UK Contractors Group (UKCG) and the National Specialist Contractors' Council (NSCC) have issued a joint statement revealing that they are in talks with a view to some kind of merger.
Although they represent separate ends of the supply chain and have totally different structures, the two organisations believe that joinign forces could be good for their members 鈥� despite the fact that the single biggest problem faced by most specialist contractors is their treatment at the hands of UKCG's tier one main contractors.
UKCG has 28 members; they are mostly the biggest contractors like Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Kier and BAM, but it also includes a handful of more specialist outfits like Severfield, William Hare and Volker Wessels.
NSCC, by contrast, is a federation of 31 other trade associations that represent specific trades, from piling to fit-out. Its membership includes the Association of Specialist Fire Protection, for example, as well as the British Blind & Shutter Association and the Glass & Glazing Federation. Its membership covers the provision of both products and services.
There already exist pan-industry forums that aspire to represent the whole construction industry with a single voice, including the CBI construction council.聽 However, with UKCG director Stephen Ratcliffe stepping down in June, the timing is seen as opportune to reshape construction industry lobbying representation.
The joint statement from the two organisations said: 鈥淥ver the last 12 months, NSCC and UKCG have found that they share a common position on a range of issues and both organisations recognise that the key to a successful industry is trust within the supply chain. UKCG members have expressed a desire to strengthen the voice of contractors and NSCC members wish to work much more closely with their tier one client base.
鈥淣SCC and UKCG representatives are currently discussing how a strong collective voice for the contracting supply chain in construction could be realised leading to a more efficient and collaborative industry. This could include a new organisation bringing together UKCG Contractor Members and Trade Associations currently in membership of either NSCC or the UKCG.
鈥淭he current UKCG director, Stephen Ratcliffe, will be stepping down in June 2015 and will work with NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol to explore the opportunity for the contracting supply chain to work more effectively together.鈥�
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