How to use the toolkit

The toolkit draws on a wide range of partnering experiences and knowledge but it cannot tell you where and when to start the new approach. Only you can take that decision in terms of your own organisation’s needs, procedures and culture, and in consultation with your supply chain and stakeholders.

The format used in the toolkit is set out from the initial Business Case to carrying out a project and then moves on through a range of key issues or points in a broadly sequential arrangement.

The essential elements of partnering addressed in the Toolkit under the titles listed below will give you the benefit of the practical experiences of leading housing clients who have adopted partnering as a way of meeting their business needs.The messages are supplemented by examples from work in the field and by up to date references on current policy, practices, tools and techniques.

The elements of the toolkit are listed below ... for selection by users ... by clicking on whichever one they wish to refer to:

Getting Started - The Pre-conditions for Successful Partnering Making the Business Case Integrating the Client Organisation - Internal Partnering Overcoming Resistance to Change Choosing a Procurement Strategy Ensuring Probity, Audit Trails and Accountability Dealing with Regulatory Controls

Working as a Successful Partnering Team Taking the Lead as Client Appointing a Partnering Champion Selecting the Partnering Team Integrating the Supply Chain Involving Residents and Tenants Selecting the Contract Building the Team:Defining common aims and objectives Assessing and Managing Risk Focusing on Sustainability and Whole Life Value Using Performance Incentives

Doing it even better - Continuous Improvement Measuring, Managing and Reviewing Performance Delivering Wider Community Benefits Developing Industry Learning and Skills

Users can access further help using this link to a list of additional websites, literature and toolkits.This list is also available as you use the toolkit from each of the main section pages.

However there is no one right way of starting to partner.The only right way for you is what suits your organisation best. You can start wherever you are and whenever you are ready, as illustrated below:

Many successful housing partnering projects have started after competitive tenders had already been obtained and followed by a post -award project partnering agreement.

Others have started after a previous contract awarded by price tendering was successfully delivered, and the same contractor used again under a new arrangement.

Others have started with clients and consultants only, and then the arrangement has been extended to contractors.

Some have started with main contractor taking the lead by advising clients on the basis of their experience with other clients, and then extending the arrangement to consultants and key members of the supply chain.

More advanced organisations who have been developing partnering over a number of years have set up long term strategic partnering arrangements.