Constructing the Gold Standard was published in late 2021, and its recommendations for improved construction procurement, contracting and management were endorsed in the 2022 Construction Playbook. These describe collaborative strategic commitments by which the construction industry and its clients can improve value, manage risks and avoid disputes. For example, the Gold Standard helps establish and accelerate the adoption of affordable approaches to achieving net zero carbon.

The 120 contributors to Constructing the Gold Standard agreed that frameworks offer the best route to deliver transformational improvements in project outcomes, escaping the Groundhog Day of lost learning between projects. However, they also highlighted the waste and cynicism caused by exaggerated pipelines of work, by a quick-fix client mentality and by a lack of consistent, fair, value-based models for evaluation and contracting. So, of the 2,000 public sector frameworks in operation, how many are making the serious changes needed to transform construction performance?

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