AMEC has taken its partnering approach one step further by signing partnering agreements with 21 key suppliers and subcontractors across its main areas of activity. All are providers of goods and services which are seen to have a high strategic and financial importance. The signings follow a pre-qualification process which has taken several months and has involved many of the engineering and construction industry’s leading specialists and suppliers.

AMEC has worked on a partnering basis with clients across a range of industries and considers the benefits, in terms of quality, cost and efficiency to be considerable. The group has also worked on a similar – but less formal - basis with subcontractors and suppliers in the past.

AMEC launched its strategic partners initiative last year in order to develop innovative ways of working with key providers of goods and services. The aim was to incorporate the philosophies, benefits and advantages of longer term partnering arrangements for all companies in the supply chain.

George Payne, main board director of AMEC, said: "We are very pleased with the progress of our strategic partners initiative and we are still working with a number of other suppliers to secure further agreements. This is clearly an on-going process and our aim is to substantially increase our work with suppliers and subcontractors who are strategic partners."

The focus is on developing more creative solutions and more profitable ways of doing business.

Anna Lagerkvist