PDSI Project Management on an exceptional level

Aviation

At Initiate Consulting we have excellent knowledge of the complex working environments of airports. We understand the operational requirements and the security, health, safety and environmental issues associated with working both airside and landside. We also understand the regulatory environment in which most airports operate and the commercial pressure this places on delivery of investment to provide the required operation and business benefits for the Airport, its customers and stakeholders.

A wide range of considerations underpin every investment decision and how these reflect on an airport’s corporate and social objectives. These include:

• pressure on landing charges;
• return to investors;
• sustainability in an inherently energy-hungry industry;
• effects of regulatory regimes and taxes;
• constantly changing security requirements;
• the importance of local economies (the airport hinterland).

We have a strong understanding of the challenges an airport faces – from long term strategic issues to the short term tactical revisions often required in such a dynamic industry – to accommodate both regulation and operator driven changes.

Understanding our Clients’ requirements is fundamental to our approach in delivering value-added services which help improve their business. We will optimise capital investment solutions to meet our Client’s needs. Our development and delivery capability provides our Clients with certainty of outcomes, thus underpinning the investment decision.

We have extensive experience of planning for and working in airside environments. To the inexperienced, it may appear to just be the frustration of passing through airside security each day. However, it is significantly more than that, for example, materials handling, lay-down areas, inspection of voids before sealing. Initiate Consulting have a significant number of personnel who are experienced in and are security cleared for working in airside environments.

Initiate Consulting has brought new ways of working to airports from our experience of managing rail possession works. Pre-planning and contingency planning to the most meticulous detail, bolstered by honest and open QSRA reviews leads to successful delivery and reliable return to service on a daily basis where required.

We have also provided support on:

• Reviewing and prioritising 15 year capital investment programmes;
• Development Management for an arrivals building;
• Creation of a Value of Space framework in which to assess the effectiveness of capital expenditure in meeting business objectives;
• Creation of a strategy for a design, build, finance and operate approach for an overseas airport;
• Development Management for a new satellite facility.

Construction Logistics Planning (CLP)

Construction Logistic Plans, CLP, are now a requirement of all planning applications in the Greater London Authority area and this will be extended to all planning authorities. Initiate can provide CLPs at every stage, from pre-planning through planning to construction and in use, that suits your needs and requirements.

The Construction Logistics Planning (CLP), has been developed to reduce the volume and impact of construction road freight and the associated issues of safety, congestion and air quality, will provide planning authorities with all the details of expected logistics activities during the construction project and signifies the commitment of developers at the planning stage, and through their subsequent development.

Purpose & benefits of a CLP:

• To consider the logistical impacts of proposed developments
• Reduce environmental impact, road risk and congestion
• Raise safety standards and enhanced site efficiency
• Promote more cost-effective construction logistics activity
• Provide scope for the use of more sustainable modes of transport
• Use for evidence in meeting planning requirements

This industry-led accreditation has provided our group with the expertise to allow us to deliver both Outline and Detailed CLP’s for planning, construction stages and complex construction routing strategies, enabling us to provide a first class professional service.

We support Clients, contractors, materials suppliers, waste contractors with vehicle and logistics planning and management to achieve ‘best in class’ reduction in vehicle movements, enhanced site efficiency, improved profits and compliance with increasing legislation required through their planning applications.

Whether you need a simple or a comprehensive CLP that is a fundamental element of the evolution of the development through planning, design development, construction and in occupation phases connected to BIM and the construction programming processes, Initiate can provide flexible support to suit your business and needs.

Programme Management

A method of linking a set of projects to high-level business objectives to ensure benefits are delivered as expected.
Programme Management maps business objectives onto project portfolios to achieve benefits of strategic importance. It maintains a strategic view over the set of projects, aligning and coordinating them within a programme of business change in support of business strategies.
It provides the linkage that connects individual projects to a rapidly changing business environment and constantly evolving strategy.
Programme Management provides the umbrella under which a number of projects can exist. It provides the framework for ensuring that projects are developed with consistency, are coordinated and are provided with policy, guidance and strategy.
Initiate has extensive experience in providing programme management services having adopted this approach on many asset based construction and engineering undertakings.

Highways

Investment Banking

The world’s markets are dynamic and ever changing. Deregulation, globalisation and technology have all had significant impacts on this sector.
Seed to market and resilience in the working environment are key drivers. A high dependence on IT is a common theme in investment banking projects.

Our involvement has included:

• Project reviews
• Risk management
• Project management
• Global programme management
• Asset management strategy

Health

Commercial Property Development

Commercial property development is undergoing significant fundamental change in response to market change and new patterns of use.
Office retail, industrial and mixed use schemes vary in size and complexity from the very small up to the major schemes such as Battersea Power Station. Out of town shopping, retail parks, business parks, and leisure schemes have all been a new breed of developments over the past couple of decades.

We have been involved with:

• Development Management of a 660 acre site for a mixed use retail and leisure scheme
• Specialist expertise in developments interfacing with the railway
• Project management of mixed use schemes
• Land acquisition
• Construction logistics exercises
• Managing Master Planning exercises

Underground Rail Infrastructure

The underground has gone through significant change in the last decade and now benefits from the highest ever levels of capital investment slowly correcting the decades of under investment in the railway infrastructure.  London Underground is driving forward the investment programmes while continuing to operate a transport network that regularly delivers up to four million passenger journeys per day.

We have provided significant support in this area:

• Defining a £3bn asset renewal programme
• Project development across all assets including track, rolling stock, signalling, stations, depots and power
• Project management of depots, rolling stock and stations
• Commercial offering for complex infrastructure and upgrade specified rights
• Project management of line upgrades
• Benefits management for new projects
• Consultation expertise in conjunction with TWA process
• Project managing the TWA process
• Project managing above station commercial developments
• Project managing the feasibility stage of new lines

Claims Management & Dispute Resolution

initiate provide a comprehensive and proactive approach to claims avoidance and management and have highly experienced practitioners in the following fields:

Claim Avoidance strategies – producing and implementing claim avoidance strategies.
Claims Defence – During the construction phase it is important to ensure compliance with contractual requirements and that proper records are kept. It is also important at the outset of a major project that proper processes are put in place to deal with claims as and when they arise.
Claims Analysis – In order for a claim to succeed it must have contractual basis, supported by factual and accurate records.
Delay & Disruption Analysis – many claims revolve around extensions to contract periods and/or delays in completion. Forensic planning techniques are used to show how events have impacted upon the projected programme of works, in order to allocate responsibility for the delay. The effect on productivity must also be analysed and understood.
Claims Negotiation – most claims can be resolved by successful negotiation without the need for formal dispute resolution procedures.
Litigation or Arbitration – Should litigation be unavoidable claims analysis and technical support is provided to legal counsel.
Adjudication – Adjudication in the construction industry offers a quicker and more cost-effective approach to resolving disputes than litigation or arbitration. An Adjudicator’s decision is binding and usually upheld by the courts.
Expert Witness Testimony – experts are available with a thorough understanding of the most complex construction issues and an appropriate expert with the experience and expertise will be provided to support the client’s position.
Forensic Accounting – Cost data is often extremely complex which can lead to costs being incorrectly billed to a project.

Commercial Management

initiate provide a comprehensive approach to commercial management:

Cost Management – Accurate cost management is important in shaping and managing construction contracts. Services include assisting in establishing a client’s requirements, advising on construction costs including whole life costs, preparation of cost estimates, provision of cost control and cost forecasts, provision of cash flow forecasts, and performing risk analysis and value management.
Procurement – The procurement process in construction is extremely complex and requires a detailed technical legal and commercial knowledge. Services include advising on procurement and contract strategy, preparation of bills of quantities and schedules of rates, preparation of tender documents, managing and analysing tenders, and managing award of contract.
Legal – Legal arrangements in use in construction range from standard forms contracts to bespoke project specific agreements. All need an expert knowledge of construction and construction law. Services include advising on an appropriate form of building contract, preparation of contract documents, advising on a range of legal and contractual issues, provision of advice on contractual disputes, acting as expert witness and adjudication and mediation.
Contract Management – Following award of contract there are numerous legal requirement flowing from the agreement which must be fulfilled. Services include contract administration, accurate record keeping, preparation of valuation of work done and certifying payments, valuing changes, and the preparation and agreement of final accounts.

Project Review & Rescue

Taking action to make sure a project succeeds – monitoring, auditing and rescuing projects that are not going as planned.
To ensure the best results from projects it is vital to monitor progress and quality against agreed criteria. initiate can help ensure delivery to brief, budget and timescale, either on an ongoing or ‘snapshot’ basis. If a project is failing to meet expectations, initiate’s rescue package will identify why there is a shortfall and propose a strategy to realign a project and mitigate any damaging impacts.

Construction Management

Construction Management is an approach to the delivery of construction projects that relies on the procurement and management of trade packages. This allows the client to fast track delivery by overlapping design and construction. It relies on a team to manage the design and construction phases and removes a number of layers of management from within the traditional construction approach of appointing a separate main contractor. This leads to a greater transparency between the client and the trade contractors often leading to more effective payments and reduced cost.
initiate’s experience in providing this service has primarily been with Honda of the UK Manufacturing where this approach has led to significant worldwide benchmarked improvements the value of which has been recognised by the UK Department for Trade and Industry as well as construction bodies.

Project Management

Managing functionality, design, time, cost, safety and quality so that a project is completed satisfactorily.
initiate is expert in all aspects of professional client project management, actively controlling a project to give clients confidence that cost, time and performance objectives will be met.
At the core of our service offering in Project Management is our Project Execution Plan. This is a fundamental building block in our approach and is tailored to meet the specific requirements of the proposed project.

Development Management

An approach to the translation of a client’s business strategy/plan into optimum capital choices and the subsequent creation of the best possible platform for delivery of that strategy.
initiate Consulting’s expertise lies in helping Clients identify and understand their key business objectives and configuring the investment choices in the optimum way to achieve these. Our approach takes in the implications of both wide-ranging strategic and detailed issues. We have a particular talent for identifying and transforming threats into opportunities, based on our understanding of the Client’s aspirations. This is achieved through focussing on potential benefits and the different ways in which these can be realised, including the all-important stage of leading the Client through the changes that are necessary to realise the full benefit of their investment programme.
Having arrived at the optimum solution to the Client’s requirements, we set about developing the key ‘building blocks’ and a ‘route map’ for the programme or projects to provide a robust platform for delivery which includes establishing an appropriate capital cost plan, programme and business case for the project, the appropriate delivery organisation and most effective procurement approach.