The LCEC Events Blog

Been to the event? / Want to relive the fun or just to find out more? / Or maybe you couldn't make it that evening? - Find the reports here!

Visit our Archive Events Blog for more information! The Archive Events Blog reports events up to July 2013.

13 May 2014 “BIM – does it really do what it says on the tin?” Presented by:Graeme Tappenden, Government BIM Task Group and Martin Quinn – Great Portland Estates

Apparently, it does do what it says on the tin!

We had standing room only at the event at the London Capital Club. We started out with Graeme Tappenden who gave the members and guests an update on the Government BIM strategy and an overview on the Manchester Town Hall refurbishment which used BIM (on a handshake). A number of case studies were developed that evidence that there were programme, cost, coordination, waste, and facilities management savings on the refurbishment. He emphasised that BIM is not just for new builds but for refurbishments too! Government infrastructure projects will also be looking to implement BIM in the future.

Martin Quinn, project manager with Great Portland Estates followed with a presentation on the benefits gained on their first project using BIM – 240 Blackfriars Road.

Key points from tonight’s constructing excellence seminar on BIM:

• BIM de-risks projects resulting in potential savings of up to 5%


• BIM in Life cycle management saves on labour, potential down time and embarrassment


• Martin recommends not to start too early with the BIM model (Stage D) as it puts restrictions on creativity and the design process although setting out the BIM employer requirements should start from inception


• BIM will be required on government funded projects from Jan 2016 - a mere 18 months from now


• European parliament new OJEU rules - are now starting to stipulate BIM requirements on projects. For public works contracts and design contests, Member States may require the use of specific electronic tools, such as of building information electronic modelling tools or similar….”


• Supply chain may need some assistance

The commercial/legal side of BIM has a way to go to catch up – most projects utilising BIM are ‘BIM on a handshake’

So the vote is in – BIM is well and truly here and it does improve programme, cost, coordination and collaboration…in the words of Beth West, Commercial Director, HS2:

“…if you’re not interested in building information modelling then you are probably not going to win any work because we are so keen on working with BIM...”

note: Graeme's presentation is available from the LCEC cloud server link.


8 April 2014 - 'A NEW MODEL FOR COLLABORATION - An Introduction to BS 11000'

With an audience of over fifty people, Paul Greenwood of Greenwood Consultants Limited opened by mentioning that he had been expecting a small techy audience for an interactive session, on what can be a dry subject!So, Paul commenced his presentation by taking the 'partnering temperature' - inviting a show of hands to find out our experience of partnering, from 'charter + traditional contact' through to full-on 'strategic partnering'.  There was a robust majority of attendees with significant experience of the different types of partnering.

Paul reviewed Constructing Excellence's (CE's) approach to collaborative working, introducing 'Constructing the Team' (Latham, 1994) and, he argued, the critical spark of 'Rethinking Construction' (Egan, 1998).  He reprised the Egan 5-4-7 model, proposing that 'partnering' was the enabler of most industry improvements.  He then brought us forward, reviewing 'Collaborative Working: The Principles' (CE, 2011).  He proposed that, despite recent challenges, the principles remain valid.  He highlighted the CE and Housing Forum implementation toolkits that are still available for all to use.

Paul then started the core of his presentation, describing the genesis of BS 11000, from its roots in the early 1990s outsourcing, planted by a DTI/CBI JV, through the development of the CRAFT model, to its specification as PAS 11000, in 2006.  He briefly charted the development of the BS 11000 Standard and Guide, and mentioned that an ISO committee had commenced development of ISO 11001, in March, in London.  He pointed out that the Standard had been applied, successfully, to collaborations with clients, competitors and supply-chains.  He highlighted early adopters in the 'challenging' sector of defence contracting, and its growth into the rail and infrastructure sectors.

Paul continued the core of his presentation, waving the Standard and Guide, and describing, first, BS 11000's three Phases (Strategic, Engagement and Management) and, secondly, its eight Stages (Awareness, Knowledge, Internal Assessment, Partner Selection, Working Together, Value Creation, Staying Together and Exit Strategy).  He warned us that he would not take us into the detail (mentioning a cure for insomnia) but highlight a couple of critical issues, based upon his collaborative experience, in each Stage - often drawing comparisons with the earlier CE approach.  He summarised the Standard's themes as: leadership, clarity of objectives, competence and behaviour, value/risk/knowledge management, governance and exit strategy.

Finally, Paul took us into applying the Standard.  He suggested that most medium/large businesses will already have '9001, '14001 and/or '18001 compliant management systems - so will have many of BS 11000's core processes.  So, instead of developing yet another system from scratch, we should focus on where collaboration could add value, find the gaps between what we do and what is required, and build a business case for investment.  Once authorised, modifications to existing processes and systems can be developed and applied selectively to existing and new projects.  Certification then validates that this works.

Paul drew his presentation to a close, with parallels between the CE and the BS 11000 approaches, highlighting compatibility with modern contract forms, such as the NEC and PPC/TPC family.  He closed with the punch line that "… its about culture and behaviour".

Kathy started and moderated a robust Q&A session, with experienced protagonists, which ranged across: certification (why? what is the benefit? not another tick-box!), through process (what has this got to do with collaboration?) to final consensus on the importance of leadership, cultural and behaviour aspects (its about people!).

Paul's presentation can be downloaded at this link.


11 February 2014 - The Low Carbon Zone, Peckham - Presented by Oliver Schneider

What an enjoyable presentation by a construction professional, whose community engagement ensured this project proceeded and succeeded!

February Event

Oliver Schneider from The Facility described how their key aim is to take residents out of poverty.  The 143 homes of the ‘Low Carbon Zone’ is made up of streets of pre-war terraces, with a mixture of social, affordable and private housing. The scheme was judged a success not only in carbon reduction, but also improvements in the social and economic sustainability aspects of the area. We can truly see why the project won the 2013 South East Constructing Excellence Awards in for both “Performance in Use” and “Sustainability” categories.

Following a dynamic Q&A, people could stick around to enjoy a glass of wine and some networking, thanks to the tube strike being called off!

LCEC AGM 23 January 2014 – What is Constructing Excellence and what will define it in the Future?

We were delighted to have over 90 guests with us tonight to hear our expert panel of speakers discuss just What is Constructing Excellence and what should it look like in 10 years’ time?

David Churcher and Paolo Boccacci

welcoming guests

Our panel included Russell Durling, Senior Project Manager for Derwent London, Calvin Coughlan, Capital & Asset Manager for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Julian Robinson, Director of Estates for the London School of Economics and Martin Ball, undergraduate programme leader for construction courses at the University of Westminster.

Russell kicked the evening off with his view that Constructing Excellence starts with Design Excellence and the approach of getting it right first time.

Design excellence starts with the building being designed to be fit for purpose now but with future flexibility with a view to the future use – a sustainable building and a profitable asset.

Russell felt that a major blocker to the industry achieving true excellence was the shortage of skills and the boom bust cycle of students not choosing construction in bust years and not enough trainees or apprenticeships during difficult years.

Panel Discussion

Calvin then spoke about what clients in the public sector consider Constructing Excellence: Items such as flexibly designed buildings that can accommodate current and future needs; protecting the environment; engaging with and protecting the local community and improving the prosperity of the area in which you are building. He felt that in 10 years’ time – Constructing Excellence needs to find a way to build more on less land.

Julian Robinson felt that Constructing Excellence begins with client excellence. A clear brief, right design team and an outcome driven approach. He said that realistic timescales should be given to ensure a proper completion, handover and commissioning is undertaken. Other areas that lead to excellence include post occupancy evaluations, payment of contractors and sub contractors on time, complete snagging, coordination of the design and an approach from the start of the target building performance in use eg EPC and DEC rating target rather than BREEAM.

Networking after the Event

Martin Ball wrapped up by stating that they are educating students to understand the needs of the client and that not all clients are alike so require a different approach. He also felt that Constructing Excellence is about a holistic approach; integrated teams; designing for performance in use and future/re-use of assets; and that an intelligent client is essential.

December 12 - Wine Tasting at the London Capital Club
Julia Trustram Eve entertained, educated and embellished every conceivable attribute of a humble bottle of wine at the Festive LCEC event at London Capital Club on Thursday 12th December.

We all experienced a blind date with several bottles of wine, most being compared to their English counterparts. We even discovered that as far north as Yorkshire there are now six vineyards producing wine. Grape varieties, wine regions and a quick tour of supermarket shelves brought out some incredibly quaffable refreshment. Whilst we were encouraged to use our noses and tongues to savour those hints of oak, blackberry and….nettle, Julia described how music of the right variety brings out the best in the human-to-wine explosion of taste. Perhaps next year a quartet quietly playing in one corner and a heavy metal band in the other will charge our perceptions with new dimensions of wine connoisseur learning?

November 12 - The New RIBA Plan of Work 2013 - Presented by Dale Sinclair

Nearly 80 attended LCEC’s November event at the Capital Club to hear Dale Sinclair present the new RIBA Plan of Work 2013. The new Plan was launched earlier this year and Dale, Director at Dyer Associates, was chairman of the drafting committee. We heard about the fundamental review undertaken and the key strategies behind the new drafting. Dale took us through the “Who What How and When” of the document, leaving us all more aware, but realising we must take time individually to get to grips with the detail.

There are some impressive statistics on market penetration and downloads and the AJ has recently published a survey on take-up which suggests awareness is good and growing. Some attendees in the room were waving copies of recently obtained copies of the various documentation.

Dale rounded off by stating that the work so far is only the ‘beginning’ and that there is still much further work to do with other Institutes and Industry organisations. Eleven ‘books’ are being published in 2014 to complement the work to date. A lively Q and A ensued followed by extended networking over a glass of wine.

A copy of the slides can be downloaded here.


October 8 - The New CDM Regulations – What it Means to You - Presented by Philip Baker

Philip set off at a cracking pace to an audience 61 keen CDM aficionados. We were quickly reminded of the 20+ years of CDM and their obvious effect to reduce the incident of fatalities on UK construction sites. This is something antipodean to our European compatriots as their lack of ‘regulation’ tends towards an increase in construction accidents.

We were reminded of that easy – to - say, but difficult – to – enact phrase of ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ (SFARP). This then seemed to escape the current legislative’s process mind and the tampering looks like confusing even Mrs Scoggins and her neighbours as she dons a hard hat and stage manages the installation of her dream (or nightmare) new, bathroom suite.

Even Mr Cameron’s review of an Early Day Motion in 2010 re CDM has failed the SFARP test by wrapping up the process in more red tape.

So what of the changes – yet to be published? Perhaps the chilling thought of a European imposed fine of Euros 300,000 per day for infraction might persuade not only main contractors, but also the SMEs (and Mrs Scoggins) to pay attention to the new rules. Those contractors who hitch their horses to Mrs Scoggins fence will only be able to tick the box for a green initiative – at least her rhubarb will benefit from the outcome.

The HSE will be tasked with handing out more notifications (SFARP) and the existing acronym of ACoP will die. Who they hand them to is maybe still part of the debate e.g. client, Lead Designer, Project Manager or even the CDMC. At least the F10’s will get a good run (for someone’s money) as more jobs/contracts will be deemed to be notifiable.

Philip certainly led us to a conclusion that we need to keep looking at CDM as the timescales are slipping and the 2015 general election could be a milestone along the way to influence the critical path of this change in legislation.

A lively Q&A session followed and Philip almost had to defer to his arbitration skills as member of LCEC began to surmise their role as the professional to lead or dodge the CDM responsibilities.

Click here for the Event Flyer

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October 2 - Visit to Canary Wharf Crossrail station 23 members of LCEC enjoyed a fascinating visit to the site of the new Canary Wharf Crossrail station on Wednesday (2nd October). Following a brief introduction to the project and the story of the rapid development of ‘The Wharf’ since 1987, everybody donned PPE and set out across the site. The structural timber roof was admired from close quarters just as the sun was setting before the group descended to ‘B6’ via multiple flights of temporary staircase. The afterhours peace of the platform level was dramatically interrupted by the slow passing - on the far side of hoardings - of a service train heading towards the tunnelling machines which are currently driving westwards towards Whitechapel.

The sheer scale of the enterprise had all the visitors marvelling and questions for the hosts from CWC ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. Everyone was delighted to hear that Oyster cards will be valid on Crossrail whilst attempting to grasp that it will be another 5 years before the service is operational. Meanwhile CWC have decided to press on with their elements of the development and the first retail units are expected to be open to the public in Spring 2015.

Following the site tour the attendees were treated to some refreshments in Browns kindly laid on by CWC to round off the evening with the Club’s usual socialising and networking. Our thanks to CWC. Don’t miss the next site visit, coming soon!!

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September 10 - TfL Upgrading the commercial properties
Over 60 attended a memorable evening at the Capital Club on 10th September. A full house was enthralled by an excellent presentation from Graeme Craig of TfL who explained the enormous task that faces the team working on the upgrading of the station environments across their transport network.

Illustrated with photographs of such gems as the platforms at Piccadilly Circus, the booking hall and retail units at Old Street, and signage at the Embankment Pier, Graeme explained how TfL is working to exploit the network’s myriad opportunities for a stepchange in the environment experienced by the millions who travel in London daily.

TfL raises £3.4bn of non-fares revenues per annum and is looking to significantly increase this through improved retail opportunities at Stations and the re-development of many of their existing and redundant sites adjacent to stations and tracks. Graeme advised that a long list of significant opportunities had been identified and his current task is to establish the top 60 for short and medium term development.

A lively Q and A session followed the presentation following which members enjoyed a convivial networking hour with a glass of wine or two.