Solomons Europe and NEC expert Dr Jon Broome launch new ‘Collective’ to bridge construction collaboration gap  

Solomons Europe and NEC expert Dr Jon Broome have launched the Clause 10 Collective, a new industry initiative aimed at closing construction’s collaboration capability gap. 

The Clause 10 Collective is a practitioner-led platform for industry-professionals to discuss how to turn collaboration from a contract principle into a practical delivery capability. 

Clause 10.1 and Clause 10.2 are principles within NEC4, the fourth edition of the New Engineering Contract suite, which focus on combining contractual competence with mutual trust and cooperation. 

The launch of the platform follows new global research from NEC showing that while over 80% of professionals believe collaboration improves outcomes, around 70% still operate under traditional contract models and only 58% of projects are delivered on time and budget.  

Solomons warns that without a step-change in capability, poor collaboration risks undermining the UK’s £725bn infrastructure pipeline. 

Dominic Doig, Managing Director, Solomons Europe, said: “Across our industry, collaboration too often remains an aspiration rather than a reality. The Clause 10 Collective was created to move beyond entrenched adversarial norms and look at how project teams can review contract strategy to strengthen collaboration, and shape supply chain environments to better support sustainable, long-term performance. 

“At Solomons Europe, collaboration and knowledge-sharing is central to our practice, and bringing this initiative to life through awareness and practical application will propel a shift in adherence to NEC principles across infrastructure projects.” 

The Clause 10 Collective will include the Beyond Clause 10 podcast and a LinkedIn community targeted at client teams, contractors, consultants, academics and independent authors who want to improve outcomes through more intelligent risk allocation and contract strategy, improved project management and more constructive behaviours. 

This professional community will run alongside other programmes from Solomons Europe, including its successful Matchmaker scheme implemented on Sellafield’s £7bn framework, which helps connect regional SMEs to lead contractors on the complex, highly regulated infrastructure projects. 

Dr Jon Broome, NEC Practitioner Expert, said: “So many poor project outcomes are rooted in the same causes - misaligned procurement strategy, poorly understood and displaced risk, defensive behaviours across the supply chain and lack of reflection, listening and learning. 

“With around 61% of construction and engineering professionals still describing supply chains as adversarial and 65% seeing disputes as inevitable, conflict has become normalised, driving up cost, risk and stalling progress. That cannot continue. 

“Effective collaboration and genuine contract competence must be embedded throughout infrastructure practice. This is why we created the Clause 10 Collective.” 

The launch of the Clause 10 Collective also coincides with NEC’s announcement of the new Project Alliance Contract (PAC), unveiled by Professor David Mosey. The move reflects growing recognition that collaborative delivery requires both robust contractual frameworks and the capability to apply them effectively. The Clause 10 Collective aims to bridge that gap. 

To find out more about the Clause 10 Collective and join the LinkedIn group, visit: https://solomonseurope.co.uk/nec4-focus/