SME news
ISG in u-turn over subcontractor fee
ISG has scrapped a controversial £300 registration fee it was asking subcontractors to pay to prequalify for its national supply chain after it was approached by Construction News.
Public frameworks to be scrutinised
Public sector frameworks would have to undergo wide-ranging assessments to acquire accreditation under a shake-up outlined in a leaked Cabinet Office report.
New recruits sign up to BIM rail and retail forums
Crossrail and HS2 are among the new signatories to a building information modelling rail group, while Marks & Spencer is set to become the latest major retailer to join the BIM for Retail group, CN understands.
Crossrail checking supply chain risk daily
Crossrail is taking the unusual step of obtaining daily alerts on the financial strength of its suppliers as it looks to prevent companies from going bust on Europe’s biggest engineering project.
Crossrail maps out its supply chain
Crossrail has committed itself to opening up work to construction apprentices and creating a level playing field for SMEs.
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Changes in store as Tesco shifts towards refurb
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Amey to put £2bn Sheffield roads PFI work online for SMEs
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Claim alleges ‘secret’ Mouchel JV deal
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‘Mystery shopper’ initiative uncovers procurement woes
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SMEs set to receive open BIM support
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Contractors back existing supply chains over government portal
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SME workers 'unaware' of the Green Deal, as DECC injects £3m for training
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Major contractors group to support SMEs with online school
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Government must provide capital boost, says CPA
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RICS calls for tender flexibility and SME support on public procurement
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Scottish £500m infrastructure programme boosted
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CBI hails public sector trailblazer projects for 'smarter procurement'
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Trailblazer projects picked for reforms
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FMB confirms departure of director general Richard Diment
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Top contractors sign up to Network Rail fair payment charter
Eight vital steps to SME success
Upskill in offsite construction
Although offsite construction is still relatively rare in the UK, it can provide guaranteed performance ratings for sustainable housing in a market where this isan increasing requirement.
Plug skills gap with apprentices
The recession isn’t going to last forever, and it’s vital to be prepared for an eventual increase in work.
Protect with invoice financing
The time between issuing an invoice and actually getting paid - which can stretch to more than 90 days - is a critical issue to smaller firms.
Become a lowcarbon expert
The UK has carbon targets that mean 600,000 homes a year will need refurbishment by 2050.
Cut the cost of credit insurance
According to Towergate divisional director Gavin McLaren, many SMEs make the same mistakes on their credit insurance applications, which can lead to higherpremiums.
Reward your workforce
Losing staff can be a real problem for a firm with few employees, but Federation of Master Builders director of external affairs Brian Berry says there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of your best people leaving.
Team up to take on bigger jobs
Most public sector frameworks are simply too large for an SME to take on single-handedly. But a consortium of small firms can add up to more than the sum ofits parts and take on national contractors.
Protect your patents
Defending intellectual property has traditionally been tricky for smaller firms.
Hanging in there
Francis Keenan, MD, FK Construction
‘We’ve maintained our turnover over the last three years because of our diversification’
Steven Hale, director, Crofton Design
‘The size of the company helped it survive - you get more commitment from your team and much closer relationships with your clients’
Mark Pitcher, MD, Pitcher Construction
‘Taking a business that was a rickety old Ford Escort van to saying we are going to put everyone in uniforms is quite a steep change’
Tom O’Mahony, MD, Maylim
‘Because we’re small and diverse, we’re not keeping our eggs in one basket’
Richard Garland, MD, Sandwood Design & Build
‘We’ve cut waste right through the construction process to the way work gets carried out on site’
Nick Baster, director, Form
‘We responded quickly as it levelled out, and now we have a plan in place to grow the business again’
Stand out from the crowd
George Osborne is banking on SMEs to be the engine of growth for the economy and next month’s Budget is expected to contain measures to create better conditions for smaller firms to thrive.
But getting a business off the ground is one thing; standing out and winning work from larger rivals presents a different challenge.
Here are five practical tips to help SMEs differentiate themselves from the competition.
- Stand for something
Decide what it is you care most about or do better than anyone else and find ways to embed it into your company. This could be sourcing sustainably, for example, or investing in the next generation by offering a number of apprenticeships each year. - Communicate internally
Unless your people buy into what you stand for and can talk about it to customers, it’s not going to appear authentic, so take the time to involve them. Standing for something helps in recruitment too, so it creates value in other areas of the business. - Use only digital media that works
Don’t get caught in the headlights trying to figure out how to use social media, blogs, video and other new digital channels. Not every company needs every channel. Just do what works for you and forget the rest. - Make time for communication
Invest in a decent website and keep it up-to-date. Make certain it tells the story of your stand-out difference effectively. Get some help ensuring you have relevant words in your website so that the search engines will be able to rank you highly. - Build an employer brand
Develop initiatives to build your ‘employer brand’. Some good examples are organising for staff to volunteer in work time, allowing people extra unscheduled ‘duvet days’ or offering those who work long unsociable hours extra perks. You can talk about it on your website and to staff agencies, clients, partners and even suppliers. People will talk about the company because of it and you will attract and retain great people.
Narda Shirley is MD of Gong Communications and chairs the Public Relations Consultancies Association’s CSR Committee
SME features
Ploughing into renewables
With a national network of roof training academies, an MD on the Green Construction Board and a long-standing interest in solar and renewables, Ploughcroft seems ideally placed to take advantage of the Green Deal.
From bits and bobs to major jobs
For many people, starting their own business is a lifelong ambition that is meticulously planned. But this was not quite the case for Steen Evans and his fellow directors when they started Pemb Civil and Engineering in 2008.
Budget a mixed bag for SMEs
Smaller firms have broadly welcomed the Budget’s continued focus on growing the economy but would have liked a more targeted boost.
Contamination proves an education
When Frankis Solutions took on a disused pharmaceutical site in Kent, the company found more asbestos than it had bargained for.
Our SME Panellists
- Crofton Design Steven Hale, director
- Bray and Slaughter Grant Jefferies, managing director
- W.B. Simpson and Sons Steve Medhurst, commercial director
- Lakesmere Matt Nicholson, managing director
- C G Pitcher and Son Mark Pitcher, managing director
- Sporn Construction Robin Sporn, director
- Alumet Gary Summers, chief executive
- D-Drill Julie White, managing director
