Parity in Partnership: How Our Equitable Supply Chain is Driving Growth
Liam Kenny
Managing Director, John Paul Construction
The Irish construction industry’s supply chain is world class, honed by decades of building complex projects for a wide array of domestic, European and US based clients.
To ensure we and our clients capitalise on their expertise, John Paul Construction puts ‘parity of esteem’ at the heart of our supply-chain partnerships.
In our 75 years in business, John Paul Construction has witnessed hugely positive shifts in attitudes to safety, quality, technology and people management. These changes are mirrored in our supply-chain partners, fostering a shared focus on excellence that underpins and fuels our growth in Ireland and abroad.
Unparalleled expertise
Many of our partners are leaders in their field. Thanks in part to decades of US investment, often into highly technical sectors, they possess a level of competency that is unique in Europe. Their experience makes them key players in our expansion into new countries, where their expertise often exceeds local capabilities.
Just as our supply chain has evolved, so has the construction industry’s attitude to it. The relationship between sub-contractor and general contractor has completely changed and is all the better for it. At John Paul Construction, this ‘parity of esteem’ means maintaining a constant dialogue with our partners and forming genuine relationships via events like our annual Supply Chain Seminar. It also means keeping each other aware of our respected pipelines so that together we can be mindful of resource and capacity. For us, equitable relationships are based on communication, trust and respect.
Vital for growth
Currently, we are working on eleven FDI projects in Ireland and Europe, with six more in the pipeline. Many are very technical: data centres in Ireland, the UK and Germany, for example, or a microchip manufacturing facility in the UK. We simply could not deliver such specialised projects without partners with competency and reach, that we know and trust.
Working with people who really understand not just safety and quality requirements but the highly complex ecosystems we work in is now fundamental to our business.
And these strategic partnerships are vital for growth. Right now, for example, we are growing fast at home, and in the next few years we anticipate work overseas to account for something like 50% of turnover. Another notable trend is that repeat business continues to grow. For us, these developments are proof that our partnership approach is yielding measurable commercial success.
Invest time now for success later
Being ‘on the same page’ pays off across all phases of the lifecycle from preconstruction through to commissioning and handover, not least in a project’s early stages. It is critical in today’s markets where timelines are shorter, projects are growing in both complexity and value, and variations must be minimised.
Looking ahead, an equitable supply chain will remain central to the way we do business and deliver quality projects for our clients. Our commitment to communication, trust, and shared goals ensures success for all parties. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
