As the manager of the Cheshire & Warrington Traveller team (CWTT) I would like to share my experience of this build and the company commissioned to construct it. This is the fourth site I have been involved in, one previous transit site in Halton, and two permanent sites in Cheshire West. MC Construction, particularly Paul (Harris) and the site manager Andy (Sutherland), have made the whole process so easy to understand and inclusive, even for me who doesn’t have a construction background.
“They have never tried to bamboozle me with builder speak, and have always explained things fully, which has allowed me to be much more involved with the decision making. Throughout the build and my visits to site, there has never been any negative comments about Gypsies and Travellers, from anyone working on site. In fact, local community members have visited the site, to have look and have been welcomed and their questions answered.
“We held two open days, which Andy helped with, and I would like to say thank you to him, for this. The comments from senior managers, elected members and those in the local policing unit, were so positive about the site and the high build spec, they were all very impressed. The local Travellers also were extremely impressed and said it looked like a great site. I hope I can work with you all again on the next site to be built in Cheshire, whenever that maybe.”
Dawn Taylor, Cheshire and Warrington Traveller Team Manager.
“I have worked with numerous construction frameworks but I have found NWCH, and their Client Team uniquely knowledgeable within the construction category. They are one of the few frameworks that are a phone call away from offering expert advice and guidance. It is also clear they have established and trusted relationships with their framework suppliers which proves itself in the standard of tender submission received via a competition run via NWCH.”
Ciara Prunty, Senior Procurement Officer, South Ribble Council
“It is excellent news that this next generation of the framework has been launched offering clients such as ourselves a comparatively swift and compliant route to market with a wide selection of quality contractors. In addition to offering a procurement solution the framework also provides us with a framework and methodology for realising real social value as part of our development investment.”
Barney Harle, Head of Major Projects, Manchester City Council
“Cheshire East Council have been a user of the NWCH frameworks from the initial set up in 2011 and we have consistently used them for the majority of higher value construction projects undertaken by the Council. The collaborative ethos, public sector governance and innovation of the NWCH has affected real change within the region and is a leading light for best practice. Long may this continue.”
Andy Norton – NWCH Board Member
“The “Constructing the Gold Standard” review (Cabinet Office 2022) claimed, that while construction frameworks are widely recognised as the best medium through which procurement and contracting can deliver transformational improvements, that clients and suppliers urgently need a Gold Standard to help them identify what questions they should ask when they are creating and implementing them. The NWCH Board has wholeheartedly welcomed this independent review by Professor David Mosey. Since inception, the Board – comprised of experienced public sector clients – has acted to ensure that the NWCH is governed, lead and managed to ensure that its clients and suppliers are enabled to deliver successful projects for their communities. “Constructing the Gold Standard” builds upon and upgrades the Cabinet Office’s “Effectiveness of Frameworks (2012” report that has provided the principles upon which the NWCH is operated. As we move into 2022 and beyond the NWCH will continue to enable promote, better, safer, faster and greener outcomes from projects and programmes of work, net zero carbon and social value targets.”
Professor Peter Mcdermott (NWCH board member)
“We decided to utilise the NWCH Framework because it aligned strongly with the Client’s key drivers for the project; Quality, social value and collaboration. We then had great support from the Framework operator’s from the very start, and this continues as we are going through our procurement activities. Even when we hit a couple of bumps in the road in engaging a contractor, the advice provided was excellent and we got through it. Now, as we move through the second stage, with a Contractor on board, the engagement is working very well. We have a good, quality driven and collaborative, team doing their very best in particularly challenging times for the Client. We are all hopeful that we will deliver our exciting project successfully through this framework approach.”
Dean Carrick – Associate Director, Commercial consultant, Doig and Smith
“Having been taken through the new NWCH website I think it represents a huge improvement on its predecessor. I found it easy and clear to navigate around and more succinctly articulates the importance of the Hub and what it can offer for potential clients. The value proposition of the Hub in terms of offering a collaborative approach for project teams is clearly captured in the new website. Accordingly, it promotes to work the Hub as a procurement framework where partnering philosophies for clients and their project teams can be more readily adopted and implemented.”
Jason Challender (NWCH Board Member)
“Well, what an achievement – well done to everyone involved, the finished building is a great testimony to hard work and teamwork, drawing on the skills of the public and private sector to deliver a fantastic new asset for the council and the community.”
Graham Pink (Director of Commercial Management & Delivery, Cheshire West and Chester Council)
“We’ve been a client of the Hub for 5 years and we wouldn’t keep going back if it didn’t deliver”
Clare Huber (Head of Construction, Major Projects and Markets, Cheshire West and Chester Council)
“I have used NWCH for a number of years on a range of complex and smaller projects. One such recent project is Eden Project Morecambe. The NWCH team always go the extra mile to understand our requirements and are always willing to add value to our projects by bringing in their own expertise and perspectives and introducing us to other comparable projects. The fact they are run as a public body and pride themselves on social value sets them apart from other Framework providers.”
Jonathan Noad MRTPI AssocRICS | Chief Officer Sustainable Growth
Lancaster City Council
“Against a backdrop of challenging timescales, and limited internal experience here at the Council, the NWCH has provided our organisation a procurement vehicle ideally suited to the delivery of our regeneration programme. The framework offers a user friendly and speedy route to market, with a wide range of high quality and experienced contractors. The NWCH team were quick to engage and deftly supported project officers in navigating the procurement process; ensuring that our tenders were well considered, compliant and enabled the Council to select a ‘best fit’ construction partner.”
Rebecca Lord – Major Projects Manager (Radcliffe) Business, Growth & Infrastructure, Bury Council
“When considering procurement routes for the significant investment the University was making to deliver new Science, Engineering and Environment Building, we knew we required a reputable framework. Having reviewed the options available to the University, the North West Construction Hub was the natural choice. This was due to the governance and proven track record of successful delivery coupled with the promotion of early engagement with an open and collaborative approach to delivery. The framework’s culture has provided confidence, cohesion and an impeccably design facility prior to commencement of construction. The collaboration and constructive dialogue that we have benefitted from make have been problematical if we had tendered outside a framework of this type.”
Dr Jason Challender (Director of Estates & Facilities, University of Salford)
“Integration and Collaboration are key principles of constructing excellence. For over ten years the NWCH has been a vehicle to bring public sector clients together to procure collaboratively and to drive integration and collaboration amongst their suppliers. The Contractor Partners work together to develop and strengthen North West Supply Chains helping to bring resilience, improved productivity and better jobs to the region. Regular audits of social value performance and quality of delivery are shared nationally with the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF) the Local Government Association (LGA) to help shape the future of the national procurement strategy.”
NWRCA’s 2021 Judges comments