SEWSCAP
NACF member profile – Q&A with Jemma Downes, Category Manager, Frameworks, Sewscap

1. How would you describe SEWSCAP?

SEWSCAP is a leading collaborative construction framework for South and Mid Wales, driving socially responsible procurement by maximising social, economic, and environmental value for public sector organisations, whilst ensuring high-quality and efficient project outcomes. Projects span across schools, public buildings, heritage works, and innovative modular and demountable solutions, with values from £250k to £100m.

2. What do clients love about SEWSCAP?

Clients value how SEWSCAP is built on a foundation of collaboration and continuous improvement. SEWSCAP enables clients to achieve best value through competitive procurement, early stakeholder engagement, and the application of industry-leading benchmarking and best practice. It is a user focused framework, underpinned by Welsh public sector policies, priorities, and guidance, to ensure consistently strong project outcomes. Its local authority led, so as a client ourselves, we understand their needs.

3. What are your most innovative public sector build projects and what makes them special?

SEWSCAP support a wide range of innovative public sector projects through early contractor involvement. Many projects successfully delivery ambitious sustainability and community outcome targets, particularly through the Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning Program. A particularly exciting current SEWSCAP new build school project forms part of the Sustainable Schools Challenge; a visionary, new concept from Welsh Government that reimagines how schools are designed, built, and used through innovation and collaboration. It will be one of the most environmentally ambitious school buildings in the United Kingdom, reflecting the framework’s commitment to innovation and long-term value.

4. What makes you proud to be a part of SEWSCAP?

One of the most rewarding aspects of working with SEWSCAP is the diversity of projects delivered, from state-of-the-art schools and learning environments to community facilities, heritage assets, and decarbonisation schemes, each bringing an opportunity to make a positive difference. These projects truly make a long-term impact on the people who use them every day and I’m proud of the part we play in their delivery.

5. What do you do to support your local communities?

Supporting communities is at the heart of everything we do. Through the framework, contractors are required to deliver meaningful social value, whether through apprenticeships, training opportunities, local employment, support for SMEs, volunteering, or environmental improvements. We work closely with clients and contractors to ensure that community benefits are not simply commitments on paper but tangible outcomes that make a real difference to local people and offer lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits for communities across Wales.

6. How did you first become involved with the NACF?

We are passionate about learning and collaboration and became involved in the NACF to understand challenges, share best practice, and identify opportunities to improve the way projects are delivered. Since commencement of my role of Frameworks Manager, I have been grateful for SEWSCAP’s involvement, and the value being a member brings.

7. Why is NACF important in the construction industry?

NACF plays an important role in bringing framework providers together to share knowledge, learn from one another and promote best practice across the sector, whilst harnessing a power to raise industry standards.  Our frameworks are by the public sector and for the public sector, and we all have a genuine passion for making a difference. The construction industry faces many common challenges, from sustainability and skills shortages, to delivering greater social value. NACF provides a valuable platform for collaboration and helps ensure frameworks continue to provide a transparent, high-quality, and effective route to delivering public sector construction projects.

8. What would be your best piece of advice for a public sector organisation considering using a framework?

Take the time to understand the support available and engage with the framework team as early as possible. A successful project is built on strong relationships, clear objectives, and early collaboration. Frameworks offer far more than a procurement route; they provide access to knowledge, experience and expertise that can help clients reduce risk, improve efficiency, and maximise value throughout the life of a project.