Len Bunton discuss why good preparation is key to success

If you want to avoid problems with clients, there are a few simple rules you should follow that will help things to run smoothly ... Get things sorted before you begin

POSITIVE PLEDGE

I’m extremely pleased to see that leading Scottish services business James Frew Ltd has signed the Conflict Avoidance Pledge.

I was impressed by the willingness of the company’s senior management team to understand how the CAP operates and hopefully they have set the standards for others to follow.

LEN BUNTON

FRICS FCIArb, HON FRIAS Contract Expert

KING’S College London has just published a report called 2022 Construction Adjudication in the United Kingdom: Tracing trends and guiding reform, which is a very good snapshot of current trends. Some key outcomes of the report are: • There were 1,903 adjudication referrals between May 2021 and April 2022, meaning a total of 3,806 organisations were in dispute during that period • There are currently 541 registered adjudicators in the UK • The most common value of disputes was in the range of £125,000 and £500,000 • The pandemic made no difference to the number of disputes • Adjudicators’ fees ranged from £8,000 to £23,000. The survey also identified 29 different causes of disputes, including inadequate contract administration, client changes, exaggerated claims, lack of competence of “THE RECENT project participants, PUBLICATION OF THE adversarial culture, CONSTRUCTION ACCORD unclear risk allocation IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT and inadequate contract DIRECTION, WITH THE documentation. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Other causes SETTING OUT ITS WISH- included inadequate LIST TO IMPROVE THE design documentation, SECTOR IN A NUMBER unrealistic cost targets, OF KEY AREAS” poor communications,

STEPS TO SUCCESS

As I mentioned in my last column, the recent publication of the Construction Accord is a step in the right direction, with the Scottish Government setting out its wish-list to improve the sector in a number of key areas.

However, this is only the first step and the real work will start with the rollout of Stage 2 – the Transformation Plan – which is the practical part of the Accord that will outline how to actually deliver major change. No doubt SELECT will be heavily involved but it’s also an opportunity for all electrical businesses everywhere to get involved and make a difference, so take the opportunity when it comes! unrealistic tender pricing, inappropriate payment mechanisms and lack of information from the client.

So what is my takeaway for SELECT Members? Simple – get things sorted out before you start on site!

As I’ve stressed in previous articles, stick to these mantras and you can’t go far wrong: • If you buy work, you buy trouble • Only work for good honest clients/customers • Be more efficient in managing your operatives • Be more alert to the financial aspects of projects • Use the Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP) to allow early intervention into issues on site, and get them resolved.

A copy of the report can be downloaded at bit.ly/kc-reportand is well worth a read.

AND FINALLY…

Thank you to everyone who has sent kind wishes and congratulations for my recent SELECT Lifetime Achievement Award. I have been truly humbled at the level of support and goodwill, which only goes to show what a great industry we work in. Merry Christmas to you all!