SME Spotlight – BAQUS

The BAQUS-Pick Everard relationship is very much a mutually beneficial one. Whilst we’ve heard stories of transactional one-way relationships in some supply chains, we’ve always been treated on an equal footing by Pick Everard and our two-way dialogue has enabled us to learn from each other and develop together. The partnership has really helped to build collaborative relationships across our team both at national level between Directors and Partners, and at regional office level.

Being a Tier 1 supplier on the SCAPE framework has proved beneficial for all parties concerned.

Our existing clients are able to call on us through the SCAPE PMandQS framework knowing they’ll be able to discuss exact requirements prior to commissioning with the peace of mind they’ll be receiving a class-leading, market tested fee deal. New clients have been won and retained as a direct result of the clear opportunity SCAPE offers, along with our collaborative abilities to meet the client’s objectives and deliver the outputs they need.

SCAPE has enabled us to expand our client base, as well as provide a market tested route for our existing clients to engage us on further projects. We’re proud of our return business ratio and SCAPE certainly has a part to play in this. Our motto of 'Personal Commitment Guaranteed' is one we work very hard to live up to and which helps greatly with client satisfaction and retention.

We’re also proud of our staff training and personal development record going back decades. One Director recently celebrated 30 years with the Group having started as a 'Youth Opportunities Programme' trainee way back in 1986. Currently we have apprentices taking NVQ and Diploma courses and other staff taking BSc and Master's degrees or completing professional qualifications with RICS, CIOB, APM and APS. They are mentored by senior colleagues all the way through. And it’s not just industry-related qualifications that we support our staff through. We ensure all staff reach their full potential by encouraging personal development and professional qualifications in their relevant business unit meaning we’ve an accountant completing their ACCA qualification and a member of the marketing team finishing their CIM Diploma.

To say that major frameworks exclude SMEs is quite simply wrong. The certainty in pipeline of work, and the transparency in the way Pick Everard and SCAPE operate has enabled us to invest, grow and compete on large contracts in our own right. If being part of the SCAPE team didn’t work for us as a business, we wouldn’t be doing it. The market place is big enough for frameworks to co-exist with other procurement routes, and the choice given to clients ultimately allows them to achieve best value, which is vital for the public sector.

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