RAISING BAR FOR BUILDING SECTOR

Business Reporter CONSTRUCTION firms in Plymouth are setting up a best practice club aimed at raising the bar for the city's building sector.

Part of the national Constructing Excellence movement - which aims to help the building industry give maximum added value to clients and improve the quality of the UK's built environment - the club will be launched in Plymouth on Wednesday.

The event will take place at the Guildhall and will include a welcome address from chairman Chris Jackson followed by a talk called 'What's going on in Plymouth - the Council perspective' from Councillor Sue Dann. John Rackstraw, chairman of Constructing Excellence South West, will provide the regional perspective and the keynote speech will be from Bob White, chief executive of Constructing Excellence, who will talk about the national context.

Chris Jackson, asset manager at Plymouth City Council, convened the steering committee that has formed the club and chairs the new organisation.

He said: "Our members include many of the top-spending clients in the local area, together with designers, consultants, contractors, specialists and suppliers.We are all committed to learning through study, sharing and putting new ideas into practice."

Alan Mossman, director of Constructing Excellence South West, said: "The launch of the Plymouth Club will make a difference for all involved in commissioning, designing, producing or using building and construction services by producing a joined-up construction service in and around the city.”

The whole construction supply chain, from clients to demolition contractors, has an important contribution to make to this process.

"Constructing Excellence aims to deliver improved industry performance resulting in demonstrably better-built environment. It is a unique bridge between industry, clients, government and the research community."

Companies involved in the Plymouth Club include: Bluestone plc, Bond Pearce, CITB, Cowlin Construction, Faber Maunsell, The Gates Partnership, Halcrow, Hydrock Consultants, JNE Construction, Kier Group plc, Logo Design & Marketing, Lorne Stewart plc, Mitchell Architects, Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, ROK and Ward Williams Associates.

To attend the launch or find out more about the club log onto http://www.plymouthcec.org.uk/