The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is on the lookout for pilot projects to share £3m of funding to improve approaches to procurement in infrastructure
Through the Improving Performance Through Better Procurement Approaches, CITB is looking to fund projects that explore new approaches to procurement in infrastructure that can increase performance, such as collaborative working through supply chains, to create training solutions that can benefit construction as a whole.
Research undertaken by the Institute of Civil Engineers in 2017 identified that current procurement approaches can hinder productivity, be wasteful, perform poorly and fail to use technologies that benefit other sectors.
Proposals are being sought from:
- Levy-registered employers seeking to improve project performance;
- Federations and/or trade associations;
- Construction clients or procurement framework leaders who want to support supply partners;
- Training providers or consultancies working in construction.
CITB director of strategy and policy, Steve Radley, said: “While other sectors have seen increases in productivity in recent decades, construction has lagged behind with weak approaches to procurement playing a key role.
“We want to explore new and more collaborative ways of working that can improve supply chain relationships within procured projects, meaning more housing and infrastructure delivered on time and on budget to the benefit of clients and the construction industry alike.”
Projects can last up to three years in duration. The deadline for expressions of interest is 10 June, while applications must be submitted by 24 June.
