At Sunderland Ives, we specialise in planning and programme management services designed to help clients minimise risks and effectively manage contractual obligations throughout the lifecycle of their construction projects.
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A well-constructed programme is often a contractual obligation in construction contracts, and ineffective management can lead to significant disputes. Many standard forms of contract, including NEC, IChemE, and FIDIC, require regular updates to the programme, reflecting actual progress and forecasting future milestones. Our programmes services are essential for assessing project performance, managing delays, and evaluating the impact of changes or unforeseen events.
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By ensuring that your programme is both compliant with contractual requirements and adaptable to the realities of construction, we help you avoid costly disputes and maintain control over the project’s commercial and operational outcomes. Our services focus on proactive risk management and ensuring contractual duties are fulfilled, providing the necessary structure to manage change and keep your project on course, protecting your financial and legal interests.
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OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:
Project planning and scheduling
Successful projects begin with solid planning. We work with clients to create detailed project schedules that outline all key activities, timelines, resources, and dependencies. By developing a realistic and robust plan from the outset, we help you set clear expectations, manage resource allocation, and avoid disputes. Our planning process includes the development of detailed programmes, critical path analysis, and milestone tracking to ensure that every stage of the project is clearly mapped out.
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Risk management and contingency planning
In construction projects, unforeseen risks can have a significant impact on schedules and budgets. Our planning and programme management services include proactive risk management to identify potential issues before they arise and develop contingency plans to mitigate their effects. By addressing risks early, we help you minimie disruptions and maintain project momentum.
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Monitoring and progress reporting
Continuous monitoring and reporting are essential to keeping projects on track. We provide detailed progress tracking and reporting services, offering clients real-time visibility into the status of their projects. This ensures that you always have an accurate picture of project progress and can make informed decisions to address any issues or delays.
Delay analysis and mitigation
Delays can severely impact a construction project’s profitability and timeline. We specialise in delay analysis, helping you identify the root causes of any delays, assess their impact on the overall programme, and implement strategies to get the project back on track. In cases where delays cannot be avoided, we provide robust documentation and support to manage contractual implications and claim entitlements.
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Communication and collaboration
We maintain open lines of communication with all concerned parties, including where appropriate the project manager, contractors, subcontractors, and clients. This ensures everyone is aligned on project goals and timelines. Furthermore, facilitate planning and progress meetings to discuss the programme, address concerns, and collaboratively seek solutions to any issues that arise.
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Compliance with contract requirements
It is important that all planning activities comply with the principles and requirements outlined in the contract, including the management of change and effective communication. We ensure that all changes to the programme are documented and that any necessary notifications are made in accordance with the contract conditions.
Claims and Dispute Avoidance
A well-structured programme can help prevent disputes by ensuring that all parties have a clear understanding of the project’s scope, timelines, and responsibilities. We offer services to proactively avoid claims by identifying potential areas of conflict and addressing them before they escalate. Should disputes arise, we provide expert guidance on managing claims in a way that minimises disruption to the project.
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Post-Project Review and Lessons Learned
Once the project is complete, we provide post-project reviews to assess the success of the planning and programme management approach. We analyse what worked well and identify areas for improvement, offering valuable lessons that can be applied to future projects. This continuous improvement process helps clients refine their programme management practices and achieve even better results in subsequent projects.