Wates acts to improve purchasing

Constructionline, which is aligned to PAS 91 – the standardised pre-qualification questionnaire developed by BSI – offers Wates real-time monitoring of supplier information. Wates’ purchasers will no longer need to collect certification and financial information of all its subcontractors itself.

Constructionline was set up by the government in 1998 but was sold to Capita for £35m in January 2015. Other main contractors that use its services include Vinci, Kier, Bouygues UK, Lend Lease, Seddon, Lakehouse, United Living and McLaughlin & Harvey.

Sales director Rebecca Sperti said: “Recent figures have shown that contractors are spending an average of £60,208 on completing winning contract bids while 22% of their turnover is spent on tendering for work. By adopting Constructionline, Wates suppliers’ answers to general competency questions included in tender submissions are stored and updated in real time. This means that firms don’t have to keep resubmitting this information every time they wish to bid for a new contract – saving both time and money."

Wates supply chain director David Oates said: “Wates are pleased to add their name to a growing list of clients that see the benefit of taking a more standardised approach to vendor validation which not only reduces the administrative burden to our supply chain but also provides us with a robust initial appraisal solution.”

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