Constructionline: 'Expensive but worthwhile'

The £1,000 that Ashe Construction pays to be included on the Constructionline database is "expensive," says marketing manager Andrew Morris.

However, he sees the money as being well spent because it reduces the volume of clients' questionnaires.

Constructionline has not yet established universal acceptance and still faces competition from as many as 15 rival databases. Having more than one such information database would be expensive and unnecessary, says Morris.

"A lot of local authorities have stopped their own list of contractors and now use Constructionline," Morris noted: "Though I still find some local authorities have never heard of it until I mention it to them.

"I think it is the way forward - it avoids the need for a multiplicity of databases, all of them needing to be regularly updated. The cost should come down as more people come onboard. If a subcontractor who applies to be added to our own database is already on Constructionline we'd certainly look at him much more seriously."

The subcontractors and suppliers working with Ashe are marked, scored and categorised. "We almost partner with them," said Morris. "They never make a lot of money but get treated fair and well. As a result they dedicate themselves to us more than other contractors."

Ashe has combined with various subcontractors on a 'virtual company' basis to help it win work.

When Amey Facilities Management, a consultant Ashe has worked with in the past, asked Ashe to bid for a £3.5 million telecommunication centre at Slough for Global Crossing, Ashe took its M&E team along when it first sat down with the client - the two players being Rushmoor Mechanical Services and Entrics Electrical.

"Similarly when we had the opportunity to bid for a £2.5 million move-on hostel in Shepherds Bush for a Peabody Trust/Riverpoint joint venture, we took all our subcontractors to them," added Morris. "The parties included the M&E, steel, groundwork and finishing trades. They were all working off a known margin - not huge but secure."