Contractor vs supplier
In very broad terms, 'contractors' are organisations appointed by clients to complete construction works. However, this apparently straight-forward definition is complicated by the fact that contractors tend not to have all the trades or goods required to construct a building themselves. This means that they are likely to appoint a range of subcontractors and suppliers to help build the works for which they have been contracted.
Traditionally, ‘suppliers’ were considered to be organisations contracted to provide physical supplies such as goods, materials, plant, and so on, either directly to the client or to the contractor or subcontractors.
However, this definition has become blurred by the increasing complexity of the construction supply chain and the emergence of practices such as off-site fabrication in which the provision of complex fabricated goods might include activities that would otherwise be classified as construction work, and the increasing outsourcing of operational contracts for the supply of services (rather than goods) to run completed developments.
A more simple distinction therefore might be that a contractor is contracted to complete construction works whilst a supplier is contracted to supply particular goods or services.
However, the distinction has been further complicated by the UK government using the term ‘supplier’ to refer to any ‘…provider of services or goods either directly to the employer or to another supplier in a supply chain’ and suggesting that ‘...a tier 1 supplier can provide services to the project (for example, development of the project brief, architectural services, engineering services, construction management services), or can provide goods to the project (for example, constructed assets)’ (ref. PAS 1192-2).
This catch all definition suggests that the term ‘supplier’ could be used to refer to contractors, subcontractors, consultants, suppliers and service providers.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Contractor.
- Domestic sub-contractor.
- Integrated supply team.
- Main contract.
- Main contractor.
- Named sub-contractor.
- Nominated sub-contractor.
- Nominated supplier.
- Procurement route.
- Service provider.
- Specialist contractors.
- Specialist subcontractor.
- Specialist supplier.
- Sub-consultant.
- Subcontractor.
- Subcontractor vs supplier.
- Supplier.
- Supplier assessment.
- Supplier selection.
- Supply.
- Supply chain.
- Supply chain management.
- Trade contractor.
- Types of contractor.
- Works contractor.
Featured articles and news
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.
The story of this knowledge quarter building.
In ecology, in hydrology, in biology and in architecture.
Creating environments that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
UK cases of neutral current diversion
Research project looks for example contributions.
Overstocking and macro-economics cause a decline.
The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard
Demonstrating organisational capability’ to fulfil roles under the Building Safety Act.
56 recommendations for a better built environment
Published by the CIC ahead of the King’s Speech.
SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named
in annual search for the UK’s best student electrician.
CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical information sheet
Step-by-step guide on implementing D and I practices.
Conservation and the Indian City. Book review.
Reversibility in conservation ethics
Learning from painting conservation.
Where It's AT Podcast launched!
New CIAT Architectural Technology Podcast goes live.