BACKGROUND


Following on from the commitments made for the 2012 Olympics , in 2007, the construction industry's Strategic Forum drew together the six key areas vital to delivering construction projects on time, safely and to budget. They represent the principles which it is intended will underpin all construction projects in order to achieve a better industry and exceed current best practice. These ‘Construction Commitments’ sharpen the industry's focus on improving: 

  • Procurement and integration;
  • Commitment to people;
  • Client leadership;
  • Sustainability;
  • Design quality; and
  • Health and safety.  

    In their ‘Strategy for Sustainable Construction’ (June 2008) the Government set a target of 35% of all public sector contracts to comply with these Commitments by 2010 - rising to 60% by 2012.  The follow up report of September 2009  underlined the importance of industry and Government working together on a shared agenda and taking account of the Strategy for Sustainable Construction and its targets in their business planning.

    However, the ‘Equal Partners’ Report  of 2008 from Business Vantage and the Construction Clients Group found that clients need to respond by: 

  • giving more thought to developing project teams and/or to project strategies;
  • upskilling their own team’s competence as a construction client;
  • recognising the impact early engagement can have on more effective decision making; and
  • being realistic in the way risk is managed. 

    In addition, the report also found that contractors should:

    • seek increased efficiencies and improved ways of working; 
    • become proactive rather than reactive; 
    • offer better ways of working with the client; and 
    • properly understand the client’s business. 

    CIAPS is the first programme that addresses the Strategic Forum's Construction Commitments. The service presents a performance analysis to clients and prime contractors of their participating supply chain members' achievement of prescribed performance values, which includes compliance with the application of best practice in sustainability, H&S and environmental management; and performance improvement through progressive measurement and benchmarking.

    CIAPS also provides a consistent approach to client and company vetting using truly independent objective inspection by UKAS-accredited certification bodies. By using an online integrated data and communications system, CIAPS provides companies with a transparent, certificated route to formal recognition, which in turn equips all partners in a construction supply chain with the tools to develop and share best business practices. Furthermore, CIAPS enables both clients and participating companies to demonstrate compliance in a non-burdensome way.