The Infrastructure Podcast: Episode 23

Guest: Nirmal Kotecha, Director of Capital Programmes at UK Power Networks.

The art of brilliant client behaviour

This podcast gets stuck into the art of brilliant infrastructure client behaviour.

Well what’s that - and why does it matter? Surely the client’s the client and whatever they say goes – the supply chains task is to deliver.

Well absolutely yes – and absolutely no.

Getting projects set up for success from the start is the fundamental job of the client. Brilliant client behaviour allows the project success that flows to be shared by all stakeholders in the project.

But just how often are they brilliant? And if not why not?

To find out, my guest today is Nirmal Kotecha, Director of Capital Programmes at UK Power Networks and past-chair of the Infrastructure Client Group management board. Nirmal is also a board member of the Major Projects Association so has been thoroughly embedded in the challenge of understanding what works and what doesn’t work for clients when it comes to major project delivery.

Nirmal said recently that “Defining clear outcomes from infrastructure investment is going to become a key competence for clients in future.”

He added: “This will form the basis for driving significant change in the way we procure and commercially incentivise organisations to ensure they are fully aligned in the pursuit of the desired outcomes."

So what does that mean in reality? What has to change and who has to lead?

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