He set the scene for the day, highlighting the need for a change in procurement models in order to involve contractors and the supply chain at a much earlier stage. He also touched on ‘carrot and stick’ methods of changing attitudes in the construction industry, with incentives for training and retaining of local workers and the use of less labour intensive practices through points systems and mechanisation credits, as well as deterring the use of foreign workers through increased levies.

These themes were taken up by other speakers, with Seah Hsiu-Min Eugene of Davis Langdon & Seah and Chantel-Aimée Doerries QC of Atkin Chambers focusing on the types of contracts used in Singapore, the need for full disclosure of design information at an early stage and questioning whether there is a need for a change in the way risk is allocated in order to encourage more cooperative methods of working and thus more efficiency.

Presentations by Er Wong Pui Fun Joanne of Meinhardt, Dr Cui Wei of Shimizu and Dr Philip Chan of NUS about the submissions procedures, the use of prefabrication and BIM, highlighted the need for increased team working and project management at an early stage in the project if the goals of greater productivity and improved safety are to be achieved.