Partnering in the Welsh Construction Industry: a SubcontractingPerspective

Partnering can lead to construction projects being delivered quickly, efficiently and costeffectively. Indeed, research has shown that partnering arrangements can reduce constructiontime and standardisation can lead to efficiency on site. This is achieved by partnering a dedicatedteam of consultants, contractors and manufacturers, who develop their expertise over a series ofprojects. This paper describes a review of partnering arrangements examining the present state ofthe industry and the effects of these arrangements on small construction enterprises (SCEs). Italso outlines a recent case study investigating the impact of partnering on an SCE. The researchinvolved a series of interviews with the managing director of a South Wales based subcontractingfirm aimed at developing an understanding of how SCEs are treated within a partneringarrangement. Evidence from this study suggests that under its current guise partnering may notin fact offer SCEs many tangible benefits and often has a detrimental effect upon the contractorsubcontractorrelationship.[...]