Specialist engineers set their agenda

Rudi Klein, chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group, has named the group's key priorities in the wake of the demise of the united specialists' umbrella body, the Constructors Liaison Group (CLG).

He said the engineering specialists will campaign for: a better payment system; registration of qualified firms; and full supply team integration.

"We feel the big issue is going to be about how we achieve integration of the supply teams," said Klein. "We will be concentrating on procurement issues and vertical integration of the supply chain."

The SEC Group chief said its six member associations are also keen to address payment issues. "We need to change the payment system in order to facilitate that supply chain integration," he declared. "We need to put in place an appropriate payment system - one which encourages trust with all members of the team receiving payment from one fund."

Regarding the registration of contractors, Klein said: "Too often the emphasis has all been on the certification and registration of qualified operatives. But there is no point in having qualified operatives if their firm isn't properly qualified."

Klein said a number of trade associations have set up quality registers of independently assessed and accredited firms. Currently under review, the CDM Regulations refer to "competent" parties being required on site. He thinks the review should define "competent" in terms of "qualified."