More teamwork required

The industry's attempts to integrate project teams and supply chains have been criticized in a new report from Constructing Excellence.

Back in 2002 Sir John Egan said 20% of projects should be undertaken by integrated teams by the end of 2004, rising to 50% by end-2007. But Constructing Excellence's integration task group report found that integrated teams were used on just 13% of projects in 2004, rising to only 20% in 2007, reported Building magazine.

In related news, construction minister Baroness Vadera has promised to sign up Whitehall to the best practice charter originally drawn up for the 2012 Olympics.

Aiming to show the industry how relations between clients and contractors can be improved and how it can help project delivery, Vadera, the seventh construction minister in as many years, said she hoped to get all spending ministries to commit to using the charter on all projects by June 11. 'Following a specific strategy and targets like this will help create an integrated team. I will ensure all government procurement is done in this way,' Building quoted her as saying.