Sir Michael Latham, former MP and author of the influential 1994 Constructing the Team report, has died.
Latham passed away on 2 November, aged 74. His study, which came to be known as the “Latham Report”, was an influential work on the construction industry and helped to modernise the sector by addressing a number of issues.
The report proposed that the client should be at the core of the construction process and that the industry should move away from its adversarial structure, adopting a more integrated approach with greater partnering and teamwork.
The report would become a reference point for subsequent studies such as the Egan Report.
Following the Latham report, he went on to serve as Construction Industry Training Board and ConstructionSkills chairman until 2010.
Current CITB chairman James Wates said: “I am saddened to hear of the recent passing of Sir Michael Latham, who was a tremendously respected and liked figure in the construction industry.
“His commitment to and passion for the industry was clear to all of us who worked with him. His outstanding dedication to the construction sector was manifested in his eight years of service as chairman of CITB and his highly influential report released in 1994, Constructing the Team.
“He was a tremendous champion for collaboration and modernisation in the sector, and we have all benefited tremendously from his work and from knowing him personally.
“I was proud to mark this by presenting the lifetime achievement award for Sir Michael to his family at the CITB Pride of Construction Awards in 2014.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”
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It is with deep sorrow, learning of the passing on of sir Michael Latham. My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. I did not meet sir Michael Latham in person, but from his scholarly and practical contribution in the construction industry his name will be hatched in the folklore of construction industry. May his soul rest in peace.
A sad piece of news for a true champion of change in the UK construction industry. Be at peace Sir Michael and thank you.
Deeply saddened at Sir Michael’s passing. Having completed my Thesis in 1996 on Constructing The Team I share his passion for the Client being the driving force and the goal of working towards a more collaborative approach. He has without doubt impacted all of us in construction and the supply chain, with even some adapting the same principles to their industry, thanks to his vision and sense of what is or should be fair.
It saddened my heart to hear about the death of Sir Michael. I got to know him while researching for my postgraduate degree. He is a great loss to the Construction industry and to the world at large.
Construction industry will certainly miss Sir Michael Latham. May his soul rest in peace! Latham Report of 1994 ‘Constructing the team’ is a guiding force that drives the modern construction industry. My dissertation during postgraduate studies has special reference to is great piece of work ‘Latham Report’ which enabled me to draw key conclusions to conclude my research. Implementation of his valuable recommendations such as client’s active participation, partnering, teamwork, integrated & collaborative approach will be the true homage to this legendary leader!
I had the pleasure of working with Sir Michael on the Roofing Industry Alliance project and indirectly through Construction Best Practice and M4i during my time at CIOB. He was a Knight in the truest sense of the word, giving of his time and considerable intellect and asking for little in return. Although he hasn’t been able to be involved with the industry for a while, his legacy will live on and the industry is, and will continue to be, a better place because of him.
My heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends
Sir Michael will be sadly missed, he was overall instrumental in changing the approach within the Construction Industry at a time when the improvements he recomnended had a significant impact industry wide, I would say Sir Michael held up the torch of change introducing a less adverserial approach and introducing a more collaborative and integrated contracting structure, I have personally followed his doctrine and it has served me well throughout my career, we all have a debt of gratitude to Sir Michael and I was saddened by the news, may he rest in peace and I send my prayers to his family at this sad time, he will of course be sadly missed.
I was very saddened to hear about the death of Sir Michael Latham whose lifetime contribution to the construction industry and society in general was incalculable. From his early days at the NFB, it was clear that Sir Michael was destined for greater things. He was hugely talented, hardworking and always very approachable. I remember inviting him as a Guest of Honour to the CIOB West Midland Regional Annual Dinner where he gave a truly inspiration speech.
I will always remember the buzz of reading ‘Trust and Money’, the interim report and precursor to ‘Constructing the Team’, the two documents produced by Sir Michael Latham that triggered great change in construction. Not only were his call for greater teamworking, more client involvement and a less adversarial behaviour welcomed but his observation that there was no good reason for the lack of women in the industry and that indeed, they would bring valuable skills, was music to the ears of myself and others. I was privileged to chair the Equal Opportunities Working Group set up to implement the Latham Report and I will always treasure the support and friendship that Sir Michael gave to me over many years in the work to promote women and under-represented groups. A special man who made a huge contribution, both to the industry as a whole and to many individual people.
An inspiration to everybody with a passion for our industry.
Let his legacy live on.
How sad. One who gave so much yet his great contributions were not always fully implemented
So sad to know about the passing of Sir Michael Latham, certainly his contributions to the construction industry in the UK and around the world will remain for many years. I benefited a lot from his report during my postgraduate studies and even now as an academic. I will not be able to describe how the construction industry will look without Sir Michael.
My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire construction stakeholders – students, academics, practitioners, and policymakers
May his soul rest in peace and my deepest condolence to the bereaved family. He has truly impacted the construction industry with the thought-provoking idea of partnering as a key to achieving project objectives. He will be remembered always for his positive impact to the industry.
I have just learned this week that Sir Micheal Latham passed away. This man was my mentor and instrumental in my academic journey whilst attaining my BSc. Hons Degree read at Kingston University. I did my dissertation which embraced the Latham principals in the construction industry. Thank you for all your guidance and help, your legacy will live on. RIP Sir Micheal Latham.
It is with great sadness that I heard the news about Sir Michael Latham, whose contribution to the teamworking ethic did so much to put a stop to litigation, and opened peoples minds to partnering in the proper sense of the word not just on submission documents. The industry is richer for this initial guidance and has continued to lead to further trust amongst construction teams. RIP
Mel Prichard FCIOB,C.Build E,FCABE,FFB,MRI,PMI
Recent Interim Regional President for MENA Region
So sad to learn of his death. I was previledged to come across the famous Latham reparm in PG studies at UTM and its contribution to knowledge in construction management. RIP. Condolence to his family.
It was so apt, when Sir Michael Latham was so rightly described as the father of the rebirth of adjudication. It seems somewhat difficult to recollect that some said Statutory Adjudication would never work and pleaded for sanity. Latham has made a major contribution to the construction industry, that shall not be forgotten.