How can the industry avoid a race to the bottom?

“The construction industry in the UK has consistently performed in a way that is thought to be wasteful compared to other industries. There is a general impression that it does not deliver good value for its customers.” Those are the opening words of the article discussing the seminal Latham report, from industry resource Designing Buildings (click here for more).

The Latham report concluded that there is no real fix for these problems, other than to encourage long-term, partnership relations between clients and contractors.

The Eden approach

At Eden Facades, more than 70% of our work comes from repeat business. Working with retained clients is important – we know that businesses have a choice when it comes to who they decide to work with – and in continuing to choose us they are also more likely to recommend our services to others.

As we explored in a recent piece, the partnership approach extends to the other half of our relationships – those with our suppliers. “We work with Paul [Michaelson] and the team at Eden Facades a lot – they’re good, they know what they want…Customers like them make it so much easier for us to get it right, quickly”, commented our supply partner Trueline (click here for more).

Over the last few years, 95% of our quotes did not change, other than for variations or extra works, something we couldn’t have accomplished without the stability of long-term supplier relationships. One tip we would urge all prospective clients to follow: it’s vital to send us a clear explanation of the work to be done, including drawings, specifications, requirements and any known constraints.

The benefits of returning to the same subcontractor

Obviously, we want to keep our customers happy, but what does this translate to in terms of value for them? Customers could easily ‘shop about’, but choosing to work with the same subcontractor, and developing good working relationships over time has benefits such as:

• Streamlined processes – experience of working together ensures an understanding of any specific challenges or considerations.
• Strategic alignment – insight into our clients’ broader objectives makes collaborating on projects easier.
• Trust – clients are afforded the peace of mind that all teams working on a project are experienced, knowledgeable and trained to a high standard.
• Agility – a prior understanding of how a client likes to work means we can easily mobilise teams across multiple sites or projects.

What should be considered when choosing a subcontractor?

When it comes to making a decision about a subcontractor, some of the factors to consider might be:

• References – happy customers agree to give testimonials, so good companies have them.
• Finding out how much of a firm’s business comes from regular partners – as Latham saw, working with businesses that consistently deliver to others, is the closest you get to proof that outcomes will be as hoped.
• Be wary of outliers – if one quote is half all the others, question how that could be possible
• Understanding which cost elements are excluded or most likely to change – is the type and quantity of fittings correct, for example, or is this a generic estimate that might turn out to be highly optimistic?

Keeping clients happy

We mentioned testimonials; at Eden Facades we are very proud to have won repeat work from clients including Kier, Darwin Group, RG Carter and United Living, to name a few:

I’ve worked with the team at Eden Facades before and recommended them for this project. They’re very good at what they do and the quality of their work, combined with their experience and willingness to go the extra mile, really sets them apart.

• Mark Rains, Senior Site Manager, United Living

Eden Facades were awarded this contract because the work they have done on similar projects with us has shown they are a trusted partner to deliver to our high standards. The resultant finish at the new Al-Noor Primary school contributes to the modern look of the buildings but in addition, the insulation has ensured that the thermal properties meet standards necessary for a school building. The cladding and render solutions used are both very low maintenance and should also last the school for many years without issues.”

• Andrew Jellett MCIOB, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Kier

Click here for our full testimonials page, and click here to see case studies for recent projects.

Our services include lightweight steel framing and external wall insulation, as well as installation and remediation of rainscreen cladding. To talk to us about a project in any of these areas, please call 01268 744199 or email office@edenfacades.co.uk.