In episode 101 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin breaks down the four essential insurance policies every UK subcontractor needs: Employers’ Liability, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, and Contractors’ All Risks. He explains each policy’s coverage, legal requirements, and common pitfalls, offering practical tips for compliance and risk management. Jacob also discusses how major global events have impacted insurance premiums and availability. This episode provides actionable advice to help construction business owners protect their companies, stay compliant, and navigate the complexities of the insurance market.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Early warning process and its significance
• Compensation event process and its implications
• Importance of timely notifications in contract management
• Consequences of failing to adhere to notification obligations
• Procedures for notifying early warnings and compensation events

BEST MOMENTS:

"One fire, one fall, one design error can leave you staring at a claim that's worth more than your annual turnover, so insurance is there as the shock absorber that stops the impact from smashing straight into your bank account."

"Clients, main contractors and UK law all expect you to have the right protection in place, and they'll want to see the certificates before you're allowed on site or be paid a penny."

"If your scope includes ‘design’, ‘detail’, ‘select’ or ‘specify’ in some shape or form, then you will need PI."

"There is a bit of a trap to be wary of with PI, and that is that claims operate on a claims made basis, so the policy must be in force when the claim lands, not when the work was done."

"If you're not carrying contractors all risk insurance, then you're rebuilding on your own cost, and you're risking delay damages for the period that you light."

Jacob is on a mission to help the 1 million SME contractors working within the construction industry. If you've taken something of value from this episode, please share the podcast with someone you know, and pass the value on.

HOST BIO: Meet Jacob Austin, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with a rich background at construction industry giants Balfour Beatty, and Kier. With extensive involvement in education, health, and residential projects spanning various scales, from £1000s to £100M in concurrent developments, Jacob brings a unique perspective. Having collaborated with numerous small businesses, he's now committed to sharing his expertise to drive their success. Join Jacob on his podcast, where he blends his profound insights and personable approach to offer guidance, industry secrets, and inspirational stories.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-austin/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/qs.zone/

www.qs.zone/all-links

In episode 100 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin explores the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Subcontract’s change management processes. Focusing on the early warning and compensation event procedures, Jacob highlights the importance of proactive communication, timely notifications, and understanding time bars. He explains how these processes help subcontractors manage risk, secure fair compensation, and avoid disputes. The episode offers practical advice for construction business owners on navigating NEC4 contracts, emphasising the need for diligence and collaboration to ensure project profitability and success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Early warning process and its significance
• Compensation event process and its implications
• Importance of timely notifications in contract management
• Consequences of failing to adhere to notification obligations
• Procedures for notifying early warnings and compensation events

BEST MOMENTS:

"Early warnings aren't about apportioning blame. They're about avoiding nasty surprises that cost everybody money."

"In this context, silence can mean yes, it's one of the only times in contracting that it can."

"If you wait too long to notify an event, you could lose your right to any compensation."

"The rationale behind the time bar is to encourage prompt notification and avoid claims being raised long after the fact."

"It's far better to potentially over notify than miss a critical notification."

Jacob is on a mission to help the 1 million SME contractors working within the construction industry. If you've taken something of value from this episode, please share the podcast with someone you know, and pass the value on.

HOST BIO: Meet Jacob Austin, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with a rich background at construction industry giants Balfour Beatty, Kier, and Vistry Group. With extensive involvement in education, health, and residential projects spanning various scales, from £1000s to £100M in concurrent developments, Jacob brings a unique perspective. Having collaborated with numerous small businesses, he's now committed to sharing his expertise to drive their success. Join Jacob on his podcast, where he blends his profound insights and personable approach to offer guidance, industry secrets, and inspirational stories.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-austin/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/qs.zone/

www.qs.zone/all-links

In episode 99 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin explores effective program management within the NEC4 contract framework, tailored for construction subcontractors. He highlights how maintaining an up-to-date, realistic program is essential for profitability, cash flow, and dispute avoidance. Jacob provides practical guidance on aligning programs with NEC4 requirements, emphasising collaboration, clear communication, and proactive management. The episode underscores the importance of using the program as a living document to track progress, manage risks, and protect subcontractors’ interests, ultimately helping construction business owners deliver projects successfully and build stronger client relationships.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Program management within the NEC4 framework for subcontractors in construction.
• Collaboration and clear communication as key principles of NEC4 contracts.
• Role of the program as a living document linking time, scope, and risk.
• Consequences of failing to produce or update the program.
• Importance of including key dates, task sequences, and dependencies in the initial program.

BEST MOMENTS:

"The key philosophy of it is collaboration, clear communication and proactive project management. All NEC contracts and subcontracts require the parties to act in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation."

"When you maintain an up to date and realistic program and it gets accepted, it actually protects you because any changes compensation events will be assessed using your program as a baseline."

"If you fail to produce or update your program, the contractor, your client has some powers to make your life really uncomfortable."

"One important mantra here is to keep it real. Update your program to reflect reality, even if that isn't pretty."

"This isn't just a piece of paperwork. It's your lifeline for managing your time and money under your contract."

Jacob is on a mission to help the 1 million SME contractors working within the construction industry. If you've taken something of value from this episode, please share the podcast with someone you know, and pass the value on.

HOST BIO: Meet Jacob Austin, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with a rich background at construction industry giants Balfour Beatty, Kier, and Vistry Group. With extensive involvement in education, health, and residential projects spanning various scales, from £1000s to £100M in concurrent developments, Jacob brings a unique perspective. Having collaborated with numerous small businesses, he's now committed to sharing his expertise to drive their success. Join Jacob on his podcast, where he blends his profound insights and personable approach to offer guidance, industry secrets, and inspirational stories.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-austin/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/qs.zone/

www.qs.zone/all-links