Industry urged to apply for Design Build assessment

The Design Build Foundation has launched the second phase of its registration scheme and is pressing clients, designers, consultants and specialist suppliers to apply for assessment.

The move coincides with the first anniversary of the scheme, which seeks to register firms that are the best in their field, and the award of registration certificates to the first five contractors to pass the rigorous assessment programme. They are Amec, Balfour Beatty, HBG, Try, and Wates. (see Comment page 40)

Dr Bernard Rimmer of Slough Estates said there was a lot of interest among members of DBF who were not contractors to join the register. At present, contractors have to pay £10,250 to be assessed. Specialist contractors and suppliers will be levied £7,500 for assessment. Rimmer said the foundation "hadn't yet fixed the costs for designers, consultants or clients", but these would be cheaper and based on an estimate on how long it would take to complete an assessment.

Rimmer added: "It is a difficult concept for clients to accept that they need to be registered in the same way as contractors. But they will learn how to be a better client and also be more profitable."

The scheme is also being opened up to contractors that are not members of DBF.

A further nine contractors are close to finalising their assessments. These are: Bovis Lend Lease; Carillion; Costain; GW Deeley; Mowlem; Kvaerner; Laing; Shepherd; and Willmott Dixon.