'Changing staff' costly for Laing

Laing has lost its framework deal on Glaxo Wellcome's prestigious Fusion team because, according to insiders, the contractor changed its personnel too often.

Laing's name is absent from the list of team members who will shortly be given framework agreements by the pharmaceuticals giant. It is likely to include SDC, Walter Lilly, Haden, NG Bailey, Wates and Weeks.

Kevin Thomas, GW's head of strategic planning, refused to comment on Laing's omission but said: "We are pre-selecting and agreeing terms in advance so when we decide who we want to work with we can just send them a purchase order." The team is working on its third project, a refurbishment at Ware, part of an annual spend of £30-50m.

This week GW is launching a web site devoted to the Fusion Team's methodology and successes at www.fusion-approach.com.