Working with the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE), Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has initiated a series of business improvement workshops to meet the Construction Clients’ Group and Strategic Forum for Construction 2012 Construction Commitments. Both seek the early involvement of the supply chains in public sector construction projects.
Paul Hackney, WMCCE Project Co-ordinator says: “We are particularly pleased to have enabled this collaborative project, involving both private and public sector organisations. With the knowledge and skills gained, the participating companies will soon be able to improve their performance and gain more work within the region”.
The Commitments are vital to delivering construction projects on time, safely and within budget. Hence, to help local construction related businesses become preferred suppliers with public-sector clients, the West Midlands Centre WMCCE teamed up with Sandwell Council and Success Train Ltd to deliver training under the Construction Industry Accredited Performance Scheme (CIAPS) Programme.
The Construction Commitments bring together six key areas vital to the delivery of a project:
The benefit of the programme for public clients like Sandwell Council will be a higher contribution to the West Midlands economy by employing more regional suppliers. It will also enable SMEs (small to medium enterprises) to improve their employees’ skills, and provide them with knowledge on how to navigate their way around the complicated process of public procurement.
There has been positive feedback on the course so far from participating companies. Eco Solar after completing a two day listed course said: “great initiative to encourage local trading and really well run and helpful course”. Participants have also appreciated the amount of knowledge they gained, which enabled them to develop their business. Sam Williams from Allround Plumbing said: “the course was informative and gave depth to levels of compliance needed and a wide perspective for forward planning and continuous improvement of the business. It was very well planned and presented”. Dev Masih from JAW Business Solutions added: “Helpful eye opener to review existing practices”.
After completing the course, construction companies will also be featured on the finditinsandwell’s online directory, increasing their chances to sell more products and services to potential buyers.
