RIDGEWAY

Complementing the established COMPASS* Charter system, the PRO-net™ Charter is designed to significantly raise standards in the fencing sector through a commitment to best practice, continuous improvement and ongoing KPI measurement. Betafence Fencing claims that the new Chartered status will provide a means of demonstrating to clients, main contractors and other supply chain players that its holders are best-of-breed and committed to continuous improvement and partnering.

Charter contractors must commit to a broad range of Charter elements designed to instil the necessary cultural, managerial and functional changes necessary for continuous improvement and truly integrated working. The Charter compliance requirements include KPI measurement, site auditing, education, training, financial standing and technical competence. A detailed Code of Conduct governs standards of ethical and business conduct and all Chartered companies are subject to a rigourous annual review conducted by an independent panel of experts.

According to Mike Pollard, Marketing Director at Betafence Fencing and the mastermind behind the PRO-netT scheme, the attainment of Charter status is a now a mandatory prerequisite for all Betafence PRO-net™ contractors: "It is a requirement for all PRO-net™Contractors to become Chartered within 12 months of becoming part of the network," he says. "By making this a compulsory condition we now believe we are operating the most professional integrated contractor network in the country."

The Betafence PRO-net™ network was established in 1998 and currently numbers over 50 of the country's best fencing contractors. The network is the subject of a case study on the Strategic Forum for Construction's new web-based Integration Toolkit.

Pollard firmly believes that procurement through integrated supply chains is the way ahead: "Already, many clients are starting to procure on the basis of partnering relationships and this is a trend that is going to accelerate as the benefits become apparent, he says. "Clients no longer just want the lowest price, they want guaranteed whole-life, best-value solutions from pre-assembled supply chain modules. The introduction of the PRO-net™Charter will make the identification, selection, selection and management of these modules much easier."