In a time of rising costs, labour shortages and increasing customer expectations, the builders who will thrive are those who embrace collaboration not just in their teams, but across their entire supply chain.
One of the biggest shifts happening across the Tier 1 and progressive builder market is the recognition that suppliers and contractors are no longer just vendors, they need to be strategic partners.
Jake Green, General Manager of integrated cladding provider Maaken, sees this shift playing out every day.
“We are not here to be the cheapest contractor on a race to the bottom,” says Green.
“We are here to collaborate. We want to work with builders who value the service we provide and who see us as part of their long-term success.”
Why Transactional Approaches No Longer Work
The traditional model, which treats suppliers and contractors as interchangeable vendors, selected on price alone creates hidden risks:
- Inconsistent quality
- Lack of accountability
- Short-term thinking
- Missed opportunities for process improvement
Green puts it bluntly:
“If you are selecting purely on price, and not looking at the systems and value a supplier brings, you are setting yourself up for problems.”
A supplier who is viewed as a partner will invest in the relationship, bringing better service, reliability, and innovation to the table.
The Value of Collaboration
At Maaken, partnership is built into the operating model.
Every new Tier 1 builder relationship starts with a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA) clearly defining expectations on both sides.
“We want both parties to be protected and to know exactly what success looks like,” says Green.
“That transparency is critical to building trust.”
The benefits of this collaborative approach include:
- Clear alignment on expectations
- Faster resolution of issues
- Ability to plan and scale together
- Shared investment in continuous improvement
For example, Green highlights that Maaken often takes on full responsibility for delivering an external wall system from supply through to installation, rendering, and painting.
“We run the job through to lock-up,” he says.
“That is only possible because we have clear agreements, aligned expectations, and mutual trust with our builder partners.”
Real-World Outcomes
Builders who embrace this partnership mindset consistently see tangible benefits.
Green shares one example:
“We work with a major Tier 1 builder who essentially said, ‘You run this part of the job for us up to lock-up.’ That is a massive vote of trust, which allows their supervisors to focus on higher-value work.”
The results speak for themselves:
- Faster project completion
- Fewer defects and call-backs
- Reduced brand risk
- Happier clients
Maaken’s relationship with long-term partners such as Homes by CMA and Ausmar demonstrates how this model can be scaled successfully across hundreds of homes per year.
What Makes a Good Builder–Supplier Partnership?
According to Green, the best outcomes happen when both sides commit to transparency, communication and mutual accountability.
“A good builder is clear about what they want and transparent about how they work,” he says.
“If they provide that clarity, the onus is on us as a supplier to deliver against it.”
Builders who approach suppliers as long-term partners, rather than vendors to squeeze, build deeper trust and unlock greater value.
“In the current market, builders cannot afford to be transactional,” says Green.
“You need suppliers who will back you, help you innovate, and take accountability for their part of the job.”
The TGB Opinion
The message is clear: the builders who scale successfully in today’s environment will be those who treat their supply chain as an extension of their team.
A collaborative partnership mindset leads to better outcomes, stronger relationships and long-term competitive advantage.
At The Good Builder, we are committed to sharing practical insights that help builders and suppliers succeed together.
If you have a story of partnership or innovation to share, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch.
Contact us at [email protected]
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