The CSN has a wide variety of projects running continuously covering a whole range of interesting and topical subjects. Find out more by reading on and if you are interested…contact us and get involved! Your contribution however small, will be valued and appreciated.
Construction Target offers a range of information and procurement development services to its members, who are seeking new business opportunities,improve their procurement expertise, wish to develop their supply-chain or want to improve their own ability to respond effectively to tender opportunities within the Construction Sector. Services include access to meet the buyer events, up to date tender opportunites and access (some free) to seminars and workshops aimed to strengthen a businesses offering.
Construction Target also offers a Premier Partner Programme for main contractor to share opportunities, run meet the buyer events as well as offer expertise and advice to smaller organisations wishing to engage with them.
By joining Construction Target you will keep up to date with commercial opportunities in the construction industry through our events, news feeds & the provision of commercial opportunities posted directly on the website.
NU Construction are a SME Main contractor working within all sectors delivering new build and refurbishment projects valued up to £4m. NU decided to find out more about BIM, how it could benefit project delivery and what influence it has directly on the current construction culture.
“From discussions with architects and our clients, we hear the word ‘BIM’ more and more” says Tony Rogan, Managing Director of NU Construction “We realised we needed to be asking questions and particularly what it will mean to us as a SME Main contractor”.
“This is where the uphill struggle started, when digging a little further and asking those questions, we realise there are a number of difficulties we may face.”
“There is extensive information about BIM but the many reports, white papers and opinion polls are broad in their deliberation but limited when it comes to focusing on the benefits and issues we may face as a SME Main contractor.”
With the help of CSN, NU Construction has led the way in the BIM debate within the SME market. “We put together a survey to send out to SME contacts including architects, engineers, surveyors, developers and other construction industry businesses we are in direct contact with.” said Tony, “working together with CSN, we are able to reach an even wider audience helping us take our research one step further.”
The CSN has put the survey live on their website to enable as many businesses as possible to participate allowing the CSN to gain a greater understanding of what the SME market requires. The CSN will collate and report on the findings of the survey and will then work with NU construction, and potentially other partners to identify ways in which the industry can work together to overcome the challenges that the implementation and understanding of BIM may create.
The CSN has already held discussions with a number of businesses already involved with BIM, however these businesses do appear to be larger in size, with individuals or teams dedicated to BIM. Although progress is being made at this level, the CSN recognises the effect this will ultimately have on SME’s and is very keen to begin educating and disseminating information now so as not leave the SME market in the dark until it is too late.
Please help NU Construction and the CSN with their research by participating in the short survey. If you would like to be involved further, please email csnevents@leedsmet.ac.uk and we will ensure that you are kept fully informed of progress made and plans for the future.
A buying alliance can be defined as “Two or more organisations, or groups within organisations, collaborating on certain aspects of their spend in order to generate leverage and better value for money for all.” CIPS definition.
The CSN recognises that in the current climate, cost savings are of vital importance to businesses of all sizes however more so the the SME network. Having already carried out some market research we have established acute interest in developing an approach which brings real cost savings directly to our membership.
The CSN aims to provide tangible benefits to its members by establishing such an alliance that will be free at source, provide access to greater discounts as well as create better service levels through larger inventory provision and recognised status.
The alliance is very much in progress, however should you like to be involved please contact Hannah Oldfield who will be interested to hear from you.
Watch this space for further info!
Green vision is a project which is run collaboratively with the CSN & CKE amongst other partners. Green Vision brings together professional and academic experts from across the built environment, to share best practice and information on low carbon building and property. If you would like to participate in this low carbon initiative, please contact our team to discuss opportunities for your company to be involved.
Green Vision launches their prestigious Autumn Twilight networking series on eco retrofit. Following the success of the Spring Seminar Series, Green Vision has attracted considerable interest as a network for the region to engage Construction and Property professionals to debate discuss and share information on Low Carbon and Energy Efficient property. For more information visit our website.
