How we work

How We Work ...

Andrew, Stephen and Sid are personally involved in projects from the beginning through to completion.

Once we have understood your requirements we identify and assemble our team to deliver your project.
Our team is determined by the type of work, services required, when and where.
Embracing modern technology we are able to share correspondence, knowledge and procedures electronically amongst ourselves easily and quickly, giving tremendous control, saving of time and consistency.
This allows our teams to work remotely, at Client’s or Designer’s offices or in project teams together in one place, again, depending on your requirements, the purpose driven solution that is right for you.
Our organisation matrix (click here to review) shows our resources with bases in London and Hertfordshire.

Clients and others have asked us for details of our process rather than photographs of past projects, so here goes ...

The following is an outline of the approach we have found works successfully with clients.

Step 1: Implementation Strategy
A successful project will always have the right strategy as its foundation. So first we like to:

verify and confirm the project brief which includes identifying the project team - roles and responsibilities; budget; timescales and deliverables
establish the success criteria - priorities, “must haves” and wishes

Sometimes we are asked to help our clients develop their brief where they may need assistance, e.g. the pros and cons of prototype sites, pilot sites, roll outs, economies of scale, serial contracting debate or simply helping to communicate to external parties for inviting proposals.

Based on this key information we prepare a procurement and implementation strategy which we present in the form of a one page Master Control Programme to give the project the right direction.

Step 2: Feasibility Study
Next, when the client has a concept design or proposal, we recommend a “feasibility study”. This may be an Indicative Cost Check or Budget Estimate for the proposed works which can be expanded to include pre-acquisition surveys of locations being considered, asbestos surveys, implications of lease terms, etc. Clients often use the Cost Plan or Budget Estimate to shape and support their business case for the scheme as well as for briefing funders and shareholders.

This information is also very helpful as a tool for designers who use it as a framework within which to develop their detail design and mitigate any potential abortive work, again saving time and cost - both financial and emotional !

Step 3: Procurement
Finding the best team, consultants, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers for a project can be critical to the success of the outcome. Here too, the procurement strategy will be determined by the project drivers above. We can tender or negotiate appointment of contractors, adopt design and build arrangements, contract manage or propose partnering for delivery on site. Whichever route we recommend, the underlying goal is to achieve best value with a cost effective solution.

Step 4: On-site
Managing the design development, once contractors are appointed and orders placed, we are able to project and cost manage the on-site process too, including acting as Employer’s Representative or contract administrator.

Step 5: Post Completion On Site
Once the job has been completed, we prepare the final accounts with the contractors and suppliers for agreement by the client.

We also recommend a project debrief and “lessons learned” exercise with the project team. This is an opportunity for everyone to learn and benefit from hindsight and to determine ways to improve on the process for the next project each participant may be involved in. It’s an essential part of our process of continuing development and education.

Of course, not all clients require all of our services. But that’s another reason for a purpose driven solution. Clients may ask us to provide all or any part or combination of the available services that suits their needs.

Fees
Our fees are typically based on how long it takes to do each task. Fees are usually calculated in two stages. The first stage is for Steps 1 and 2 - Implementation Strategy and Feasibility. This enables a client to pay a limited amount rather than committing to a full project fee for the potentially wrong or unnecessary level of service.

Having verified the procurement strategy, budget and programme, it then becomes possible to match more accurately and cost effectively the right level of resources and amount of time it should take to provide those services a client really requires in the second stage, the procurement, on-site and post completion stages (Steps 3, 4 & 5). Purpose driven, so not too much or under resourced.

We prefer to be very open how we arrive at the fee, stating the time we believe each task should take and type of person to deliver from our team. Our fees will typically be fixed, based on the project parameters above. If changes occur, we can review with the client how we should proceed. With this transparent approach, we have no need to submit an inflated, catch-all fee to cover ourselves for possible exposures that may never occur or if circumstances outside our control change. This open approach, we believe gives value for fee and avoids any misunderstandings or distrust.

Our clients can be confident that, with a purpose driven solution, they are likely to be implementing their project for the right final price, right mix of consultant and contractor input, following a best practice strategy and in a way which will be financially beneficial with the certainty and management of expectations clients require.

(Click here to return to top)
or
(here to return to “About Us”)

Our recommended approach:
(see below)

Step 1:
Implementation Strategy

Step 2:
Feasibility Study

Step 3:
Procurement

Step 4:
On-Site

Step 5:
Post Completion On Site

Fees