New civils company

[acsgroundworks]

Hi started new groundwork and civils company, just looking for advice on how to break into housing market.
How do you get to speak to required person within company ect.
Any help please..

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Hey there,

Tricky isn't it? I work for the UK's largest building materials distributor Saint-Gobain, parent company to Graham/Jewson, Ashworth etc. It is expensive but our guys use glenigan, a construction lead generation website that catalogues all small, medium, large and super large construction projects. It gives you a great deal of detail including the company behind the project, all the key contacts within the company, who has already tendered, who was turned down for tender etc. Worth a look.

 

[acsgroundworks]

Thanks for reply i'll have a look, as i stated just started up funds are low, bank manager should have been toilet attendant, he does'nt understand how construction works. but i keep on looking...

 

[Estimator]

I admire your fortitude in starting a construction business in these desperate times.
Re; housing, the only stuff being built is the odd social housing job at the moment, and competition is fierce.
I would recommend you writing to large contractors who subcontract their groundworks and ask to price any tenders.
Of course they will want to see evidence and references of previous jobs undertaken by your company - this is where you might hit a wall as a new company will not have the portfolio.

 

[newsh1]

We use Glenigan here at Eurosafe UK and negotiated a lot better deal than they originally offered. As a new business I would guess that you would only want leads that are local to yourself so ask Glenigan for a price to provide you with leads within say a 40 mile radius of your base. This brings the cost right down

I also agree with Estimator that social housing is where you need to be looking as rates with the big house builders will not put a very big turkey on the table come the 25th! We work with a lot of the social housing specialists so google the likes of Apollo, FHM, Bramalls, Connaught, Kier, Thomas Vale for example.

Oh, and get your health and safety sorted out as you will get nowhere without it

 

[dal]

I'm similar to yourself; we're in very very similar area too (enemies lol ), only joking plenty of work out there. Check out my site by google search for Precise Formwork Limited.
I think the main thing at the minute is like estimator said government funded projects. Starting out is the hardest part, We get ours from previous jobs and good reputation.
I checked out your site, nice site, you have lots of previous jobs, and does not look like a new company.

 

[Sure]

hi,
I would think that you need to be looking to small local builders/developers doing small sites. try going to where somebodies building and ask about their next project.

if your'e thinking of bigger developers (house hold names) then you may find this quite difficult, you will need plenty of plant, a few million pounds, plenty of insurance, "proof" that you are doing, or have done similar projects, and at the moment probably be willing to work at cost.

If you go to smaller sites ask the lads working there who pays the bills, if your'e looking at a larger set up you would need to ask for something like an approved contractor questionnaire, if you telephone the building company the reception person will know who you need to talk, just ask them, sometimes its a surveyor, sometimes a tender administrator etc.

and as newsh1 says health and safety is no1
good luck

 

[roofing solutions]

Im thinking of trying the same thing mate, im getting a bit of local work at the moment but want to build out of the recession.