Independent Representation - beyond project management

Client representation is a core service offered to property occupiers and funding institutions. It's a real test of our skill and experience to be able to anticipate problems and issues before they arise, and implement solutions effectively.

Recently, we've been working on a project with multiple stakeholders – from Health & Safety, to marketing, personnel management, finance and Information Technology - and not a day has passed without some form of exciting debate around conflicting needs. Understanding funding agreements, development agreements, the best way to structure construction contracts and a project team, manage the development of the brief, and ensure a high quality, sustainable design to meet time and cost objectives is not easy. Understanding how things 'get done' and driving project solutions demands a high degree of experience and commitment.

Projects invariably stir up challenging issues and conflicting needs, and it is how these issues are facilitated and managed for the particular client concerned that makes or breaks a project. Recognising the different agendas and objectives of stakeholders is key. Negotiating skills are important, because when conflicting opinions arise they must be carefully worked through to achieve a solution that is acceptable.

Projects are like people – they change. They have to adapt to fit their environment or changing patterns. The secret is ensuring that stakeholders share a very clear vision of what is to be achieved and what the results will ‘look like'. Having someone around who can interpret what is happening as the project takes on shape, quickly and efficiently, and monitor the journey through to completion is what independent representation is all about.