates and lowering bid costs, he focuses on implementing cloud based solutions to the biggest challenges facing pre-construction teams.

For our April Breakfast, we welcome Philip to discuss how to align behaviours to become more client centric, now and in the future. He will share insights into managing and organising processes and individual and team behaviours that firstly, uncover client’s needs and objectives and then secondly, how to leverage this valuable knowledge to innovate win themes and bid strategies. Thirdly, he will take us on a journey into the future to show the profound changes afoot through digitalisation, which will impact client centricity at all stages.”

To get involved join us at

Addleshaw Goddard LLP, 3 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, Leeds LS1 4ER

Wednesday 26th April 2017 08:00-09:30

Click here to book your place