Government plans 'Team UK' JVs to target overseas contracts
5 July, 2017 By Jack Simpson
Some of the UK's largest construction firms will be brought together in 'Team UK' joint ventures to bid for billions of pounds of construction contracts on projects across the globe, the government will reveal today.
The Department for International Trade will set out plans for a new partnership between the government and construction firms, Construction News understands.
The move is aimed at creating a more joined-up approach when bidding for overseas contracts and increasing the UK's share of the global construction market.
The Infrastructure Exports: UK partnership will see some of the UK's largest contractors, consultants, clients and suppliers come together to identify bidding opportunities across the globe and form joint ventures to bid for these contracts.
The group will be co-chaired by minister for international trade Greg Hands and Wates chairman James Wates (pictured), and include representatives from 17 organisations including Carillion, JCB, Mace and Mott MacDonald.
Members will meet three times a year to identify projects to bid for and the identity of the best-placed bid team. The first meeting will take place this month.
Global annual investment in construction is expected to grow to € 14tn (€ 14tn) by 2030, with research showing that overseas clients award their biggest contracts to consortiums rather than single bidders.
It is understood that the new approach will aim to ensure the UK is in prime position to take advantage of this growth and win some of the biggest infrastructure contracts across the globe.
In March, Mr Hands led a delegation of 15 UK firms to Argentina and Brazil where € 11bn is being invested in infrastructure projects in the region.
The group will also work with the UK's export credit agency, UKEF, to access financing so that UK firms can secure major contracts, such as Carillion's € 558m deal to deliver parts of the Expo 2020 Dubai Park.
The 19 members of IE:UK will be:
Co-chair , Greg Hands, minister, Department for International Trade
Co-chair , James Wates, chairman, Wates Group
Sir John Armitt, chairman, City and Guilds Group
Martin Bellamy, executive director, Bam Nuttall
Philip Bouverat, director, JCB
Shaun Carter, group development and strategy director, Carillion
Graham Cartledge, chairman, Benoy
Peter Chamley, global infrastructure lead, Arup
Brian Gallagher, CEO, infrastructure, Department for International Trade
Mark Holmes, chief operating officer of consultancy, Mace
Andrew McNaughton, chief operating officer, Systra
Sir Terry Morgan, chairman, Crossrail
Freddie Patterson, business development director, Lagan Construction Group
Dean Purvis, director, infrastructure, Turner & Townsend
Nick Roberts, chief executive officer, UK & Europe, Atkins
Stuart Senior, main board, Gleeds
Tracey Smith, chief executive, British Expertise International
James Stewart, chairman, global infrastructure, KPMG
Gordon Turley, major projects director, Mott MacDonald