The Building Podcast
Mark Wakeford is Chairman of the National Federation of Builders, vice-chair at Constructing Excellence Midlands and a Governor at Construction College, Moulton College. He has run a large regional building contractor and now chairs Evoenergy, one of the UK's foremost renewable companies, bringing low carbon solutions to corporate Britain.
Mark talks to leading experts from across the construction sector to discuss issues facing the built environment. He explores various challenges with his guests, who offer solutions, information and ideas that listeners can apply to their own situations, be it in a company, on a project or studying at college.
The Building Podcast aims to provide CPD on the go. Supporting the sector with easily digestible ideas to support a rapidly changing industry!
The Building Podcast
Mark chats to Dave Forde
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There are many theories on how to get the best from a team to deliver a project. Most of these start with a focus on forming the right team. What happens on a construction project when the wrong company is appointed and the client is only really interested in his programme and budget? The pressure on everyone gets really intense and mistakes can start to be made…..
Dave Forde runs a Chartered company that acts as a Senior Appointed Person within the electrical regulations and advises companies on complying with their statutory &/or contractual duties. He has been in the electrical business for over thirty years, starting as an apprentice electrician. Dave talks us through one of his recent projects where he was acting as the Senior Appointed Person and coming under significant pressure to sign off work and permits that may have put people in danger. The reasons are all too familiar – A project running over-time and over-budget. A lack of skilled persons on site, with scant regard for quality or the specifications. A relatively new company, un-familiar with the nuances of working for experienced and tough contractors and clients, but desperately trying to satisfy their customers
Dave talks through the consequences of a project like this. He identifies problems with time, cost, quality, health and welfare, including mental health issues and payments. He talks about the pressure brought to bear on him to cut corners and the corners that are cut even when he says no. This is construction at its worst, both in terms of the pressures applied to stakeholders and individuals within the industry, but also the potential consequences to the occupants of the building.
Dave recognises that the Building Safety Act should make these projects a thing of the past, but Dave is not confident. He believes that there simply are not enough electricians within the Capital City to deliver all the work that is currently on site. He believes that commercial reality will still apply, until there is a significant prosecution and clients and main contractors go to gaol for their actions, or lack of actions.
Listen to hear the challenges on a challenging site. Listen to hear the need for independent clerk of works and SAPs.