This will be a one-day information sharing and discussion session around the key challenges we all face as a sector under the current pricing model. We hope to encourage constructive dialogue around issues critical to the future sustainability of the B.C. silviculture contracting industry.
Dear B.C. Silviculture Contractors
This note is to invite you to the WSCA Annual Tree Planting Market and Pricing Summit set for later this summer in Kamloops, B.C. on Thursday 5 September 2013.
This will be a one-day information sharing and discussion session around the key challenges we all face as a sector under the current pricing model. We hope to encourage constructive dialogue around the following issues critical to the future sustainability of our industry:
• Pricing to enable recruitment and retention of a work force in the face of competing opportunities. What will it take to change the current attrition rates? What is a reasonable range (%) to consider in terms of the impact on productivity of a less experienced workforce? What common principles can we understand as meaningful for contractors to consider in their pricing to account for this imperative? • Pricing that accounts for the full cost of implementing safe operating systems, training, certification, and compliance audits. What drives the cost of this aspect of our operations? While it can be argued that safety systems will reduce costs over time, to date the transition in practice and the changing expectations of our work force have never been fully costed. Is there a meaningful premium that can be added to basic project costing? • Pricing that accounts for the full cost of meeting camp and accommodation requirements. This includes considering that the silviculture sector is one of the only work settings to charge its workers for accommodation. What are the real costs of camp and accommodation for silviculture work? • Pricing to deliver a reasonable return on investment and risk and encourage innovation.
The purpose of this meeting is founded on two beliefs. If we continue on the current trajectory around costs and returns on investment the sector will destabilize. We will lose good workers along with our reliable capacity as a sector. The second belief is that we all have something to learn from each other, even as competitors. It is natural and necessary then, that we make a reasonable collective effort to address some of the critical issues we share as a sector. Please attend and take part in this important meeting.
The WSCA 2013 Pricing Summit 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Thursday 5 September 2013 Thompson Rivers University Campus (room to be announced later) Kamloops, B.C.
There is no charge for this meeting. It is open to all contractors whether they are WSCA members or not. Please RSVP so we can reserve a room large enough to hold this assembly. Please send an email to Laura Kassama at the WSCA office at admin@wfca.ca
If you have any questions or need more information please contact me: John Betts at johnabetts@shaw.ca