The bosses of some of Britain鈥檚 biggest construction companies gathered in London on Friday for a signing ceremony that signals the start of 拢4bn of work over the next five years.
Thames Water has moved to a new alliance model that is designed to improve the delivery of infrastructure projects.
Thames Water chief executive Martin Baggs said that the new partnerships with consortia called eight2O, Agility and KCD heralded a 鈥渨hole new era鈥� for the water industry.
He said: 鈥淭he alliances will change the way we work and change the mindset, but it鈥檚 fantastic to have a team that鈥檚 all working together, focusing on our priorities of health and safety and customer service. Problems will be problems for all of us but we鈥檒l share the benefits as well.鈥�
eight2O comprises two design and build joint ventures 鈥� Costain and Atkins; and Skanska, MWH Treatment and Balfour Beatty (SMB) 鈥� as well as a programme manager in MWH and IBM, with Thames Water acting as both client and partner. Together, they will carry out between 拢2bn and 拢2.5bn of work over the AMP6 period (2015-2020), with potential to extend contracts beyond this to 2025.
Balfour Beatty said that SMB's contract was worth 拢800m over the initial five-year term.
eight2O chief operating officer Graham Keegan said: 鈥淲e're totally transforming investment in water infrastructure by combining expertise and best practice from multiple sectors and thinking differently at every level. We鈥檙e focused on delivering innovative, sustainable solutions which will bring real value to communities both now and in the future. Today marks a fantastic milestone and we look forward to working together to achieve our goals.鈥�
A similar approach marks the infrastructure alliance, set up to deliver around 拢1bn worth of water network and developer services over the AMP6 period, with an option to include up to a further 拢500m in additional network and metering services in the future.
This alliance comprises two joint ventures 鈥� Agility, made up of J Murphy & Sons and Morrison Utility Services, and KCD, involving Kier Services and Clancy Docwra. ()
Thames Water鈥檚 wholesale water managing director Bob Collington said: 鈥淲e strongly believe these two alliances will create aligned goals and objectives throughout the supply chain, putting us in the best possible position to deliver customer and stakeholder promises.鈥�
Wastewater managing director Lawrence Gosden added: 鈥淲e started this complete transformation in the way we do business in 2012 and to see it now, with all the teams in place and this level of energy and enthusiasm for what we鈥檙e trying to achieve, is remarkable.鈥�
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