Wise Up Wednesday: Will 2016 Be Better Than 2015 for UK Construction?
Will 2016 Be Better Than 2015 for UK Construction?
Happy New Year!
For most Specialist Contractors the last couple of weeks have been a very important time of the year.
First, for many it’s one of the few proper breaks you get with a lot of sites closed over the Christmas break. I hope you got time to enjoy the results of your efforts in 2015, or chill out, relax and reflect on things if it wasn’t such a great year.
How To Make 2016 Better Than 2015
The break between Christmas and New Year – is also a great time where we can take a step back and really start to plan for the year ahead.
Most business owners hope for a successful new year. Those who achieve it have put some serious thought into how it’s going to happen.
For the smart Specialist Contractors 2016 could be a bumper year, but for those that don’t wise up it could be a very dangerous year indeed!
So, here’s your opportunity to be one of those smarter Specialist Contractors and discover those secrets that will ensure your business success…
7 Key Secrets That Will Ensure You Have A Happy Successful 2016
1 Know who you are working for! Watch out for companies acting as agents, dormant companies, companies of straw and companies registered in other jurisdictions.
Some of the biggest companies including Balfour Beatty use these types of arrangement, and they can create real obstacles when you try to get paid.
2 Understanding your obligations. Understanding the how, what, when, were and extent of your liability is crucial to ensure that it doesn’t come back to bite you!
Watch out for dubious “value engineering” practices and make sure that you check the contract thoroughly to ensure it reflects what has been agreed..
Yes it’s a pain and yes it can be tricky, but if you’re not sure get good advice. Our experts can check contracts quickly and cost effectively, so give us a call.
3 Not all contracts are the same! If you don’t recognise the onerous terms of the contract you are highly likely to be one of the business failures of 2016!
You may not be surprised to hear that most contracts we check for Specialist Contractors are stuffed full of onerous terms and conditions.
But, what may surprise you is how often we can get onerous terms taken out or amended, and get the Contractor to agree to fair and reasonable terms.
4 Don’t create your own problems! Make sure that you don’t fall into the Contractor’s trap of taking no action when problems occur. Or they will steal your money to make their profit margin!
Please do not fall for their – “no need to be contractual” B.S.
Sorry, but there is every need to follow the contract, and if they interpret that as being “contractual” then so be it. You can be sure they will be “contractual” if you step out of line!
5 Price, profit and promotion. How to make sure you are one of the success stories of 2016.
Trust me, we make “marketing” simple. Yes there is a lot of B.S. out there about marketing, and most of the books on the subject make my brain hurt!
And if you think getting on a tender list is all there is to it, then sorry to burst your bubble but almost anyone can do that. After all how much does it cost a Contractor to send you an enquiry? Basically nothing, so the Contractor doesn’t care how many he sends out…
But, getting the right kind of enquiry, from the right Contractor, and marketing your business for maximum profits is easy with our help and advice – we can even do it all for you.
6 How to get paid! I reckon the biggest single challenge that you faced in 2015 was getting paid. And I’m sorry to break this to you, but making sure you get paid on time every time, and what you are owed, is going to be a major challenge in 2016 too!
Whilst this time of year can be relaxing, it can also be extremely stressful, as tight fisted Contractors hang on to your money over the Christmas period and into the New Year.
There are weapons in your armoury that you probably don’t even know you’ve got, so don’t stand for late or underpayment. Take action!
We can sort the late payers out for you, just give our team a call on 01773 712116.
7 Take action! Learn how to take action to ensure your success in 2016.
Whatever level your business is at, I want to encourage you to wonder if there’s something more.
More to know, more to learn, more to experience and enjoy and be.
A better more profitable, enjoyable, less stressful way.
But, unfortunately what got you here won’t get you there!
Because the old adage that “if you always do what you have always done – you will always get what you’ve always got” is so very true!
So, if you have had a tough time for the last few years, and yet you still keep working with the wrong kind of Contractors or Clients who will sap your strength and steal your profits, then maybe it’s time for a new approach.
I hope you enjoyed my Wise Up Wednesday and that it gave you some food for thought, and I sincerely hope to speak with you soon, so if you need any help with any of your business problems, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call.
In the meantime may I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Healthy and Successful New Year!
Follow