Andrew Peters

Andrew Peters

Project Manager specialising in Below Ground Waterproofing,

Location Oxfordshire, UK

Achievements

Activity

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    The big question

    A verbal or written agreement

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Ethical dilemma two - what you should take note of

    All our Gifts and Hospitality must be approved by Customer relations. we regularly have FCPA and UK bribery act training.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Ethical dilemma two - what would you do?

    I think they would become an ex client very quickly.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Ethical dilemma one - what would you do?

    Scenario C
    If i were John i would try and wear a variation of pink everyday. also give each colleague a picture of me as a souvenir.

    The issue is we are not all as relaxed. I would hope that someone in the team would stand up for John and highlight the unacceptable behaviour. I like to think that these sorts of situations were for the school playground...

  • Andrew Peters replied to Andrew Peters
    When companies break the law

    @MariaCoulter Yes they do call them out on it. The problem is with some larger companies is that if you wish to work with them then you will work to their terms.

  • Andrew Peters replied to Andrew Peters
    Example of good ethical practice in the industry

    @MariaCoulter I am not forced to work 12 hour days. My role involves a lot of international travel. This means sometimes working Weekends or traveling at night. I get time off when needed and also the flexibility of working from home. It is more of a general question for salaried employees. Others will receive benefits like myself but not everybody will.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    The cost of compliance

    Compliance in the construction industry doesn't just cover regulations and law but can also include insurance and product certification.

    Since the Grenfell fire there has been between 10 - 400% (most likely to be 10 - 50% )increases in Indemnity and liability insurance costs. these costs were not obvious or predicted but appeared on policy...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Example of poor ethical practice in the industry

    All companies are different. some large companies are bad at paying and some small companies are bad at paying. I have experienced poor payments in the past but due to the type of work we do the client needs a warranty. One of my clauses is that the warranty is void until all parties have been paid.
    Once a company is reminded of this money tends to arrive.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Example of good ethical practice in the industry

    Modern day slavery obviously exists in the UK but i have never witnessed it myself. Just look at the resent news of the migrants in the freezer trailer. How would these people have paid their travel? The would presumably had to work to pay back the travel costs therefor would be slaves.

    Has anyone ever witnessed or been asked for a work permit or passport...

  • Andrew Peters replied to michael Fowell
    The SME Challenge

    @michaelFowell
    Im glad you wrote that as now it save me writing it. I 100% agree.

    The larger companies although will be aware of ethics and the law are actually morally unethical towards SMEs. Just take a look at their supplier agreements and terms. If the SME wants to be a supplier they are bullied into falling in line and adhering to unfair terms.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    When companies break the law

    Late payment will always be my biggest gripe and one that companies i feel will never change. Its the theory that the money is better in the clients account than the sub contractors account. when a company has a board and shareholders they need to make the accounts look as great at the end of a quater.

    I know for a fact that the CEO of One of the biggest...

  • Andrew Peters replied to Andrew Peters
    Professional values

    @DuncanGrimes Good luck with the PR process. If you need and advise or direction just ask. It did seem a bit daunting at times and my mind would go blank when i thought i knew what i wanted to write about.
    Best of luck to you and the team.

  • Andrew Peters replied to Andrew Peters
    Values in international business

    Francesco.
    All my team and subcontractors do take H&S seriously but i think the mindset is different over-there.
    Qatar for instance was really bad until until they became under scrutiny due to the 2020 world cup. since then there have been huge improvements and is now probably on par with the UK. The presence of international construction companies bringing...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Using professional judgement

    When applying to the CIOB and going through the Professional review process i must have read the code of conduct 100 times.
    More and more it just felt right to be applying. I feel my values and the CIOB code of conduct are alined.
    In the construction industry we need to start improving quality not only of the build but the workplace as well. If we are not...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Professional values

    Joining the CIOB and becoming a Chartered Construction Manager was the next step in my career. I felt it was the best way to show my Peers and Clients that I have certain values and work to an Ethical standard.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Values in international business

    I work across Europe, Middle East and Africa. I have staff who are based in Poland and India ,and Female staff. Language barriers are an issue for me in Europe as well as people's perception of quality works. H&S seems to be of a similar standard to the UK.

    In the Middle East and Africa I cannot send a Female employee to site for the simple fact that she...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    How do your values compare?

    My personal values definitely reflect those above.
    Work life balance was the challenge for me especially working throughout the EMEA region. It all cam down to time management.
    Communication is very important in construction but is a two way street between Employer and Employee.
    People should be held accountable for their actions but also rewarded at the...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Values in the construction industry

    My Company does operate by their values. Some employees values may differ. We may not always see eye to eye but i will never feel that it isn't my place to speak out. My ideas and values may differ from My Directors but thats business. The day that I am expected to compromise my values for the company will be the day i leave.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    The values required by construction, results of Barrett Values Centre data

    I agree with the findings in the video but feel these will differ on who is surveyed.
    Employees will always look for more recognition, Work/Life balance and open communication.
    It appears to me that the answers are passing blame.
    Are we to say efficiency, coaching/ mentoring and honesty are less important to people than leadership development and...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Identify your personal values questionnaire

    I wasn't surprised. in what i read in the report. More surprised how correct it is.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Does your time reflect your values?

    The way i spend my time reflects my values i believe.
    A good work life balance is important and is something i promote within my team. I do bring my work home and work late but still try to find gaps in my day to pick children up from school or attend there events. For many years i worked overseas and this definitely had an impact on my family and our...

  • Andrew Peters replied to Mark Green
    Has your awareness increased?

    100%

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    What are values?

    I know mine and my families values and like tyevia gould said i fine it hard to connect with people with different values. Honesty, Greed, Selfishness can all have and impact on ethics. Selfishness and Greed for instance can have an effect on quality and time keeping.
    Poor values could be due to no role models in their upbringing or even being spoilt and...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Has your awareness increased?

    Week one has highlighted the depths of ethics and how those little things can have a huge impact on a persons life / values / work

  • Andrew Peters replied to Mark Green
    Has your awareness increased?

    @MarkGreen
    Is ignorance a defence? I would suppose it would boil down to the case. We would hope that everybody knows right from wrong. If for instance you have a 16 year old who starts at a company and is involved in corrupt tendering for the next 15 yers then it must become the norm for him/her. But at some point they must feel that what is happening is...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Aims for Week 2

    I have not identified my personal values before but am looking forward to the quiz.
    I feel to be honest and treat others how i would like to be treated is important to me.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    In preparation for Week 2

    At work i will spend most of my time problem solving or fixing mistakes. I do like to have a good work life balance though as i feel this has a big impact on ethical behaviour not only for me but my family. My children need a role model which means time spent with them and also to much work can affect behaviours.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Your experiences

    In the UK i feel that out of the above Procurement/tendering practices would be the most important. if a company's tendering and procurement process is unethical then this will obviously reflect across other aspects of their business. Conflict of interest, Bribery, Collusion, Workers Rights.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Let's talk about ethics

    I don't think ethics are discussed enough in the work place. we may have anti corruption policies, non competes and so on but ethics is so much more. It can reflect on the work place vibe, quality, profits.
    The need for maximum profits in this day and age does i feel encourage people to be unethical even though a company will push employees to act ethical.

  • Andrew Peters replied to Sean Lewis
    Defining ethics - being ethical is a piece of cake

    Sean
    I couldn't have said better myself. The old nail on the head there.
    i think upbringing has a massive part to play on ethics and although as youngsters we may have done things we are not proud of the fact we can look back and acknowledge the facts goes to show we have learned and bettered ourselves.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Meet the group

    Ethics to me t is about knowing what is right, wrong and legal and acting on it.
    This can be personal, professional or religious

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    The Change in You

    I have learnt from this course and peoples comments that we really do have big quality issues within the UK sector and Global sector.

    The point Andy made in the video on Quality inductions is definitely something i am going to push for. Communication between stakeholders and goals on quality set by the client will also help.

    We seem to still lack...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Campaigning For Quality

    All the training that my company gives is based on a live site. We will offer a series of TBT over the project life. One of my issues is that the site team changes that often there is always training needed. Language barriers is always an issue as well. i find it best to have all site staff present at the trainings but direct my attention to the Foreman,...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Change Management: Practical Steps

    I will guess Company C. For the simple fact that Company A calls them individuals and Families, Company B calls them customers. And Company C calls them Clients. Other than that they could all be relevant to any organisation.

    When dealing with potential partners i do ask for a copy of a company's Quality policy as well as their H&S and Environment policy. A...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Industry Insight

    PPP has been used for many years in Basement waterproofing. This was driven by the British Standard for protection of below ground structures. All warranty providers, Tier 1,2 contractors will require a BBA cert, designer to be suitably qualified and installers to be competent. There are many company's that will never change. They have been installing like...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Challenges and Opportunities

    How can you embed practical quality change in your organisation?

    The company needs to communicate their vision clearly, goals need to be set and they must be easily achieved. the quality process needs to be simple and easy so as not to generate resistance from the workforce. Rewards for compliance is a good way for the workforce to engage

    What are the...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Welcome to Week 3

    Commitment from management is important but so is the the attitude of the staff. I have experienced a cultural change in the past and management were committed but not binary. Management need to be open and honest with staff and discuss the changes. consulting the workforce is definatly needed when change is on the horizon.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Meet the group

    Ethics have a place in personal and professional life but also religion.

    basically it is about knowing what is right and wrong and legal and acting on it.

    you may be in a situation where by you have to do wrong by one person to do right by another. thats the grey area. as long as in your heart you believe you were justified then it would be ethical.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Case Study: Durkan Ltd

    What have been your experiences on the quality journey?

    My company actually offer a warranty QAP to our clients and we have to be involved a specification stage. we have our steps that need to be followed during the project.

    I think Andys story will be familiar with most company's. if a company is able to split the role then there will be benefits but if...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Is Legislation Effective?

    i think the legislation in place is adequate but its not enforced or engrained enough.

    I work everyday according to BS, CDM, COSHH etc. but i know many who dont and have been for years and will continue to do.

    i find that a company that does not comply with the relevant legislation and HASAWA usually has poor quality and a high turnover of staff.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    International Approaches

    I have worked in many countries around the Globe and currently work throughout EMEA. I would say that the UK as some of the highest quality out of all. There is much more needed in the UK which is worrying as if we are one of the top countries is makes you wonder about the rest.

    We need to start adhering to our standards and specifications and actually...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Training in Quality: Have Your Say

    1) What have been your experiences of training in construction?

    I have been attending industry training courses for nearly 20years and must say that only in the last 5 years have i started to benefit. my staff and myself have all relevant qualifications and training but some company's are different. CDM20015 actually makes this law but we all know it isn't...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Competence and Professionalism in Quality: What We Are Doing

    Construction qualifications ie skilled workers card should be assessed by competent people the same way as you would be taught carpentry at collage by a carpenter.
    CPD should be compulsory and be submitted when renewing CSCS cards.

    I have an NVQ for Trowel occupations and i achieved it in 2001. i haven't laid bricks for 15 years but i could pay £30 for a...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Training in Quality: Its Role and Importance

    I have attended the above and have various Qualifications going back 20 years.
    More recently the qualification process is more about complying with CDM regs. the last time my competence in Quality was tested to an appropriate standard was early 2000s doing my city&guilds.

    None of the above have any relevance whats so ever on construction quality. Just...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Quality in Other Industries

    All these points could be introduced at the beginning of a project only if the entire project team were willing to contribute. From Main contractor to Sub Contractors. To get every member of staff including agency workers, many with little to no English would be the biggest challenge. The idea is a good start and something that could be worked on.

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Costs of Poor Quality: Economic

    Quality does come at a cost but at a fraction of the defect cost. Training and a good work ethic onsite and thats 50% done. The money that can be saved by implementing a decent QC programme speaks for it self but the start up and management of the QC programme does costs. If these costs can be avoided and this increases profit then company's will continue to...

  • Andrew Peters made a comment
    Costs of Poor Quality: Reputation

    I believe a company's reputation can be repaired but they need to acknowledge they are having issues. The majority or house builders have a pot to fix these defects but will try and avoid if possible.
    The real issue is the fact that 1 of the 3 main warranty providers will have most inspected these plots and passed them. not only is the quality of workmanship...