All Building articles in 50 Top Clients February 2003

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  • Features

    Whitbread

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyStrategic partnering is the main procurement route used by Whitbread, including for its hotels, Brewers Fayre and Costa operations. Design-and-build contracts are also used occasionally.Current and future projectsWhitbread's transformation from a brewing and leisure conglomerate into a pure leisure and hotel group is proving successful. While the Marriott/Swallow hotel ...

  • Features

    United Utilities

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyEngineering services are provided by Montgomery Watson Harza, which liaises with the company's Process Design Group to help ensure that signature design and asset standardisation is obtained. To rationalise the supply chain of strategic equipment, the water company has entered into 42 term contracts for the design, supply and ...

  • Features

    Transco

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyLike all utility companies, Transco is covered by European Union regulations in terms of its capital purchasing. For example, all major contracts are advertised in the EU's Official Journal.The company uses a range of contracts, framework agreements, call-off contracts, turnkey contracts and competitive tendering. For example, contracts for new ...

  • Features

    Thames Water Utilities

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyFollowing publication of its forward works programme in the EU's Official Journal, Thames Water has approved 24 contractors and 10 consultants to help it deliver its capital works programme. These alliance contracts will run for three years, with an option to extend for two. From this list, three alliances ...

  • Features

    Tesco

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyThe bulk of Tesco's UK capital programme is let under partnership arrangements, with 10-15% let using other forms of contract.Most major developments, such as new stores and major extensions and refits, are carried out by nine contractors. These comprise national as well as large regional players and include Bowmer ...

  • Features

    Somerfield

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policySomerfield has a small number of contractors with which it works through a partnering arrangement.Current and future projectsSomerfield entered the third year of its five-year recovery programme in early 2002. Although sales growth by the group was regarded as disappointing, capital expenditure increased to almost £120m, with the group ...

  • Features

    Severn Trent Water

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyLike all utility companies, Severn Trent has to meet European Union requirements when it letting contracts. This means all major contracts have to be advertised in the EU's Official Journal.In terms of new work, the company has four lists of approved suppliers covering process contracts. These cover clean and ...

  • Features

    Wessex Water Services

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyWessex Water has set up a partnership with Montgomery Watson Harza, called MWH Wessex. This will be responsible for delivering about £390m of investment in water and sewerage improvements over the three-year period to March 2005. Wessex Water holds 51% of this joint venture.MWH Wessex has entered into alliances ...

  • Features

    ProLogis

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyProLogis selects contractors from a prequalified list to bid on a competitive tendering basis against a set of specifications and drawings. Occasionally it will negotiate directly with suppliers. The company's preferred contractors include Fitzpatrick, McNicholas, Sisk, Ashford, Norwest Holst, Clegg, Weldon, Winvic and Birse.Much effort is invested in managing ...

  • Features

    Powergen

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyPowergen's Generation business procures most of its major construction activities either by a turnkey or a multicontract approach, depending on marketplace, supplier capability and appetite for risk. Both are pursued through competitive tendering, used to establish a preferred development partner.East Midlands Electricity has adopted a competitive tender approach for ...

  • Features

    Northumbrian Water

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyIn September 2002, Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water appointed Atkins Faithful & Gould and EC Harris as strategic partners to help manage its near £1bn improvement programme. This three-year partnership, which may be extended by two years, will provide cost management, project management and performance management support ...

  • Features

    Network Rail

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyNetwork Rail's maintenance programme is let under a series of term maintenance contracts covering track and infrastructure work. These were let initially as separate contracts, but the company has been looking to reduce this number by awarding contracts covering both types of work. The company is holding discussions about ...

  • Features

    Morrisons

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyThe company does not publicise its procurement programme.Current and future projectsWilliam Morrisons Supermarkets has a very active new store opening programme. For example, it opened its third store in the South-east in Grays in May 2002; its King's Lynn store opened in August 2002; and its third London store ...

  • Features

    Where the smart money is

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    The second issue of the 50 Top Clients review brings together key information on the UK construction industry's major clients – those firms that invest large sums on a regular basis

  • Features

    MEPC

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyMEPC uses the procurement route best suited to the needs of a project. For schemes that are well defined, it uses negotiated, lump-sum, design-and-build contracts. This route is taken for the vast majority of its work.For projects that are more difficult to define, and where there is a need ...

  • Features

    Marks & Spencer

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyMarks & Spencer uses a list of preferred contractors for its construction programme. The list consists of about 30 firms that have pre-qualified based on, among other factors, their health and safety records, financial standing and experience of similar work. As projects arise, they are put out to tender ...

  • Features

    London Underground

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyThe public-private partnership contract between Tube Lines and London Underground has finally been signed after considerable delay, so the consortium will take over Infraco JNP, giving it responsibility for the procurement of new work and the maintenance of the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines. Metronet, the consortium that will ...

  • Features

    Transport for London

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyIn terms of roads construction, London is split into five areas managed by three stewards – WSP and Parkman each manage two areas, and the London Borough of Camden manages one. Routine work in these five areas has been let under five-year term contracts, which run to 2007. The ...

  • Features

    Land Securities

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyLand Securities works with a number of consultants, main contractors and subcontractors. Selection is dependent upon the size, value, complexity and location of the scheme. Over the years, Land Securities has built up a working relationship with several organisations that are employed on a regular basis. The procurement strategy ...

  • Features

    Kingfisher

    2003-02-28T00:00:00Z

    Procurement policyKingfisher procures construction work through Chartwell Land, the group's specialist retail property division, or directly as in the case of B&Q. Almost all work is procured by competitive tender.Current and future projectsAs of end of 2001, the restructured Kingfisher Group comprised just B&Q and Comet, the number one in ...