Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 45
Skills
INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO OFFER FREE
COMMERCIAL ADVICE AS CICV FORUM
HOSTS SIX TOPICAL TRAINING WEBINARS
The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum is launching a series of free advice webinars to help
industry professionals improve their contractual and commercial awareness on construction projects.
Hosted by leading industry
experts and running fortnightly
across six sessions from September
to November, the online
discussions are aimed at public
and private sector employers,
contract and commercial managers,
architects, quantity surveyors
and project managers.
The new webinars follow four
successful Forum online events
in May and June, during which
experts gave advice on health
and safety, cashflow, contract issues
and a range of employment
matters.
Fiona Hodgson, CEO of SNIPEF
and Chair of the Forum’s Commercial
sub-group, said: “One
of the most commonly-asked
questions we’re currently hearing
is, ‘How can we improve cashflow
and get paid on time?’ It’s
clear there’s a demand for more
commercial information, so like
everything the Forum does, we’re
listening to what people need
and responding with clear and
relevant advice that will help
Scotland’s businesses.”
The Forum’s first webinar will
be held on Tuesday 15 September,
during which Rudi Klein,
CEO of the Specialist Engineering
Contractors’ Group, will discuss
the features and benefits of project
bank accounts (PBAs), with
particular focus on the supply
chain. He will also outline how
the PBA process operates, discuss
the latest Scottish Government
Construction Policy Note CPN
7/2020 and answer any questions
submitted by delegates.
This session will be followed
by a second module on Tuesday
29 September that will discuss
changing the culture in the
industry, problem contractual
clauses, things to avoid, high-risk
contract amendments, negotiating
better terms and the ‘battle of the
forms’.
Held on Tuesday 13 October,
online session No 3 will cover
payment terms, getting paid on
time, how to present payment
applications, variations etc.
The fourth webinar will be
held on Tuesday 27 October
and will cover giving notices,
extensions of time, loss and expense,
while the fifth seminar on
Tuesday 10 November will cover
suspension and contract termination
of contractors and sub-contractors.
The topics covered in the final
session, held on Tuesday 24
November, will include conflict
avoidance procedures, pitfalls
and benefits of adjudication, the
low-cost value adjudication process
and expert determination.
Each webinar will start at 11am
and will run for between 60-75
minutes, with sessions recorded
‘
During the past five months, it has
become obvious that the industry needs
to cooperate and collaborate more than
ever before if it is to survive the aftereffects
of this devastating pandemic
’
and hosted on the Forum’s You-
Tube channel. Other presenters
will include:
• Ian Honeyman, Commercial
Director, Scottish Building
Federation
• Deborah Harrison, Legal
Manager, The British Constructional
Steelwork Association
Ltd
• Angus Pearson, industry consultant
and Director of Fortis
Contracts Ltd
• Len Bunton, experienced
dispute resolution consultant
and consultant to the CICV
Forum.
Len Bunton said: “During the
past five months, it has become
obvious that the industry needs
to cooperate and collaborate
more than ever before if it is to
survive the after-effects of this
devastating pandemic. These free
webinars will offer a wealth of
invaluable commercial advice,
delivered by vastly experienced
professionals with a deep understanding
of today’s construction
industry. This is a unique opportunity
to harness this knowledge
and understanding and gain a
greater insight of how to navigate
the post-pandemic business landscape
successfully.”
Made up of more than 60 trade
associations, private companies
and professional bodies, the
CICV Forum recently welcomed
its 100th individual member as it
continues to advise and inform
the industry and public alike.
Since its creation in March, the
Forum has drawn on the collective
expertise of its members to
maintain a steady supply of information
and practical advice to
the sector as well as carrying out
surveys, hosting webinars and
making appeals to Government
Ministers.
In the last month alone, it has
issued seven health and safety
advice documents, updated its
operating guidance and reminded
construction workers to observe
physical distancing in their social
lives too.
To register for the first webinar,
please email info@cicvforum.co.uk