The Legal & General headquarters in London

Stanhope, one of London’s most renowned developers, has appointed interior fit-out specialists Phoenix Interiors as a preferred contractor.
 
Phoenix is now one of only two fit-out firms employed by Stanhope to provide suspended ceiling and partitioning work on its broad portfolio of projects nationwide.
 
“The quality of Phoenix’s work for us has been excellent,” said Stanhope’s Project Director Paul Hargreaves. “If they continue to do sterling work for us, this special relationship will continue.”
 
Part of Stanhope’s overall strategic approach is to negotiate as much work as possible rather than putting specialist packages out to tender and this is reflected in a series of preferred contractor relationships.
 
“This has significant cost implications for the project process,” added Mr Hargreaves. “We are better able to manage risks and ensure costs do not escalate if we have a closer working relationship with our contractors.
 
“We also don’t waste as much time assembling project teams and in dealing with disputes – if there is a problem, we are able to get on the phone and sort it out quickly.”  Mr Hargreaves described the current commercial office market as “hot” with high levels of activity. He said that contractors were coping well with the workloads, but that architects and design engineers were struggling to find enough skilled people to meet soaring demand for their services.
 
Andy Britnell, director of Phoenix, confirmed that the market was buoyant and said that closer working relationships between clients and suppliers were reaping dividends.
 
“We are delighted to have secured special status with such a respected client as Stanhope,” he said.  “The model for negotiated contracts and the security this provides for specialist firms like ours is very attractive.  It cuts waste and gives contractors the opportunity to invest in more skills and more innovative ways of working, which is ultimately to everyone’s benefit.”
 
Phoenix passed the £13 million turnover mark at the end of 2006, which was 25% ahead of budget, less than a year after being the subject of a management buy-out from industrial conglomerate IMI.
 
“Our order book continues to be very healthy and we are looking forward to completing a number of major projects in the near future,” added Mr Britnell. Phoenix has recently completed work for Stanhope on several major projects including 1 Coleman Street, the new 180,000ft² worldwide headquarters of Legal & General in the City of London (pictured) and Bow Bells House in Cheapside, which is a 140,000ft² office and retail complex commanding views of St Paul’s Cathedral.