It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Mark Johnston, director at Cube Construction Consultants.
2021 has seen significant pressures on the construction market, not only resource availability but also extended lead times and challenging working practices. Let’s take the positives, it is a credit to the industry that all those involved found solutions quickly by adapting standard practices. Many of our clients have implemented procurement initiatives, adopted alternative site set ups and logistics plans and have embraced the need for clear process in detailed bid and project planning.
Being adaptable is key, a collective approach by project teams to mitigating risk is vital to successful tendering and project completions. Just this year, we have seen a significant increase in take up of our Project Health Checks which provide an independent strategic review, identifying what could be better, what’s gone well and what the action plan needs to be for assurance of project completion. Proactive management provides the platform to gather performance data over multiple projects. It allows for lessons to be learnt, structured forward planning implementation and staff mentoring and development.
Digital transformation is now very real and not only for national contractors. Simple software solutions are having a massive effect on project communications, collaboration, accountability and information accessibility. They are providing real time data that can improve outcomes and, more importantly, information to analyse business risk and opportunity. They will play a huge part in contractors making the most of the significant opportunities now in the market. Our view is simple…keep it simple, focus on the fundamentals of what gives your projects every opportunity to succeed. Clear procurement plan, solid project programme, accurate monitoring and reporting and an open relationship with your supply chain to benefit from collaboration.
