University and YORhub’s toolkit aims to help region’s smaller construction firms

CONSTRUCTION innovation experts at Leeds Beckett University have joined forces with Yorkshire’s largest public sector procurement framework organisation to boost opportunities for small businesses in Yorkshire.

Leeds Beckett University will work with YORhub to create a Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit, which aims to increase the number and diversity of regional small-andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to public sector procurement frameworks. It is a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK.

Prof Mohammed Dulaimi, Project Leader and Head of Engineering in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds

Beckett, said: “This KTP builds on a strong relationship between Leeds Beckett and YORhub.

“Ensuring competitiveness and diversity in the supply chain is a national challenge in public sector procurement. Framework managers are hindered by legislation that stifles innovation and plays to the strengths of large consulting and construction companies, leaving

SMEs with lower-value contracts. This hinders innovation as SMEs with better on-the-ground insight are unable to positively engage directly with clients or YORhub to suggest improvements. YORhub will disrupt this status quo by developing a Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit which addresses the challenges of engaging with SMEs and has the potential to achieve large-scale, industry-wide, impact.” Steve Baker, Head of Construction Services and YORhub at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The construction sector is an industry in need of innovation. This KTP will bring academic know-how and innovation to the challenges that are being experienced nationally, which are particularly acute in the public sector.”