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Partnering will become the commitment Partnering between clients and contractors is expected to increase significantly over the next two years, according to a new survey by CBI unit Partnership Sourcing.

The snap mini-survey was sent out to 400 UK companies in all industries and asked to what extent firms had introduced partnership sourcing - over 50% of both purchasers and suppliers claimed they had now introduced the concept.

Construction is one of the leading industries in switching to partnerships. A leading contractor said this week that in the construction sector clients such as Whitbread, Rover, Sainsbury, BAA, Norwich Union and Safeway are looking into partnering as the way forward. Partnering gives the client certainty in that he generally gets a guaranteed maximum price, the contractor's profit margin is known and the chances of confrontation and claims are greatly reduced.

Peter Popper, deputy md of Higgs & Hill, said: 'There are three elements driving partnering forward. The Latham report has given a boost to partnering and there is a greater awareness among clients that if they get the contractor on board early it can add to the value of his project.

'There is also an awareness of the abortive costs of going out to tender and having to create a new team each time. Rolling over good teams helps clients, especially if the projects have some continuity of design. Finally, if the projects are similar the previous project becomes a benchmark for the next one which helps the client.' by JAMES ATKINSON