Strategic Forum for Construction
Encyclopedia
The Strategic Forum for Construction is a United Kingdom
construction industry organisation established in 2001 as the principle point of liaison between UK government and the major construction membership organisations. It also enables different representatives of the UK industry to discuss strategic issues facing construction and to develop joint strategies for industry improvement.
) and the Construction Task Force, established by the then Deputy Prime Minister
John Prescott
in 1997. Parts of the construction industry had withdrawn support for the Construction Industry Board, so construction minister Nick Raynsford
MP established it initially as a Government-funded body. The Task Force had produced the 1998 Egan Report
, and Sir John Egan
was appointed the Forum's first chairman.
In 2002, the Construction Industry Council
, with backing from other umbrella bodies and Raynsford's successor as construction minister, Brian Wilson MP, changed the Forum to an independent industry group; Peter Rogers of property developer Stanhope plc succeeded Egan as chairman, serving until 2006. The current chair, appointed July 2010, is Professor Peter Woolliscroft.
In September 2002, the Strategic Forum published Accelerating Change. This set a headline target that 50% of projects should be undertaken by integrated teams and supply chain
s by 2007 (progress was made, but the target was not achieved).
As appropriate the Forum works with other bodies including Constructing Excellence
(which also provides administrative support to the Construction Clients' Group) and ConstructionSkills.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
construction industry organisation established in 2001 as the principle point of liaison between UK government and the major construction membership organisations. It also enables different representatives of the UK industry to discuss strategic issues facing construction and to develop joint strategies for industry improvement.
History
The Strategic Forum was established by ministers in 2001 as a successor to the Construction Industry Board (established following a recommendation in the 1994 Latham ReportLatham Report
The Latham Report, titled Constructing the Team, was an influential report written by Sir Michael Latham, published in July 1994. Latham was commissioned by the United Kingdom government and industry organisations to review procurement and contractual arrangements in the UK construction industry,...
) and the Construction Task Force, established by the then Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a senior member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices...
John Prescott
John Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
in 1997. Parts of the construction industry had withdrawn support for the Construction Industry Board, so construction minister Nick Raynsford
Nick Raynsford
Wyvill Richard Nicolls Raynsford , known as Nick Raynsford, is a British Labour Party politician. A government minister from 1997 to 2005, he has been the Member of Parliament for Greenwich & Woolwich since 1997, having previously been MP for Greenwich from 1992 to 1997, and for Fulham from 1986...
MP established it initially as a Government-funded body. The Task Force had produced the 1998 Egan Report
Egan Report
The Egan Report, titled Rethinking Construction, was an influential report on the UK construction industry produced by an industry task force chaired by Sir John Egan, published in November 1998...
, and Sir John Egan
John Egan (industrialist)
Sir John Egan is a notable British industrialist, associated with businesses in the automotive, airports, construction and water industries. He was chief executive of Jaguar Cars from 1984 to 1990, and then served as chief executive of BAA from 1990 to 1999...
was appointed the Forum's first chairman.
In 2002, the Construction Industry Council
Construction Industry Council
The Construction Industry Council is the representative body for the professional bodies, research organizations and specialist business associations in the construction industry in the United Kingdom...
, with backing from other umbrella bodies and Raynsford's successor as construction minister, Brian Wilson MP, changed the Forum to an independent industry group; Peter Rogers of property developer Stanhope plc succeeded Egan as chairman, serving until 2006. The current chair, appointed July 2010, is Professor Peter Woolliscroft.
In September 2002, the Strategic Forum published Accelerating Change. This set a headline target that 50% of projects should be undertaken by integrated teams and supply chain
Supply chain
A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to...
s by 2007 (progress was made, but the target was not achieved).
Structure
The Strategic Forum has six key sector representatives, each looking after the interests of a particular sector:- industry clients (represented by the Construction Clients' GroupConstruction Clients' GroupThe Construction Clients' Group is a United Kingdom construction organisation representing major clients of the construction industry. It represents the views of clients to the Strategic Forum for Construction....
, which includes public and private sector organisations, including Defence EstatesDefence EstatesDefence Infrastructure Organisation is an operating arm of the Ministry of Defence , in the United Kingdom, which is responsible for the built and rural estate. The organisation formed on 1 April 2011 after a reorganisation of the Ministry of Defence's bodies in charge of infrastructure. It...
, the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, BAABAABAA may stand for:*Batting average against in Major League Baseball*BAA Ground, a now defunct cricket venue in Rangoon, Burma*BAA Limited Ferrovial, formerly BAA plc, originally known as the British Airports Authority...
and Royal MailRoyal MailRoyal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
, responsible for significant annual investment in construction projects) - professionals (Construction Industry CouncilConstruction Industry CouncilThe Construction Industry Council is the representative body for the professional bodies, research organizations and specialist business associations in the construction industry in the United Kingdom...
- this presents the views of professional membership organisations, research institutions and specialist construction business associations, collectively comprising over 350,000 professionals and around 25,000 construction consultancy firms) - contractors (UK Contractors GroupUK Contractors GroupThe UK Contractors Group is the main association for UK construction contractors. Established in January 2009, it succeeded the Major Contractors Group and the National Contractors Federation which had until that point represented the views of the leading UK contractors.Its members include Balfour...
and the Construction AllianceConstruction AllianceThe Construction Alliance is a United Kingdom construction organisation representing over 13,500 individual companies, mainly local and regional building firms, involved in the UK construction industry....
- UKCG members collectively account for about 30% of total industry output - while the Alliance represents over 13,500 firms, mainly SME contractors) - specialist contractors (National Specialist Contractors CouncilNational Specialist Contractors CouncilThe National Specialist Contractors' Council is a United Kingdom construction organisation comprising 32 specialist trade associations representing companies involved in planning, design, construction, refurbishment and maintenance of the built environment.-Members:*Association of Concrete...
and Specialist Engineering Contractors GroupSpecialist Engineering Contractors GroupThe Specialist Engineering Contractors Group is a United Kingdom construction industry organisation, currently representing six specialist engineering membership associations...
- the NSCC presents the views of 32 specialist trade organisations, while the six main umbrella organisations in the SECG represent 60,000 companies, mostly SMEs) - product suppliers and manufacturers (Construction Products AssociationConstruction Products AssociationThe Construction Products Association represents 85% by value, of all manufacturers and suppliers of construction products in the UK including the largest companies in the industry, as well as 43 sector trade associations representing around 30,000 companies across product manufacturing.-History:It...
- the CPA represents 85% by value, of all UK manufacturers and suppliers of construction products, and covers 43 sector trade associations) - site workers (trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s, represented by UCATT)
Activities
The Strategic Forum seeks to promote and to monitor industry progress on six key areas (described in its Construction Commitments):- Procurement and integration
- Commitment to people
- Client leadership
- SustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
- Design quality
- Health and safety
As appropriate the Forum works with other bodies including Constructing Excellence
Constructing Excellence
Constructing Excellence is a UK-based construction industry membership organisation. In the UK, it is unique insofar as its member organisations are drawn from across the industry supply chain, ranging from clients, through contractors and consultants, to suppliers and manufacturers of building...
(which also provides administrative support to the Construction Clients' Group) and ConstructionSkills.