British Land wants qualified steel contractors

Steel contractors may have to join the Register of Steel Contractors Scheme (RQSC) to tender for work with British Land.

The property developer has joined the administered by the British Constructional Steelwork Association.

RQSC administrator Gillian Mitchell said steelwork contractors have rigorous annual tests before they are included on the RQSC. "All these people are physically visited. We look for things like staff who understand what they're doing, and that the company has the proper machinery."

She said membership of the scheme does not reduce companies' insurance costs. "At the end of the day we all want to think that's what would happen, but at the moment it means you don't have to do all the prequal work."

Mitchell added the register produces a more efficient tendering process. "We want to make sure the right people are getting on the tender list. We're not trying to keep people out, but why have a tender list of 50, when only 30 are competent?"

In 2001, The Highways Agency made RQSC-accreditation mandatory for steelwork contractors hoping to win bridge works.