Accelerating defence construction
D Group insight paper reveals early engagement & collaboration as vital accelerators.
The UK defence sector is facing a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex security environment, with the demand greater than ever for resilient, adaptable and operationally effective infrastructure to meet these needs. At McLaughlin & Harvey we have a strong track record of delivering complex defence construction and engineering projects for the Armed Forces, PRIME defence contractors and their supply chains.
As the geopolitical landscape across the world becomes increasingly volatile, the shift in requirements from UK defence infrastructure, as seen in the Uk Government’s Defence Investment Plan, is happening at a faster pace than we’ve seen in decades. The speed and agility of manufacturing is crucial – but equally important is the infrastructure to house it. It must be resilient, adaptable and operationally effective – and most importantly of all, delivered quickly.
Responding to the changing landscape
Commissioned by McLaughlin & Harvey, The D Group has released an insight paper into how UK defence infrastructure construction can accelerate to meet this changing landscape. The War-Ready by Design report looks at how increased funding alone isn’t enough to speed up construction outcomes and instead suggests that the best practical solution to meet demand is to adopt Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) within procurement to speed up decision-making and delivery.
Download the insight paper
Download War-Ready by Design: Accelerating Defence Construction Through Early Engagement and Collaboration to find out why defence construction must be underpinned by industry engagement, collaborative delivery and a whole-society approach to defence readiness.
READ HEREThis paper was created drawing on insights from a D Group chaired round table in which leading voices across the MOD, defence infrastructure main contractors, supply chains and consultants were brought together to discuss how the UK could accelerate its defence readiness in light of a changing geopolitical landscape.
In a time when UK defence agility, responsiveness and speed are utmost priorities for UK military operations, defence infrastructure construction must accelerate to meet demand. To be truly ‘war-ready’ quickly, increasing funding is simply not enough. The paper is calling for a change in approach to defence construction in order remove barriers to the timely delivery of projects.
The inights paper identified Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) as the primary accelerator for UK defence construction. By involving contractors at the earliest stages of design and feasibility, teams can anticipate, prevent, and overcome barriers to buildability, procurement delays, and risks, while formulating, testing and applying innovative approaches.
The paper outlines that current procurement models are slow and outdated and too complex to meet the fast-moving needs of defence construction projects. It suggests that shorter procurement routes and an end to transactional client-supplier relationships could be transformative for defence infrastructure delivery in the UK.
The paper calls for a change in the way the UK MOD and wider defence industry appoints contractors on construction and civil engineering projects. It suggests that mandated ECI, as early as RIBA stages 1 and 2, should be considered for major or complex projects to see significant benefits to partnering with main contractors experienced in the specific requirements of defence construction and engineering from the outset.
Our Defence Experience
We are committed to partnering with the defence sector to strengthen its supply chains, adopt innovative construction methods and deliver projects at pace to enhance operational readiness.
Our Defence WorkThe Janet Harvey Hall, that our construction and civil engineering teams constructed, is a key element of the £300 million transformation of BAE Systems’ shipbuilding facilities in Glasgow.
Janet Harvey HallCollaboration shapes how deliver complex engineering projects. We work with clients, engage with our supply chain and approach technical challenges from the earliest stages of delivery.
ECI in Action for BAE