Today, Balfour Beatty revealed the results of recent research into the views of its UK supply chain partners in the company’s latest paper - “Chain Reactions: A View from Balfour Beatty’s Key Suppliers”.
Speaking at the Company’s first annual supply chain partner event in London to journalist and broadcaster Penny Smith, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive Leo Quinn shared his reaction to the research findings and the importance the company places on its supply chain:
“Our supply chain is much more than a group of individual sub-contractors and suppliers: it is a key part of our business, core to our own performance and reputation as a company. We aim to build strong, long-term partnerships with these companies, based on shared values, to help us deliver excellence to our customers. Working in partnership means we can, together, constantly improve quality, efficiency, and safety.”
Balfour Beatty’s latest paper brings together feedback from discussions with its supply chain partners and data and analysis from an online survey of 80 of the companies it works with.
The research, carried out by ComRes, a leading market research company revealed the following:
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96% of those surveyed agree that further development of technology will improve the productivity of the UK construction industry
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Those surveyed are most likely to have implemented or are in the processes of implementing an Internet of Things network technology (61%), while 34% have implemented or have plans to implement Big Data and predictive analytics in their business
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Skills shortages continue to have a significant impact on the financial health of our supply chain partners, only half of those surveyed (51%) agree that there is currently enough being invested in skills across the sector
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83% of those surveyed agree that the industry is committed to diversity and inclusion
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85% of those surveyed say that their business is up to date with the latest opportunities in the construction pipeline, although many suggest more information is required to allow them to capitalise on these opportunities fully
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95% of those surveyed state that the industry is committed to high Health and Safety standards, while 81% agree that Balfour Beatty is leading on this
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86% of those surveyed are aware of what actions they would need to take to address Modern Slavery in the workplace
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Record increases in raw materials costs are impacting profitability and the majority (86%) of the companies surveyed are making provisions for Brexit
Responding to these findings and listening to its supply chain partners’ views, Balfour Beatty has:
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Introduced electronic, or “e-invoicing” for all supply chain partners to streamline the process, ensuring swift payment
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Called for its supply chain partners to become members of The 5% Club, a UK employer-led initiative focused on creating momentum behind the recruitment of apprentices and graduates into the workforce
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Set up an “Innovation Gateway” tool that allows suppliers to put forward innovative ideas relating to products, materials and services, with feedback process in place that keeps suppliers informed to encourage, generate and share new ideas
Paul Fleetham, Tarmac Managing Director Contracting, said: “Tarmac has worked with Balfour Beatty for many years and we have been consistently impressed with the collaborative manner in which Balfour Beatty works with all its supply chain partners. The research Balfour Beatty has undertaken into the opinions of its supply chain partners, the subsequent action taken and the opportunity to discuss in an open forum with the leadership team from Balfour Beatty is testament to this.”
To read the paper in full, please click here.
ENDS
Media enquiries to:
Will Swan
Balfour Beatty
+44 (0)203 810 2509
www.balfourbeatty.com | follow us @balfourbeatty
All non-media related enquiries should be directed to +44 (0)20 7216 6800 or info@balfourbeatty.com
Methodology note:
ComRes interviewed 80 Balfour Beatty suppliers online between 13th and 25th September 2017. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full data tables are available on the ComRes website, www.comresglobal.com
Notes to editors:
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Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure and construction group. With 15,000 employees across the UK, Balfour Beatty finances, develops, delivers and maintains the increasingly complex infrastructure that underpins the UK’s daily life: from Crossrail and Heathrow T2b to the Olympic Stadium Transformation.
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Significant projects in Balfour Beatty’s construction portfolio include the first phase of East Wick & Sweetwater development to secure the long-term urban regeneration benefits of the Olympics in partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation; Balfour Beatty will ultimately create two neighbourhoods that will provide 1,500 homes – including 450 affordable homes; and, in Canary Wharf The Madison, a £150m London Docklands residential tower.
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Balfour Beatty has a supply chain of around 10,000 companies across the country, many of which the company has worked in partnership with for over a decade, and some of which for over thirty years. We spend two thirds of our revenues in procuring goods and services from suppliers: over 30% of this spend is with our top 100 partners.
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Balfour Beatty encourages supplier diversity and currently has a supply chain that consists of a large proportion of SME and minority owned businesses. Balfour Beatty spent £1.4bn with SMEs and £118m with women owned businesses last year.
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Balfour Beatty is a member of ‘The 5% Club’, a UK employer-led initiative focused on creating momentum behind the recruitment of apprentices and graduates into the workforce. Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive Leo Quinn was the founding member of The 5% Club. Balfour Beatty joined in December 2013, the first company in the infrastructure industry to join.’ The 5% Club works with UK employers and key influencers to inspire, educate and retain a growing body of people into “earn and learn” placements in order to increase the number of apprentices, sponsored students and graduates. The goal of The 5% Club is to increase the employment and career prospects of today’s youth and equip the UK with the skilled workforce it needs to safeguard Britain’s economy.
