Build 2016 Construction & Engineering Awards

Build 2016 Construction & Engineering Awards 22 Established in 1954 as a Practice of Chartered Quantity Sur- vey¬ors, Playle & Partners LLP have extensive experience in all as¬pects of quantity surveying and cost consultancy services. In his opening comments John discusses how the firm has changed since inception, growing its services in order to adapt to the ever evolving needs of their clients. “Playle & Partners have evolved since their inception, over sixty years of pro- fessional services have required the practice to change, adapt and extend our services at the request of our client base. “In addition to the Quantity Surveying team, we now have in house depart¬- ments for Architecture, Principal Designer in compliance with The Con¬- struction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Building Surveying including Party Wall advice and Access Consultancy services. Such a range of services means that we can provide Project Management and Employer’s Agent services across a wide range of projects. “As with all practices, the construction sectors within which we oper- ate vary with the times but it is fair to say that we offer the full range of quantity sur¬veying services to public and private sector clients which have incorporated Modern Methods of Construction and required fast track build programmes. The work includes education projects, housing programmes, Major Headquarters projects, Data Centres, Emergency facilities, industrial work, and listed building refurbishment works. With over 60 years’ expe- rience in the Construction Industry virtually every sector has been worked on at one point or another with project value ranging from £100,000 to £50 million. Together with a variety of procurement strategies” With three equity partners and two salaried partners, the firm provide a partner led service, with a partner working at senior level on the project as and when required. This approach provides an added value service to clients as a partner is available to provide advice to client teams whenever required. This partner led approach, combined with the firm’s dedication to providing quality in every aspect of its work, is what differentiates it from its competi¬tors, as John explains in more detail. “The reputation built up by our long serving Partners and staff members is the key to our success throughout the peaks and troughs encoun¬tered working in the construction industry. We consider that approximately 70% of our work is repeat business, which is a testimony to our firm’s strong management and ability to provide consistently high quality of professional service at competitive fee levels. “Alongside our strong client retention, we also have low staff turnover, and a number of staff who have been employed by us for over 10 years, 20 years, 30 years and 40 years. This is a reflection on the ethos of the practice and is reflected in the service we provide our clients.” Retaining experienced and professional staff is critical across the con¬- struction industry, as the skills shortage continues to take its toll on many companies. As such John is justifiably proud of Playle & Partners’ employee support programme. “The challenges have been the identification of good professional staff mem¬bers and hence the opportunity of training in house and investing in our staff members has been very rewarding. We have continued this way of recruiting the best, by taking on new staff members with First Class degrees, having researched the available graduates and now putting them in a train- ing programme or on MSc degrees in Quantity Surveying or similar. “Representatives of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors who have visited our offices have stated that out training for cost analysis work is “as close to perfection as you could get”. We were BCIS champions for April 2016. “As part of our firm’s commitment to supporting our staff we recog- nise achievement by way of promotion and reward and will continue to demon¬strate our commitment to the long term career of our staff members. We are, however sensible and strong in our resolve regarding level of pay compared to turnover and have in place clear guidelines to maintain sustain- able pro¬gression without introducing management redundancies.” Looking to the future, John states that the continued development of this team will be the firm’s focus as it strives to build upon its current success. “To maintain the development of the strong, youthful team assembled, working on the outskirts of Greater London, we would welcome assistance / opportunity to work on larger construction projects being judged on our merits and not the numbers of staff employed and turnover. “We often consider that decisions are taken without realising that even large schemes only require a small number of quantity surveying staff to control the financial aspects of the project. Our senior staff members have expe¬ri- ence of major town centre developments, specialist data and technology centres as well as education and housing programmes of work. Best SME Quantity Surveyor Practice 2016 - South East Playle & Partners LLP have provided clients in the public and private sectors, with construction and property advice for over 60 years. We spoke to John Farrow about the firm’s service offering, supportive approach to client services and their exciting future plans. E