KEY NATIONAL TRENDS

Clients and contractors must adapt to change to achieve best outcomes

Click through to read more about our key findings

Retention payments ban

While the retention payments ban may have a positive impact on quality, it may also have the unintended consequence of throttling opportunity for SME subcontractors as contractors look set to increase vetting and increase the use of bonds.

Route to market

There has been a rebound in single-stage tendering as pipelines ease and contractors fear tying up bid teams for long two-stage periods.

Types of contract

Clients are still relying heavily on design and build forms of contract, and – despite the Building Safety Act – passing over design at Stage 3 more frequently than last year.

AI in tender responses

AI usage by contractors is now mainstream, with more than three quarters using it to some degree, primarily to write qualitative answers to bid questions.

Retention ban

While the retention ban may have a positive impact on quality, it may also have the unintended consequence of throttling opportunity for SME subcontractors as contractors look set to increase vetting and increase the use of bonds.

Route to market

There has been a rebound in single-stage tendering as pipelines ease and contractors fear tying up bid teams for long two-stage periods.

Types of contract

Clients are still relying heavily on design and build forms of contract, despite the Building Safety Act passing over design at Stage 3 more frequently than last year.

AI in tender responses

AI usage by contractors is now mainstream, with more than three quarters using it to some degree, primarily to write qualitative answers to bid questions.