Spotlight on Services: Project Controls

The Tandem Project Controls team provides specialised expertise across project lifecycles to reduce client risk, improve value and deliver positive outcomes in all sectors of the built environment. Services include cost control, procurement, contract administration, risk management, scheduling and document control.

Through cost estimates Tandem will establish project viability and a robust baseline. It delivers value management and value engineering, lifecycle costing and cost forecasting. Tandem will estimate and plan costs to proactively manage the project budget, optimising cost performance from inception to completion. Tandem delivers and manages cost reports throughout the project lifecycle and manages cash flow forecasting.

Tandem will expertly schedule each phase of a project from concept, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning through to qualification, validation and operational readiness.  It delivers man-loaded schedules and S-Curves with weekly earned versus actual progress reporting. Tandem’s critical path analysis, progress updates, identification of slippage and development of recovery plans delivers clarity and transparency. Tandem develops portfolio scheduling for PMO’s and micro-schedules for complex areas of work where detailed coordination is required.

Tandem offer procurement services and will prepare tender packages for trade contractors and equipment vendors, it will perform tender walkdowns and lead bid clarification meetings. Tandem will undertake commercial and technical bid analysis, issuing award recommendations on tender reports, managing vendors and leading final negotiations.

Tandem will identify the most appropriate procurement and contracting strategies to minimise risk to time, cost and quality. It will prepare contractual documentation, ensuring all parties are familiar with their contractual obligations and remain compliant at all times. Tandem employs timely communication to ensure the smooth progression of the contract. Tandem will implement change management procedures that facilitate well informed decisions and ensure effective financial management. It will deliver certification of monthly valuations, assessment and agreement of contractual claims, assessment of contractor claims for delays and provide advice when assessing claims for any time extensions and costs for delays.

Tandem’s expertise in risk management delivers analysis of potential project risks. Tandem will develop risk mitigation strategies, maintain a Risk Register and regularly communicate the mitigation status with stakeholders. Tandem also implement controlled processes and practices for the creation, review, modification, issuance, distribution and accessibility of documents.

Spotlight on Services: Talent Solutions and on-boarding during COVID-19

2020 has been a year of significant changes and challenges posed to the talent management team and recruitment processes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, we have continued to successfully hire into roles by embracing and quickly adapting to a new way of working with both our clients and candidates, albeit virtually!  With the quick migration from the office or site, to remote working or a hybrid of remote/site set ups, this has meant that video conferencing tools have become an integral part of both the hiring and onboarding processes.  

Candidates have seen a shift from face to face interviews to remote video calls along with onboarding from home without meeting other members of their team.  

In response to that, we have seen companies surmount these new challenges by devoting time to ensuring positive experiences for new team members, ensuring equipment has arrived in advance of their first day, planned team introductions, regular virtual meetings, mentoring and formal training programmes being implemented.  

It has been a pivotal year but one that has seen the successful transformation of new hiring and onboarding practices that may very well remain in some form in the future.  It is testament to our ability to adjust to a new reality while continuing to do business in a safe and applicable way.

“Thanks to the help of Tandem and their client, the interview and the onboarding process has been very smooth. In spite of my concerns at the beginning because of this new situation, I feel completely engaged with the values of the company and within a team”.  – Compliance Specialist, Dublin.

Transition Year Students Visit Tandem

We were delighted to welcome a number of Transition Year students to our headquarters in February. The purpose of the visit was to give the students an insight into engineering as a potential career option.

We had a packed agenda for the week which included presentations from representatives of our engineering departments covering Process, Mechanical, CSA, Electrical, Project Management, Project Controls and Revit/3D design. These presentations gave the students a good insight into the diverse nature of engineering design, and the many career opportunities it offers. On Friday each of the students gave a presentation on everything that they had learned during the week.

All-in-all it was a great week for everyone involved. We hope the students enjoyed their experience and are inspired to pursue a future career in engineering with Tandem Project Management Ltd.

2019 Undergraduate Programme

We were delighted to welcome six students to Tandem Project Management as part of our 2019 Undergraduate Programme. We welcomed engineering students from University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and University College Dublin, Ciara O’Connor (B.Eng. Civil), Shakil Rahman (B.Eng. Civil), Liam O’Connor (B.Eng. Process), Michael Cantillon Murphy (B.Eng. Mechanical), Nicholas Hourigan (B.Eng. Electrical) and Roisin Hickey (M.E. Engineering with Business). The students had the opportunity to work in our design offices and on site, and were mentored by our senior team members throughout their internship. Working on site allowed the students to learn the social and communication skills they need to work in teams, liaise with contractors’ and deal with clients and communities. We would like to thank these students for their positive contributions to the team to date and we hope to see them entering our Graduate Programme in the coming years.

“Working in Tandem helped me to put academic theory into practice, broaden my knowledge, develop many vital engineering skills and gain an insight into my own personal abilities. My work placement in Tandem Project Management was thoroughly enjoyable and educational. I gained a lot of valuable experience that will hopefully benefit me in the years going forward. I enjoyed working with such a great team of experienced engineers and really appreciate the time and effort they put into helping me throughout the placement. I would hope to return to Tandem after I graduate from UCC.” Ciara O’Connor

“During my time with Tandem Project Management I worked as part of the Mechanical/Building Services team. I would have to say that it was a hugely beneficial experience. The whole team at Tandem were very receptive and welcoming. The help and guidance of all the Mechanical team was always willingly given and greatly appreciated. My contributions to the progress of projects was acknowledged and valued, while the opportunities to attend site presented a rounded picture of the office based design process. The tight knit nature of the company lends itself to developing strong working relationships across departments and this was an aspect of the company that I found very appealing. As a work placement experience it was full on and demanding but exactly the challenge I was looking for.” Micheál Cantillon Murphy