Video coverage of the Planning Projects under the NEC3 Form of Contract Conference

On May 16th 2011, Technology Resourcing and GMH Planning organised the Planning Projects under the NEC3 Form of Contract Conference in Central London.

1. Intro by Glenn Hide.

A brief introduction to the day, the agenda, speakers and sponsors of the event.

2. Legal Aspects of the NEC3 contract, by Robert Horne (Trowers & Hamlins)

This presentation considers why the legal framework is important and looks at the key legal concepts (mutual trust and co-operation, classification/assessment of compensation events, role of the Project Manager etc). It also considers any NEC case law updates and court guidance on it’s operation.

3. The Key Role of the NEC Programme and who REALLY owns the float? Glenn Hide of GMH Planning

NEC is much more onerous in terms of the formal requirement to produce and update a programme. In this presentation Glenn Hide gives a brief overview of the contractual requirements of clause 31.2 of the contract and consideration of who actually owns the float under the contract.

4. NEC3 and Project Control on Major Projects – Paul Kidston of Vinci Construction

Paul Kidston of Vinci reviews the management of the NEC contract on a major Construction Project – The Tottenham Court Road Station Upgrade Project, taking place just outside the conference venue! There was a particular focus on the NEC’s relationship to good Project Control (i.e. the control of cost, time, resource and risk), where it helps, where it hinders, where it remains silent.

5. Risk: Practical Tips for Managing it under NEC by Jon Broome of Leading Edge Projects

Risk management has been hijacked to the risk management profession, often being far too bureaucratic for the value it adds. NEC3 ECC, on the other hand, cuts it back to the basics. Jon Broome provides a multitude of practical ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ tips on managing early warnings and the Risk Register in accordance with the contract for maximum effect in this presentaion.

6. The Expert Client by John Rayner of Redray Consulting

NEC contracts demand that the parties working on them work in a collaborative manner in order for it to be successful. This being the case how should the Employer using an NEC contract set up of their organisation and establish contract administration processes to take full advantage of the philosophy and approach that the NEC brings? John Rayner gives us his advice in this presentation.

7. Administering NEC3 Contracts Online by James Still of BIW

The NEC imposes high levels of administration and unless its carefully managed can lead to delays and costly losses. James Still of BIW Technologies demonstrate how they’ve helped clients such as Connect Plus M25 and Cambridgeshire Highways to overcome such issues, improve their methodology, make substantial savings and reduce risk.

The delegates then split into three core groups for a brainstorm session on what aspects of planning, commercial or project management they would like to see enhanced as and when the contract is next amended. The groups then reported back what they have come up with.

8. Forensic planning under NEC3 by Ian Mackay & Katherine Morris of CNS Planning

“Don’t look back in Anger”

A “bite the bullet” approach to programme acceptance, with methods for both parties to consider which may simplify agreement of the impacts of change to programme, prevent a breakdown of the NEC programme protocol and avoid prolonged disputes. Under the NEC, adjudication is the process for resolution of disputes at the time, but this presentation also showed how one should deal with delays retrospectively if that becomes necessary. Ultimately, close liaison between the parties is the key to achieving acceptance of the programme…

9. The Trouble with Weather… by David Bordoli of Driver

Compensation events for weather under the NEC contract are not straight forward. Here David Bordoli of Driver Group illustrates some of the problems and misunderstandings about weather as a compensation event; steps to take when agreeing the contract and what is needed to make a successful claim.