Frameworks for the win

The importance of public sector frameworks to construction contractors is clear to see as we look to the future. But following a turbulent year and an uncertain future for public sector procurement in construction, we need to ring the changes that will smooth the path ahead. 

There is some good news for the future of construction contracts ahead of Britain’s exit from the EU as the National Association of Construction Frameworks forecast an annual capital spend increase from ￡52.3bn to ￡74.2bn in 2021.

Funding aside, meeting the needs of tomorrow means building resilience and flexibility in to the way we work. Contractors should work harder to leverage technology and data for better insights and blend best practice with innovative solutions to ensure long-term benefit.

Frameworks will develop a deeper meaning, facilitating long term relationships between clients, professionals and contractors, all formed around shared objectives and common values. This will see us working as an integrated team, incentivised by collaboration, learning and improvement. The result? Less waste, less duplication, more local engagement and greater efficiency.

The launch of the Institution of Civil Engineer’s Project 13 this year is a sign that improvement of infrastructure delivery models for clients, suppliers and operators is a priority for the engineering sector. And the recent government announcement of an industry consultation on standardisation of components on centrally procured contracts clearly points to the ambition to drive this approach forward in 2019. But it is contractors, not government that will impact and ultimately deliver this.

In the next few years we should see the construction industry come together to spearhead a new, pioneering pre-construction process, which ensures high-quality components are standardised across all public projects. Moreover, when contractors combine this approach with measurable social value impact initiatives and collaborative planning, it will demonstrate a new way of delivering the vital infrastructure we need to support the aspirations of businesses and our local communities.