Editor's comment: Ferrovial set for take off?
Editor's comment: Ferrovial set for take off?
The headline on page three of this week’s Contract Journal: "Ferrovial commits to BAA spending plans" must be welcome news – if not a huge relief – for contractors working on any of BAA’s airports throughout the UK.
BAA is one of UK Construction plc’s most important clients for two reasons; firstly, its £9.5bn capital expenditure programme, and also because it could be regarded as one of the best – if not the best – construction clients this industry has had.
Heathrow’s T5 project is a beacon of good practice for an industry that is trying to drive itself forward. Close working relationships and a good deal of trust between client and contractors has resulted in a project that has run on time and to budget, with only minor union skirmishes.
It is little wonder that this is being held up as an example of best practice by the Olympic Delivery Authority, which is desperate to ensure that construction of London 2012 is itself a beacon of good practice, good relationships, good project management and great results.
BAA’s decision to work closely with its contractors has clearly paid off. Even now, its staff – who, in all likelihood must themselves be feeling rather unsettled about the change of ownership – have clearly worked hard to keep contractors informed about what is going on.
One would hope that Ferrovial will realise the synergy that has developed and will be prepared to encourage and develop this. But contractors are clearly worried that there will be a moratorium on work if the Ferrovial deal is given the go-ahead. And that could be a big risk for the new owners; keeping the relationships, trust and synergy going is key to producing great results. Ferrovial will have to work hard to maintain the client-contractor relationship that BAA has built up with its supply chain, but if it can keep up that momentum, there is every opportunity for Ferrovial and UK construction to benefit from being players in a much bigger world.
Emma Penny, Editor, Contract Journal, 14 June 2006