Big push to convert to two-stage tendering

Haymills is pushing hard to convert its construction workload into two-stage tendering, with around 70% of turnover now coming from this preferred route.

"My aim is to go higher, to achieve 100% of turnover from non-single stage tendering, and I think the market will allow us to achieve that," said Brandon.

"We now spend less time and money on stage one (the capability assessment) but more on stage two where we are pricing trade packages, looking at buildability and designing out problems.

"Generally speaking, we are offered a fee for our stage two work, regardless of what comes next, which makes us equal with the client's design team."

Haymills' target for future projects is to match the contract sum with the exit price. "We are getting closer," said Brandon. "It follows from there being no conflict and by all working together."

Brandon is pulling Haymills further away from design and build work, an area that has been the cause of the group's recent major financial hiccups.

Two D&B projects in London have gone badly out of kilter. "Haymills accepted inappropriate risk transfer," said Brandon.