FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF BLACK CAPITAL GROUP

Discover the visionary behind Black Capital Group ( BCG ) as we delve into an exclusive interview with Robbie Blackhurst . Learn about his journey from principle contracting to revolutionising public sector project delivery .

Can you share your journey from working in principle contracting to founding Black Capital Group and its subsidiaries , including the innovative Procure Partnerships Framework and Compliance Chain ?

My journey has been both challenging and deeply rewarding . When I worked as a principal contractor at the start of my career , I gained invaluable insights and experience across a broad range of public sector procurement frameworks . While the decision to leave the comfort of established principal contracting was undeniably a difficult one , the drive to create something more innovative than what existing practices were offering was simply irresistible .

This vision was fully realised with the founding of Procure North West ( now Procure Partnerships Framework ) in 2017 . Our approach was immediately well-received and , in our first year , we outperformed all other frameworks based in the North West combined . This success prompted the expansion of our framework nationally and the launch of the first iteration of the National Contractor Framework . Before long , the Procure Partnerships Framework was supporting roughly £ 1 billion worth of capital projects per year .

Through this extensive engagement with public sector procurement , it became clear that there was a critical need for tools that could support not only the framework but also enhance the efficiency and compliance of its public sector clients . This realisation led to the creation of Compliance Chain in 2022 , which was designed to integrate supplier compliance , financial due diligence , project reporting and social value delivery into a single , cloud-based system . Initially conceived as a support tool for Procure Partnerships , it quickly demonstrated its potential as a standalone business .

As someone deeply involved in the construction technology sector , what inspired you to merge technology and construction ? What opportunities do you see for further innovation in this space ?

The merger stemmed from a recognition of the inefficiencies and challenges inherent in traditional construction processes . I was driven to bring the impact that revolutionary technology has had on other industries through improved accuracy , efficiency and accountability to the built environment , which is often seen as trailing behind comparable sectors in this regard . This motivation led to the founding of Procure Partnerships Framework and Compliance Chain , both of which leverage technology to enhance procurement and compliance processes in construction .

Integrating emerging technologies like AI into construction processes holds tremendous potential . By harnessing more advanced data analytics , we can further improve decisionmaking across the industry and provide deeper insights into

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