By Bob Tarrant CB.
Agile. Enterprising. Innovative. It’s crucial when working on your highly-sensitive and secure defence project to embrace the proactive, forward-thinking approach of collaborative partners.
It means an openness to try something new; a process, a technique. Combatting and mitigating risks in order to take opportunities to deliver the right quality, cost and time, every time. It’s the willingness and energy to do something different that takes more planning and leadership.
From my time in the Royal Navy, it was always these collaborative partners – those who took time to understand our requirements, who were proactive and nimble when things changed rapidly – that encouraged us to come back, time after time.
I am the first to admit that I am not a construction expert, but I do know the defence sector, and I know that this is a sector that would welcome fresh thinking in an agile way.
The requirement for agility
Across the defence sector, agile providers offer nimbleness, innovation and adaptability, when there are changes – indispensable attributes in an ever-evolving construction landscape.
Less agile construction partners may also be constricted by legacy processes, cumbersome hierarchy and are probably less well positioned to meet your changing needs or challenging situations.
As a Rear Admiral for the Royal Navy, in a position similar to a Director of Operations, I can immediately relate to the challenges of running a complex construction business in specialist industries, having been responsible for several global operations bases from the Caribbean to Asia.
My feeling is that almost all of you reading this have felt frustrated with the excessive rigidity of certain projects when working at scale. Working with a more agile, forward-thinking company may be a better option for you and your team, whether clever construction in specialist industries like Sweet Projects, or other areas in your wider supply chain.
Agility for innovation
Size and innovation often go hand-in-hand. It’s easy to assume that the largest corporations dominate the landscape. Indeed, large construction industry players have made significant contributions to the defence sector.
However, it is equally crucial to recognise the significant role and irreplaceable value that fast-growing partners in the defence sector, such as Sweet Projects, can bring to the table.
Possessing the agility to swiftly adapt to changing circumstances and technological advancements is a crucial capability. Pivoting quickly to cater for evolving defence needs, creating custom solutions for specific challenges.
Larger organisations, while undoubtedly capable, may find it more challenging to embrace new technologies or novel approaches due to their use of traditional processes.
Many new and rapidly-growing businesses are at the forefront of innovative solutions, and sustainable and eco-friendly practices in defence construction. We’re more inclined to take different routes and try new ways of working. Our size also enables us to make quicker decisions to implement environmentally-conscious technologies and materials.
Delivering growth for defence construction
Sweet Projects provides cost-effective solutions, as we have lower overheads and are more focused on specific projects. This can result in substantial cost savings for defence projects without compromising quality, project communications or security.
Being more approachable and flexible when it comes to collaboration, conversations and partnerships are paramount. We bring in the right experts at the right time, and offer our specialised technical expertise. In an era where interdisciplinary cooperation is the norm, we provide essential bridges for knowledge exchange between all parties.
Projects move quickly, and each day’s delay on a construction or refurbishment schedule has a considerable, trickle-down, costed impact on day-to-day businesses.
State-of-the-art infrastructure, new architectural plans or redesigns, and cutting-edge technology need to work cooperatively, and harmoniously, within a sustainable environment. Specific requirements including secure areas, controlled access zones, and bespoke, changing workspaces, may need to be adapted as the project moves forward.
Agile businesses are, in my mind, the innovative stalwarts of the defence sector, wielding the power of collaboration and adaptability to solve issues – not just when they appear, but preempting challenges and solving them before they arise.
If you would like to discuss your next defence construction project with an agile partner that understands complex projects, get in touch with me to set up a call.
