In December 2020, the government published the Construction Playbook which sets out its guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes.

The term “playbook” originates from the sport of American football where it describes “a book containing a team’s strategies and plays”, but the concept itself is relatively simple. Specify a range of options but leave the final choices to the players on the field.

But the Construction Playbook is more than just a book of ideas. While much of what it contains is not new - the issues and solutions have been debated as long as I have been in the industry - the principles that underpin it have the potential to disrupt the industry, and come at a time when failures of quality and building safety in our industry are in the headlines, and the role that procurement has played in this is under increasing scrutiny.

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