Member Article

True Partners scheme boosts NE construction industry

Rapidly expanding developer, Galliford Try Partnerships North, is signing a deal with eight key partners to support its ambitious growth plans.

The £40 million turnover business expects to double over the next three years and is establishing a True Partners Programme with valued and trusted suppliers to assist.

Although primarily designed to support and grow its local supply chain, the initiative is also expected to provide job creation opportunities among the partners, comprising Owen Pugh Group and Sirius, which provide groundwork services; King Brothers, bricklaying; McNally and Thompson, electrical; Robert Kirkland (Blyth) and Hewitt, mechanical; John N Dunn, mechanical and electrical and Edwards and Bowers, joinery.

The certainty of work provided by the deal should allow each business to take on new staff and potentially create apprenticeships for young people leaving school, college and university.

Stephen McCoy, Managing Director with Galliford Try Partnerships North, said: “Our business has emerged from the recession in good shape and secured many prestigious contracts. We now anticipate a period of excellent growth and to achieve it we will require an efficient chain of suppliers.

“The aim of the True Partners Programme is to work collaboratively with our key supply chain subcontractors to improve business performance for the mutual benefit of our clients, the communities they serve, our business and of course, the suppliers themselves.

“Working with Irene Liddle, a consultant with Building Top Companies, we will disseminate expertise amongst our key supply chain subcontractors via a unique and varied approach. We will support them through business coaching, mentoring and workshops to collaboratively implement business improvement strategies which lead to success for us all.”

This financial year Galliford Try Partnerships North expects to spend around £20m with its suppliers in achieving its £40 million turnover target. Major recent contract wins include Extra Care facilities in Washington, Alnwick and Redcar, where hundreds of new homes will also be constructed.

The programme has received funding from Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Growth Fund and through the CITB network results will be shared with other construction related companies. It will also be a case study within the Galliford Try Group.

Naturally, the selected partners are very enthusiastic about the initiative and look forward to working more closely with Galliford Try. Ian King from King Brothers said: “The construction industry is evolving from a business where buyers chopped and changed suppliers based purely on price to one where quality and value are more appreciated.

“This creates greater certainty of work and in turn, opportunity to invest in improved technology and training, which are translated into better buildings for everyone to enjoy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .