Laing O’Rourke has joined a small list of major construction firms that are deemed so critical to the delivery of public services that their relationship with the government is managed centrally as a “strategic supplier”.
The Cabinet Office’s Commercial Relationships Board awarded the contractor strategic supplier status earlier this month.
It means the company will work with an appointed crown representative as part of the Government’s new approach to monitoring and managing strategic suppliers via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The crown representatives help the Government act as a single customer when engaging suppliers.
Other construction companies to hold strategic supplier status include Amey, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Interserve, Jacobs, KBR, Kier and Mott Macdonald. Carillion was also a strategic supplier before it collapsed in 2018.
Laing O’Rourke’s addition to the list comes as the government finalises plans for a number of major infrastructure projects, including the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), the delivery of 40 new hospitals by 2030, and new nuclear facilities and rail projects.
John O’Connor, group commercial director at Laing O’Rourke, said: “We are delighted to have secured Strategic Supplier status. It is exciting news and reflects both the health of our business and our strong track record of delivery using our DfMA led approach. We look forward to working with Government to deliver the infrastructure the country needs and building back greener, faster and better.”
