The Good Client Guide

Recently I have had occasion to consider the role of the construction client.

ICE is proposing a Good Client Guide, which should be available by the autumn. The Clients’ pivotal role in the success of a project has long been recognised – John Smeaton noted this in the 1760s, and gave advice to the Board of the Forth-Clyde Canal, making clear what they should expect of him and others on that project.

One problem is the whole range of clients in the construction sector. In schools, for example, there are the elected politicians setting out strategy, civil servants responsible for delivery, and then local government, perhaps in different political control, and finally the ‘school’ itself – with its staff and other stakeholders. They, the ultimate client, are very dependent on both the expertise of the other client tiers in getting policy and funding right, as well as the construction professionals involved in delivery.

In this situation developing a client guide is a challenge – how much should we assume the client knows? How much detail do we need to provide about procurement systems, risk, and project management. Before long it ceases to be the couple of sheet of advice Smeaton provided, and becomes a heavyweight handbook.

Hopefully, ICE Guide will get the balance right.

Mike Chrimes