Below are a list of SCALA’s main partners who are amongst those willing to share their knowledge and expertise to help achieve the highest possible standards in the development, design, construction and management of the public sector estate:  

The CJC is sponsored by CIPFA, but is an independent body. It has never sought or accepted funding from any source, and covers all its expenses from the sale of its publications.

Its membership includes all the main disciplines with roles in the commissioning of LA works and services.

It produces a comprehensive on-line guide to commissioning LA works and services which addresses as far as possible all the key technical, accounting and legal questions involved, and also ad-hoc guides to special subjects currently causing controversy.

The CJC grew from a CIPFA working party set up in the 1970’s to address accounting for direct services, to which associations were invited to participate. It was formerly constituted as the CJC in 1987, when CCT was first applied to professional services. Howard John was the first SCALA representative on the CJC, and Bernard Wyld succeeded him in the early 1990’s.

The Association for Project Safety (APS) is the largest multi-disciplinary membership body in the UK for individuals and organisations involved in the design, planning and managing of construction projects as defined in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 [CDM2007] and is committed to shaping and sharing best practice in construction health and safety risk management.

Amongst APS members are the country’s leading architectural, engineering, surveying, project management, and health and safety professionals. Many of the country’s leading practices are also in corporate membership of APS. For more information about APS or their Registers please visit www.aps.org.uk

The Society of Construction and Quantity Surveyors was established in 1974 following Local Government reorganization. Membership is open to the chief or the most senior quantity surveyor in local authorities and central government departments throughout the UK. It is regionally based with a central ruling council. Its objective is to arrange for the interchange and collation of information concerning quantity surveying and allied matters that concern the membership in their duties. It provides a means for the views, experiences and knowledge of members to be circulated to and shared with the body of membership and where appropriate to their employers. It achieves the sharing of information by holding a subsidised annual seminar, by holding free regional meetings and by regular circulation of information electronically and physically through its website and newsletter. It has published a number of books now regarded as Construction Industry standards and is a partner in the publication of the National Schedule of Rates.

SCEME (The Society of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers serving local government) is a forward thinking, highly competent organisation for professional engineers which was founded in 1951 and represents senior Building Services Engineers working for public authorities, related organisations, commercial companies and consultancies serving local government (Borough, County, District, Metropolitan and Unitary) in England, Scotland and Wales.

SCEME provides an accessible network for members to exchange information on technical, managerial and professional matters. They hold technical meetings and put on CPD activities four times a year, and also have a technical enquiries service for members. SCEME also works closely with other professional societies across all property-related disciplines.

The great advantage of SCEME membership is that it provides access to other senior engineers throughout the UK who are willing to share their knowledge and experience.

With a wide client base from both the public and private sectors, NPS has achieved particular recognition for providing innovative and cost effective solutions to clients’ property issues by incorporating best practice principles whilst subscribing to the need to protect the environment. Sustainable methods of construction are employed wherever possible. The flexible range of property services available include: architectural design, mechanical and electrical design, interior and landscape design, quantity surveying, structural and civil engineering, quality inspection, project management, CDM, building surveying, asbestos and water hygiene monitoring, party wall advice, facilities management, sustainability and carbon reduction, energy monitoring, quality inspection, estates and valuation, land and archaeological surveys, strategic and asset management and graphic design services.

Last year’s turnover was £76.8 million.

The Association of Consultant Architects was founded to promote and support UK architectural practices. It is the only organisation that does so. The ACA concentrates on issues common to all practices by representation to industry bodies, government, the RIBA and ARB. It provides mutual support and information via regular Newsletters and an interactive website.

It was the ACA that called for Government to review the scope of ARB’s activities and the 1997 Architects Act. It has since been joined by the RIBA and successfully promoted candidates for election to ARB. The ACA’s planning advisory group is highly active and is regularly consulted by the DCLG; it has been effective in improving the planning system, notably persuading Government to restore the six-month appeal period when it was cut to three.

The ACA publishes construction contracts including the critically acclaimed ACA SFA - ACA’s Standard Form of Agreement for the Appointment of a Consultant Architect and the dominant partnering agreement PPC2000 and its variants in England and Scotland. Since its launch over 12,000 copies of these contracts have been sold and as a development from these contracts, the ACA administers the Association of Partnering Advisers and a network of PPC/TPC User Groups throughout the UK. www.ACArchitects.co.uk and www.ppc2000.co.uk

SCALA members can attend any ACA or PPC event at the ACA/PPC member rate.

The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is the only qualifying body for professionals working and studying in the field of Architectural Technology and is internationally recognised. The Institute has its own Royal Charter and under this Charter the objects are:

• to promote, for the benefit of society, the science and practice of Architectural Technology;
• to facilitate the development and integration of technology into architecture and the wider construction industry to continually improve standards of service for the benefit of industry and of society;
• to uphold and advance the standards of education, competence, practice and conduct of members of the Institute thereby promoting the interests, standing and recognition of Chartered Members within the industry and the wider society.

As a membership based organisation, CIAT is owned by and operated on behalf of its members with a growing network of members who are based around the globe. This network is open to all members creating a huge resource and knowledge base. Further details can be found on the Institute’s website, www.ciat.org.uk