About us
Constructing Excellence South West is the single organisation charged with driving the change agenda in construction within the south west region and we form part of the Constructing Excellence Regional Partnership (CERP).
We exist to improve industry performance in order to produce a better built environment.
We are a cross-sector, cross-supply chain, member led organisation operating for the good of industry and its stakeholders.
Our Ambition for UK Construction Industry
Committed To Leadership
- Leadership goes beyond management
- Champions improvement and drives cultural and operational
- Sets a clear direction and inspires commitment at every level
Focus On The Customer
- Puts the customer at the centre of every decision
- Delivers exactly what is needed, when it is needed, at a value that reflects genuine benefit
- Identifies and removes activities that do not add value from the customer’s perspective
Integrate The Process and Team Around The Product
- Work as one unified organisation, not fragmented operations
- Start with the customer’s needs and focuses on product value
- Align the process and the team to deliver efficiently
A Quality Driven Agenda
- Go beyond zero defects; right first time, on time, and to budget
- Innovate to benefit the client and maximimise efficiency in design, materials, and construction
- Provide strong after care and reduce long-term cost in use
- Embed quality and compliance throughout all activities
Commitment To People
- Ensure decent working conditions, fair wages, and strong health and safety standards
- Invest in training and development of leaders, supervisors, and teams
- Respect everyone involved and encourages collaboration, learning, and trust
Advancing UK Construction: A Modern Perspective
The UK construction industry has undergone significant transformation over the past three decades, evolving from traditional, fragmented ways of working to a more collaborative, innovative, and performance-driven sector.
Learning from the Past
The mid-1990s marked a turning point, with the publication of landmark reports that reshaped the industry’s approach:
Sir Michael Latham, Constructing the Team (1994): Emphasised collaboration, transparency, and a client-focused culture.
Sir John Egan, Rethinking Construction (1998): Called for radical improvements in efficiency, quality, and innovation.
These reports established the foundations for modern construction practices, including integrated project teams, continuous improvement, and a focus on delivering value to clients.
Modern Drivers of Change
The sector continues to adapt in response to emerging challenges and opportunities:
- Sustainability and Net Zero
Construction is embracing low-carbon design, circular economy principles, and energy-efficient methods.
- Digital Transformation BIM, digital twins, and smart construction technologies are driving efficiency, collaboration, and data-led decision-making.
- Skills and Workforce Development Industry-wide skills strategies and apprenticeships are addressing talent shortages and future-proofing the workforce.
- Cultural and Safety Improvements Lessons from incidents like Grenfell have accelerated efforts to embed safety, accountability, and transparency at every level.
Regional Leadership
Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) champions these improvements locally, helping members implement best practices, drive innovation, and deliver high-performing projects. By combining lessons from the past with modern approaches, CESW supports the region’s construction sector to be resilient, forward-looking, and capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.
“CESW is an organisation where actions certainly speak more than words and make a significant difference in the industry.”
