The Egan Report entitled 'Rethinking Construction' was published in 1998 and contained the recommendations from the taskforce set up by the ODPM to assess the efficiency of the construction industry.
The main conclusions of the report were that certain areas , particularly those of cost, quality and time needed a different approach if clients needs and aspirations were to be achieved. The report also suggested that traditional ways of doing business were too restrictive and confrontational.
Rethinking Construction has therefore became the banner under which working practices have gradually changed along with culture.
R J Leighfield has embraced the Egan principles and found through working closely with clients on a partnered basis that cost savings are achieved and customer satisfaction is improved.
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By removing the barriers that traditional methods contained and by creating a partnership based on trust and respect, the team approach can deliver:
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The central theme of successful partnering is undoubtedly teamwork. By bringing clients, contractors and suppliers together to work as a team to plan and resolve problems, the blame and claim culture of traditional contracts is avoided and the time and cost savings are immense.
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The company has always used a partnering approach to its supply chain and therefore has a strong relationship with its key suppliers. By integrating them into projects at an early stage, issues relating to design, programme, quality, risk and safety can all be evaluated thereby improving delivery, reducing costs and improving safety.
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The public sector is under sustained pressure from government to improve its delivery and provide best value at all times. There are numerous government backed schemes and initiatives that have been created since the Egan Report and they all contain some or all of the Rethinking Construction principles.
The Local Government Task Force, the Beacon Scheme and the Housing Corporation all promote the partnering
approach. R J Leighfield has a long list of public sector clients where the company has carried out repeat business due largely to its performance, quality and value.
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Constructing Excellence promotes Frameworks as a means of procuring products and services over a period of time by creating long term relationships with suppliers which in turn provides better value year on year. The company has extensive framework experience and understands that only by building relationships based on respect and trust can the framework be a success.
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R J Leighfield enjoys working in the partnering environment and
foresees more and more public sector procurement being carried out under long term framework agreements. The company aims to provide frameworks with:
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Level of customer satisfaction previously unknown
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Right first time becomes the new standard
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Unit costs lower than any other contractor
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An overall service better than they have ever received before
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