Leading Contractors Join Forces to Back New Industry Centre in a Landmark Push for Innovation and Collaboration

2nd Jul 2025

Wates, Stepnell, Morgan Sindall, Kier and BAM have partnered with the newly formed Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP) as Gold Corporate Partners, in a move that signals growing momentum behind a sector-wide push for collaboration, innovation and improved delivery standards.

The five firms are among the UK’s most prominent contractors, committed to supporting CCBP’s mission to tackle long-standing issues in the industry, including supply chain instability, skills shortages, and the need for stronger, more collaborative relationships between clients and delivery teams. As founding partners, they will contribute their knowledge and expertise to help shape the Centre’s future direction.

The centre is focused on closing the gap between academia and practice by facilitating meaningful collaboration through its academic Advisory Boards and Corporate Partner network. This unique partnership ensures feedback and research flows both ways to encourage tangible improvements in project delivery, sustainability and sector culture.

Robbie Blackhurst, Chair of the Centre for Construction Best Practice, said: “At CCBP, we believe innovation and best practice in the built environment can only happen through collaboration. The commitment from BAM, Kier, Wates, Morgan Sindall, and Stepnell shows they share that vision.

With major government investment underway and urgent challenges around skills, net zero and delivery capability, we need joined up and research-led action.

CCBP connects industry and academia to address these issues head on, not through a talking shop, but by driving practical change through research and collaboration.

It’s encouraging to see companies who normally compete working together for the benefit of the wider industry.”

Stephen Beechey, Group Public Sector Director at Wates Group, said: “Improving how we deliver the built environment requires more than technical solutions – it takes genuine collaboration, shared learning, and a long-term view of value. That’s why we’re pleased to support the Centre for Construction Best Practice. Its focus on bridging industry and academia aligns with our belief that thriving places are created when expertise is shared, and delivery is reimagined.”

Rebecca Boundy, Managing Director for Clients and Markets at Kier added: “We joined CCBP because we believe in the value of bringing together industry expertise and academic research to drive meaningful change.

Working alongside other contractors and researchers, we will create practical solutions which improve how we deliver projects. It’s about combining knowledge, technology, and collaboration to raise standards and create lasting impact. We’re excited about the journey ahead and the opportunities this partnership will bring—not just for Kier, but for the wider industry.”

Adrian Blackie, Pre-Construction Director at BAM echoed this point, commenting: “As a corporate partner for the Centre for Construction Best Practice our ambition is to collaborate with industry partners and academia to drive best practice, promote innovation, and make our vision possible.”

CCBP recently hosted its first roundtable, where partner organisations agreed a focus on improving the UK’s construction delivery model. Key concerns raised included a lack of early contractor engagement, inconsistent accountability, and poor risk allocation, all of which can lead to programme delays and cost overruns.

The Centre will work to promote earlier collaboration between clients, designers and contractors, with an emphasis on role-based competency frameworks, transparent risk sharing, and quality-led procurement strategies.

Steffan Speer, Technical Director, Morgan Sindall Construction said: “At Morgan Sindall Construction, we’re always seeking better ways to deliver. To create real, lasting value for our customers and communities. My role allows me to work across the business to embed best practice and explore innovation wherever it can drive positive change – whether through technology, quality, or collaboration.

That’s why becoming a corporate partner of CCBP made sense. It connects us with like-minded businesses who are equally focused on improving how we design and build – not only in terms of performance, but in purpose. We want to be part of something that challenges the status quo, shares learning openly, and accelerates change and innovation across our industry.

This partnership is an opportunity to shape the future of construction in a more conscious, efficient and impactful way. That’s something I’m proud to support, and something I believe will benefit the entire built environment.”

Tom Sewell, Regional Director of Stepnell, added: “We’re proud to align ourselves with an organisation that shares our ambition to shape a more conscious, forward-thinking built environment. This partnership offers valuable opportunities to collaborate with like-minded peers, contribute to meaningful research, and help influence the future of policy.”

With backing from its Gold Corporate Partners, the Centre will now press ahead with its research agenda and sector engagement programme. This will include the publication of government whitepapers, industry-wide working groups, and events that bring together practitioners and academics to address real world challenges and shape practical solutions that can be adopted across the supply chain.

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