Merseysiders team up to win jobs
01.11.2007
Construction News
Five Merseyside contractors have teamed up to try to reverse the decline in work given to local construction firms. The CfM Regeneration Alliance will focus on housing association contracts for registered social landlords and arm's length management organisations for housing stock transfer.
The consortium is made up of refurbishment specialist A W Byrne, structural repair firm Clan Contracting, M&E company Eldonian Group, building contractor Lockwoods Group and scaffolding and asbestos specialist NSG UK. The five companies have a combined turnover of £40million and will be able to call upon 700 directly employed workers to bid for work. CfMRS will bid for contracts worth up to £10million in the new build housing and refurbishment market.
Alan Anderson, chief executive of Clan Contracting, said: " Merseyside firms are not big enough to compete for big jobs, which is why we have decided to team up. Clients choose main contractors who bring in managers from outside the area, who then pick their own people. "
Mr Anderson said the new consortium can cherry-pick the best projects and proceed even without the full support of all five companies. He said, alone however, a small company like his own would be limited in what it could bid for. He said: " I reckon out of 10 jobs going now, we would get about two of them. For another two we would get a phone call, but we would have no chance of getting the job. For another six we wouldn't even get a call. "
The consortium has been backed by Construction for Merseyside, a non-profit making organisation that assists firms with recruitment, grants, tenders and business development, and helped provide the idea for the joint venture.
Chief executive Guy Lawson said: " Merseyside companies on their own are not going to win a major contract. Large contractors have no regional HQ in Merseyside. It's not on the motorway. A lot of companies have a base in Warrington, because it's near the M6. "
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