This goal has been identified as a focus for the future of UK construction by The Construction Innovation Hub, and the application of a Platform approach is discussed within the.
It means smaller suppliers, to whom cashflow is critical, operate in a state of uncertainty and ‘financial distress’.Late payment is, unsurprisingly, one of the key triggers of insolvency..
Even way back in 2013, the Government’s ‘Construction 2025’ vision proposed that construction should no longer be characterised by ‘late delivery, cost overruns, commercial friction, late payment’.While this has been partly addressed through legislation such as the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and the Prompt Payment Code, it is still a problem.. A digital marketplace would help make payments more timely – in some cases even instant.It would also make the construction procurement process more transparent and give suppliers greater certainty of cash flow.. Thirdly: procurement is another significant cause of ‘friction’ in projects, as noted in Construction 2025.
The process of arranging and issuing tender documentation and requests for proposals, scoring them and awarding contracts, is very time-consuming and labour-intensive.Projects very often require a complex network of contracts to ensure that the main contract clauses are passed down through the supply chain, resulting in management overhead on overhead being passed back up to the client.. For these reasons, the Construction Playbook notes that:.
To support the growth and inclusion of more SMEs in the delivery of public works projects, we need greater visibility of the public spending flowing down the supply chain.
Suppliers should invest in automated, digital payment and contracting systems and processes.By fostering collaboration, communication, and empathy, architects can better understand client and community needs, ultimately producing more thoughtful and impactful designs.. 4.
Balancing tradition and technology.Satwinder underscores the importance of a balanced approach to design tools, combining physical models, sketches, and cutting-edge digital techniques.
While digital visualisation offers incredible speed and detail, it is crucial to ensure early-stage designs remain flexible and collaborative, rather than overly polished.. 5.Rethinking architectural education.