Constructionline
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Constructionline | |
| Company type | Private limited company |
| Industry | Professional services |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Basingstoke, England |
| Owner | GTCR |
| Website | www |
Constructionline is a register for pre-qualified contractors and consultants used in the construction industry of the United Kingdom. Originally established by the UK government in 1998, it was later (2015) acquired and operated by Capita before being bought by Warburg Pincus in June 2018. Combined with other businesses, it was sold to another private equity firm, GTCR, in July 2023. The Constructionline database has details of over 45,000 suppliers, and is accessible to around 10,000 buyers from 3,800 organisations.
The 1994 Latham Report recommended the establishment of a national database of pre-qualification information which all public sector procurers could use.[1]
Constructionline was established in 1998 by the UK government to provide a single point of reference for all pre-qualification data for the construction industry. It was originally operated under a concession agreement by Capita.[2] In July 2014 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced it was looking to sell the database and in January 2015 it was subsequently acquired outright by Capita for £35m.[3]
Constructionline provides procurement and supply chain management services, helping buyers source suppliers. As well as its database, Constructionline hosted Meet the Buyer and supplier engagement events across the UK. On 31 January 2018, Capita announced it planned to sell Constructionline as part of a transformation programme including disposal of non-core assets and cost cutting.[4] In June 2018, it was reported that Constructionline had been sold to private equity investor Warburg Pincus for £160m.[5]
In March 2020, Warburg Pincus agreed a deal to take over Builder's Profile, a provider of software used to manage information on subcontractors. This business, Constructionline and rail sector specialist Altius VA were organised into a UK group called Fortius.[6] In late 2021, Fortius joined with France-based Actradis and Once For All, to form the Once For All group, headquartered in Paris. The group was sold to Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR in July 2023.[7]
The Constructionline database contains details for over 45,000 suppliers. It is accessed by around 10,000 buyers from 3,800 organisations.[8]