Technical expertise and regulatory knowledge are essential in asbestos works, but they are not the only factors that can affect compliance. Envirocall gives an insider view into their contract with Stroud District Council, revealing the often-overlooked skills needed to deliver successful and compliant asbestos works.
Through real-life examples, the asbestos specialist demonstrates why effective communication and relationship management can be just as critical as technical competence. We explore how these qualities contribute towards contract success and how to design tenders that secure suppliers with these attributes.
Envirocall has specialised in asbestos removal and remediation for almost 40 years. In 2021, Stroud District Council appointed them through Westworks’ Building Maintenance and Compliance DPS to deliver:
- Responsive asbestos removal, including a 24/7 emergency service
- Asbestos removal for cyclical works, such as painting
- Planned asbestos removal activities.
The five-year contract was recently extended following successful delivery and positive client feedback.
Putting residents’ minds at ease
Given the risks associated with asbestos, it’s understandable that people affected by asbestos works may have concerns. If anxieties and misunderstandings aren’t addressed effectively, they can quickly become blockers to work progressing. Envirocall explains that good communication is therefore essential, and an expert voice can offer the reassurance that is needed.
During a project to replace a roofline for Stroud District Council (SDC), Envirocall was able to put residents’ minds at ease about the safety of asbestos works required. They started by building understanding; joining a resident meeting at a local community centre to explain why the asbestos removal works were needed, the methods they would use, and the safety measures in place. The team also kept residents updated on project progress and assisted SDC with managing resident queries.
Envirocall’s early and regular engagement resulted in peace of mind for residents and smooth project completion for the client.
Ben Tudor, Commercial Manager at Envirocall says that strong resident engagement was a common theme across the contract:
Working within live residential environments requires effective communication with tenants. Delivery of our contract with SDC has relied on quality engagement. This included coordinating works around vulnerable residents, navigating access restrictions and following safeguarding requirements.
Procurement tip
Before tendering an asbestos contract, it’s important that you understand who will be impacted by the works and agree internally who will liaise and communicate with them.
Consider whether your organisation has the resource to act as liaison officer or requires the supplier to do this. Ensure this information is clear in the tender pack.
If you require suppliers to act as liaison, ask in the tender how they will communicate with and support the communities that will be impacted.
When you procure through Westworks, our team will ask you these types of questions ahead of launching a tender to ensure clarity for suppliers and avoid delays at later stages.
Asbestos compliance relies on teamwork
Asbestos removal is usually just one part of a larger job or project. Suppliers must therefore be able to co-ordinate their works carefully to ensure they are carried out efficiently. In addition to this, an asbestos contractor must communicate and liaise effectively with other suppliers so that conditions, processes and materials meet asbestos regulatory requirements.
Envirocall attributes their success in part to their meticulous planning and collaborative approach. On a job for Stroud, for example, they worked closely with a supplier to make sure scaffolding was set up correctly and supported the controlled conditions needed for asbestos removal.
To maintain compliance and efficiency across trades, Envirocall held regular meetings with the other suppliers and the client to check on progress and any issues. They also completed weekly on-the-spot safety audits.
SDC was impressed by Envirocall’s planning, processes and timely response. Dawn Scott, their Technical Compliance Officer, commented:
Working with Envirocall and their process of raising orders is well managed and scheduled appropriately according to the contract KPIs and ACM type.
The whole team is easily contactable, including scheduler and contract manager, along with all directors should I have any issues arise.
I would recommend Envirocall due to both their helpfulness and their professionalism.
Procurement tip
If a project is reliant on suppliers working together, ask for examples or case studies where they successfully delivered a project with another trade.
Also, be clear in your tender pack whether related works are being carried out by an in-house team under your direct management or by another supplier. Ensure that timescales align across trades to deliver the works effectively.
Controlling costs of reactive works
Managing costs is an important factor on Envirocall’s contract with Stroud District Council, as it includes emergency asbestos removal, which can generate unforeseen work and costs.
One way that Envirocall controls costs is through site visits from their Commercial team. These visits are used to verify that the costed methods are being followed in practice. The team also reviews the tendered rates against actual spend in monthly meetings with the client, keeping them updated and informed throughout.
Ben says that effective budgeting has been a key to delivering their contract for Stroud:
Despite changing programmes and short-notice instructions, we’ve remained commercially competitive whilst continuing to provide a dependable level of service and operational support. Cost planning and management has been essential to building the high-trust relationship we have with Stroud District Council today.
Procurement tip
Good cost management starts at procurement. To get realistic estimates for works make sure that during the tender process you:
- Provide a full and clear project scope
- Are transparent with suppliers about risks or challenges
- Tell suppliers about any risk mitigation you have already carried out
- Give plenty of time for suppliers to understand the requirements and submit accurate bids
At Westworks, we’ll provide feedback and guidance on your tender pack. We’ll highlight any information gaps or risks that might affect the quality or accuracy of responses, based on our extensive tender management experience. We can also advise on timescales for the tender.
How to secure the right skills for contract success
Technical ability and certifications are certainly important when procuring an asbestos removal supplier, but Envirocall’s successful contract reminds us that we must also ask how they deliver the work. On this type of contract, poor communication or siloed working could at best cause resident stress and complaints, and at worst lead to serious health risks and non-compliance.
To set your contract up for success at procurement stage, be clear on the scope of the project, the stakeholders involved and their responsibilities in your tender pack. And don’t forget to ask suppliers to demonstrate their soft skills, such as stakeholder engagement, collaboration and planning in their bids.
Procurement tailored to your compliance project
Westworks can help you procure the skills you need for asbestos removal works or other compliance services.
Our Building Maintenance and Compliance DPS provides a flexible and compliant route to market, allowing you to set your own criteria and questions to meet project requirements. Our team is also on hand to offer end-to-end support, market insights and recommendations to help you achieve your procurement goals.
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