The chief executive of Skanska UK is leading an investigation on behalf of the Major Contractors Group into how the construction industry can improve its service to clients.

David Fison said the process would begin with a pilot study but that the long-term aim would be to change culture and attitude.

He added that the model for the scheme was the MCG鈥檚 use of CSCS cards to improve health and safety.

Fison said the pilot study would examine what clients expected from the industry. He said: 鈥淟ook at hospitals. Ten years ago contractors looked at them as bricks and mortar but now we are looking at the purpose of hospitals.鈥�

For the study Fison will personally visit four clients, from both public and private sectors, to discuss 鈥渉ow we could do better鈥�.

Fison would not reveal the identities of the four but said they were important clients for most of the MCG鈥檚 membership, which includes Skanska, Bovis Lend Lease, Costain, Galliford Try, HBG, Kier, Morgan Sindall, Morrison, Shepherd, Sir Robert McAlpine, Taylor Woodrow, Miller Group, Vinci and Wates.

Fison said: 鈥淲e need some confidentiality as I need them to speak openly. The questions will be deliberately broad so that we can establish some common themes.鈥�

Fison envisaged that the pilot study would take about three months. If it was decided that the format had worked, more clients would be approached.

The MCG aims to have compiled sufficient feedback by next autumn and to make the results public then.

鈥淭his is not a revolution,鈥� said Fison. 鈥淚t is more about slowly adjusting the culture.鈥�

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