Mark chats to Yosof Ewing

Construction is the only industrial sector that describes its main companies as “contractors”, highlighting the importance of the contract between two parties.  This designation forgoes the value that our industry creates, focusing on the small print as our raison d’être.  Couple this with a highly fragmented industry with low margin and we perhaps should not be surprised that many of our commercial relationships end in conflict.  Yosof Ewing discusses the nature of construction from his vantage point of nearly twenty years supporting specialist contractors to recover monies that they believe are due in the face of one sided, detailed contracts and against much larger organisations that can afford to play a longer game.  The conversation focuses on the need for transparency of financial information and personally accountable directors within tier one and two contractors.  Yosof’s call to action is for main contractors to treat their supply chain as they would wish to be treated, to be kind to them and to be accountable for their actions.  Whilst this is a great mantra for life, Yosof means that main contractors should not expect their supply chain to sign up to contracts that are one sided and often neither side fully understands their implications.