“We have to get better”

The case that the construction industry needs to look beyond the short-term was made passionately at our Blue Light Estates Development Conference by Jason Hallas – Corporate Partner and Regional Framework Manager at Willmott Dixon.

Hallas expressed the notion that this attitude had bred a culture which is slow to embrace new innovations, he said: “About modular construction and off-site building, I get the impression that customers don’t feel like the construction industry is responding fast enough to these new technologies.” [emaillocker id=”71749″]

The constant need to bid for new work was cited as a major cause of the entrenchment of this mentality within firms and the lack of a secure pipeline of work causing a sense of cautiousness within firms: “If we move from a finite mindset to an infinite mindset, it will generate trust, it will generate creativity and innovation will come out.”

Hallas suggested this mindset estranged firms from clients, who often have needs suiting a more long-term mindset: “I see customers I work with in the blue light sector as being infinite players, their world is always changing.” 

He praised the framework method of procurement, a form of procurement where a list of preferred providers is used instead of an open bid process for projects to allow for a pipeline of work to be provided. He cited the fact that 85% of Wilmott Dixon’s work is done through this process. However, he acknowledged that “there’s a place for every procurement route at the start of the project.”

A major shake-up in the mindsets of the construction industry is needed to create the innovation that firms need to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. A short-term mindset will ultimately only be enough for the short-term. [/emaillocker]