Why do people doubt the arguments in favour of collaborative working? Apparently it is lack of evidence – there is no proof. But that’s wrong. There is plenty of evidence that collaborative working is delivering excellent results for Wales. 

Let’s ask another question. Why does the Welsh Government back the concept of collaborative procurement? Why? Because our studies of best practice show that collaborative working, early team integration, a focus on quality and the involvement of the end user are all essential elements in delivering value. Indeed, the argument follows that it’s only by taking a longer term and holistic approach that Government policies and targets to reduce construction waste, increase community benefits and increase value for investment in construction can be achieved.

Collaborative working is also good for business and communities. 

Clients have a key role in this. By working with their supply chain through their Designed for Life framework NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership have reduced capital costs, shortened delivery times, increased cost and time certainty, reduced accidents and defects, increased sustainability ratings and increased the use of local suppliers. That’s a pretty impressive record achieved through sensible procurement and collaborative behaviours. 

In terms of supply chains consider the work done by Leadbitter at Newport High School in 2009 compared with its 2012 award winning work in Llanwern School. Both projects were outstanding examples of waste management but through collaboration the teams involved continued to innovate and were able to increase their diversion of waste from landfill rates to almost 100% over the two projects.  Even as we speak the delivery team are employing the same principles at Gateway to the Valleys School with Bridgend CBC. As part of CEW’s Exemplar programme this project is pushing the boundaries even more strongly.

The Blaenavon Community Campus project developed as a part of a partnership framework over the past seven years between Torfaen CBC and Kier Wales is a great example of how trust developed between the client and supplier through their long term team relationship. Before the relationship started typically less than 50% of construction investment was spent locally, by 2012 it was 87%. The climax of the framework was the completion of the 450 pupil primary school – finished early, in budget, with zero accidents, up-skilling of 34 local people and for every £1 spent on the project £1.84 was generated locally. 

It is unlikely such results could have been achieved any other way than via collaborative working. So, we want to put the argument to bed, once and for all. 

We have the evidence and over the next few weeks and months we will make every effort to remind everyone in property and construction that collaborative working is the route to delivering a first class Welsh built environment.



Newport High