Welcome

I am delighted that our message to improve construction performance by reducing contractual points of friction is gradually being heard.

The Competition and Markets Authority has recently advised that "procuring authorities should conduct a zero-based review of Z clauses in model contracts, to remove historical clauses altering how risk is allocated that are no longer required." It is encouraging to see wider recognition that simplifying contracts and reducing unnecessary amendments can support better collaboration and, ultimately, better project outcomes.

This is a topic we expect to generate plenty of discussion at our Annual Conference, particularly around amendments to standard forms, including the NEC.

If you haven't already booked your place, now is the perfect time. Early bird tickets are available for just £99, and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Richard Bayfield, Chair

Contents

Join our next Embracing Conflict Avoidance webinar with Len Bunton - Bunton Consulting, President of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition and Matthew Garratt, Commercial Director at Dalkia Engineering, NEC Contract Board member and long-standing member of the NEC Panel.

Matthew will share why Dalkia signed the Conflict Avoidance Pledge in 2024 and why collaboration and early intervention are essential to successful project delivery.

We'll discuss:
• Why early intervention matters.
• How collaboration improves project outcomes.
• The role of conflict avoidance in improving payment and cash flow.
• Why the Conflict Avoidance Pledge benefits the whole supply chain.

We'll also look ahead to the Conflict Avoidance Coalition Conference on the 16th of September 2026.

Join us as we continue the conversation on creating a more collaborative and cooperative construction industry. Find out more and access the link to join: Conflict Avoidance - Interview series | Conflict Avoidance Coalition

Date: Tuesday, 28th July 2026
Time: 9:30 - 10:30am (online)

Joining details: Click to join via Microsoft Teams

ADD TO CALENDAR

We welcome and encourage all signatories and working group members to attend.

If you are interested in speaking at a future Coalition webinar or sharing your organisation’s experience, we would welcome a conversation. Please contact us at info@conflictavoidance.org.

You can access past webinars in this series on our website here: https://conflictavoidance.org/events/past

The Coalition has had a busy summer, with a series of events helping to spread the message of conflict avoidance across the industry.

Our own Coalition event, kindly hosted by Mott MacDonald, featured presentations from Veronica Flint-Williams, the Environment Agency supply chain and Simon, generating valuable discussion despite the challenges of summer attendance.

The Society of Construction Law event, organised by Anthony Armitage, attracted over 80 registrations and prompted positive feedback, with one attendee commenting that the discussion reflected the real impact commercial delays have on project teams and relationships.

More than 100 people registered for the ResoLex and Institution of Civil Engineers event, where Sue Barrett, Veronica Flint-Williams and Ed Moore explored how conflict avoidance can support better outcomes on complex projects. Read the key takeaways here.

The conversation has also continued at the NEC Annual Conference and the Environment Agency's Annual Supply Chain Conference, demonstrating the growing interest in conflict avoidance and the practical value it is delivering across the industry.

The first half of the year has seen a significant increase in organisations and individuals signing the Conflict Avoidance Pledge, reflecting growing momentum across the construction industry.

Recent signatories include Mace, Robertson Construction Group, Clark Contracts, NG Bailey, Dalkia, Jacobs, WSP, Turner & Townsend and AECOM, alongside support from trade bodies including the Confederation of Construction Specialists, the Lift and Escalator Industry Association and the Association for Specialist Fire Protection. It is also encouraging to see more organisations strengthening their commitment by moving from Bronze to Silver and Gold Partnership.

Coalition President Len Bunton said:

"The number of organisations and individuals who have signed the Pledge now stands at around 402. It has been particularly encouraging to see this growth against a backdrop of increasing payment and cash flow pressures across the construction industry. More organisations are recognising the value of early intervention in preventing issues from escalating into costly disputes."

Alongside growing membership, the Coalition continues to support signatories in embedding conflict avoidance into everyday delivery, with the NEC Practice Note on the Conflict Avoidance Pledge providing another important step forward.

The Coalition is also expanding internationally, with representatives from Canada, the USA, India, South Africa and Hong Kong working together to promote the use of Conflict Avoidance Processes (CAP) on major projects.

To find out more about the coalition and to sign the pledge, visit our website:  https://conflictavoidance.org/

As mentioned, as well as signing the pledge, you can also subscribe to news to receive our monthly newsletter and event updates.  

Please forward this newsletter to colleagues and friends who may be interested.  

Sign the Pledge here: www.conflictavoidance.org