Clients must meet scheme standards

by Kathy Watson



The Construction Clients' Forum has promised its proposed scheme to kitemark clients' best practice will be given teeth, as the last responses trickle in following the ending of the consultation period.

Antony Pollington, secretary of the forum, said: "Clients seeking charter client status will have to satisfy the assessing body that they are committed to culture change and self measurement. If charter companies fail to continue to meet the standards they will have their charter withdrawn. The supplier side, in its dealings with them, will reflect its lack of confidence in their ability to behave by putting up its prices or putting in conditions in the way they will supply, so that the client will suffer in terms of the service they get."

Most of the responses to the consultation on a continuous improvement charter have come out in its favour. "We have had nothing but support from the supply side, clients and government and we are extremely pleased," said Pollington. "There have been requests to sharpen up the toolkit which defines the criteria to be measured, which we are taking on board, but there has been a universal welcome to the supply side being represented in the management body for the charter."

The charter is being set up following calls from deputy prime minister John Prescott at last summer's Movement for Innovation conference.