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PODCAST

The Subcontractors Blueprint

Welcome to "The Subcontractors Blueprint," the essential podcast for construction industry Subcontractors. Join host Jacob Austin, a seasoned Chartered Surveyor with a rich background in industry giants and the founder of QS.Zone. This show is your key to mastering commercial savvy and contract finesse. Gain the knowledge and skills to manage accounts, understand rights, and boost profitability as an SME sub-contractor. Jacob"s expertise guides you through risk management, cashflow

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All Episodes

22:51

JCT Mini Series: Don’t Let Delays Derail Your...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2026/02/03

In episode 128 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues his JCT Subcontract mini-series offering practical guidance on managing JCT subcontracts, focusing on programs and extensions of time (EOT). He explains how EOT provisions protect subcontractors from unfair delay risks, highlights the importance of timely notices and thorough documentation, and distinguishes between time extensions and loss and expense claims. Jacob shares actionable tips for handling

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21:56

JCT Mini-Series: Managing Your Payment Process...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2026/01/27

In episode 127 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues his JCT Subcontract mini-series guiding UK construction business owners through the updated JCT 2024 subcontract payment processes. He explains key topics including payment timelines, notices, pay less traps, and compliant application submissions. Kyle shares practical strategies to protect cash flow, avoid common payment pitfalls, and leverage contract law. Emphasising organisation and proactive management,

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35:06

JCT Mini-Series: Design Risk Management: Ensuring...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2026/01/20

In episode 126 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues his JCT Subcontract mini-series providing construction business leaders with a comprehensive overview of design liabilities under JCT 2024 subcontracts. He explains key legal standards, the impact of contract amendments, and the risks of fitness-for-purpose obligations. Jacob highlights the importance of careful contract review, maintaining professional indemnity insurance, and understanding BIM protocols

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20:51

JCT Subcontracts: The Only Thing More Confusing Than...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2026/01/13

In episode 125 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin introduces a mini-series on JCT subcontracts, tailored for UK construction subcontractors. He explains the structure and risks of JCT contracts, highlights key changes from the 2016 to 2024 versions—including updates driven by the Building Safety Act 2022—and stresses the importance of reviewing both standard conditions and amendments. Jacob offers practical advice on contract review, payment procedures, and

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32:45

Understanding NEC4: Key Insights on Title of...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2026/01/06

In episode 124 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues his NEC4 mini-series, focusing on clauses 70, 80, and 90. He provides clear, practical guidance on material ownership, insurance obligations, and, most critically, termination procedures. Jacob explains how to protect your business by understanding payment entitlements, risk allocation, and the importance of following contract procedures. He highlights common pitfalls, offers actionable tips, and stresses

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33:04

Protect Your Profits: Effective Management of...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/12/23

In episode 123 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin provides construction business owners with practical guidance on managing compensation event clauses under NEC contracts. He explains the crucial differences between early warnings and compensation events, outlines notification and quotation procedures, and emphasises the importance of timely communication, thorough record-keeping, and contract compliance. Using real-world examples, Jacob demonstrates how proactive

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26:26

A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Payments and...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/12/16

In episode 122 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin guides construction business owners through the payment mechanisms of NEC subcontract agreements, focusing on the 50 series clauses. He explains the importance of assessment dates, compliant payment applications, and the impact of main option clauses (A–E) on cash flow. Jacob highlights that contract amendments that can complicate payments and shares a practical checklist for managing the payment process. The episode

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26:00

Float Your Way to Success: Mastering TRAs and...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/12/09

In episode 121 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues the NEC contracts mini-series, providing construction business owners with practical guidance on managing NEC subcontracts. This week he explains the importance of time risk allowances (TRAs) and different types of float—free, total, and terminal—clarifying their roles, ownership, and impact on scheduling and compensation events. Jacob emphasises maintaining an up-to-date, accepted programme as a vital tool

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30:31

NEC4 Programme Pitfalls: Understand the Requirements...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/12/02

In episode 120 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues the NEC contracts mini-series, providing construction business owners with a comprehensive guide to program clauses under NEC4 subcontracts. He explains the critical requirements for program submission, acceptance, and ongoing updates, highlighting their impact on cash flow, entitlement protection, and project management. Jacob discusses practical strategies for ensuring compliance, avoiding payment

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27:41

NEC4: Subcontractor Obligations And Quality...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/11/25

In episode 119 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues the NEC contracts mini-series, focusing on key obligations for subcontractors. He explains the importance of acting in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, details core responsibilities under the 10, 20, and 40 series clauses—including quality management, design duties, and defect handling—and emphasises proactive communication and collaboration. Jacob also provides practical guidance on defect

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27:25

Understanding NEC4: A Comprehensive Breakdown of the...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/11/18

In episode 118 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin launches a mini-series on the NEC4 suite of contracts, focusing on the engineering and construction subcontract “ECS”. He explains the contract’s structure, main and secondary option clauses, and their impact on risk, pricing, and delivery. Jacob provides a practical checklist to help subcontractors review NEC4 subcontracts, emphasising the importance of understanding triggered clauses, design obligations, liability

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24:19

Are You Fully Aware of Your Rights Under the...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/11/11

In episode 117 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin provides UK construction business owners with a clear, practical overview of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act and the Scheme for Construction Contracts. He explains key protections for subcontractors, including rights to interim payments, payment notices, pay less notices, suspension for non-payment, and fast-track dispute resolution through adjudication. Jacob emphasises the importance of written

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24:47

The Subcontractor's Essential Guide To The Golden Thread

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/11/04

In episode 116 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin explains the importance of the "golden thread"—a comprehensive digital record of building information now required under the Building Safety Act 2022. Using a real-world example, he highlights the risks of poor documentation and offers practical tips for subcontractors to organise, manage, and hand over essential compliance documents. Listeners learn what information to provide, legal obligations, and how embracing

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21:06

How Can a Quantity Surveyor Transform Your...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/10/28

In episode 115 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin explores the vital role of a Quantity Surveyor (QS) for construction subcontractors. He explains how a QS goes far beyond pricing jobs, acting as a commercial guardian by supporting contract negotiation, risk management, cash flow forecasting, cost control, payment applications, change management, delay claims, final account strategies, and dispute resolution. Jacob emphasises how leveraging QS expertise can protect

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23:16

The Cash Flow Playbook: Strategies for Subcontractors...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/10/20

In episode 114 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin offers practical guidance on cash flow management tailored for construction subcontractors. He covers essential topics such as cash flow forecasting, stress testing finances, disciplined billing, client selection, and building financial reserves. Jacob also shares strategies for managing growth, handling seasonality, and preparing contingency plans for late payments. Emphasising the importance of team awareness and

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20:30

Say Goodbye to Late Payments: The Game-Changing...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/10/13

In episode 113 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin explains critical updates affecting subcontractors, taken from the recently adopted Procurement Act 2023. He details the new legal requirement for 30-day payment terms on public sector contracts, which now applies throughout the supply chain. Jacob offers practical tips for ensuring timely payments, highlights new transparency measures for checking clients’ payment practices, and discusses enforcement tools available

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28:38

Key Risks and Strategies with the JCT 2024 Target...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/10/06

In episode 112 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin provides construction business owners with practical guidance on navigating the JCT 2025 Target Cost Subcontract (TCC). He explains the key differences from fixed price contracts, highlights the importance of accurate pricing, contingency planning, and open book accounting, and addresses challenges such as disallowed costs, payment complexities, and cash flow management. Jacob emphasises negotiation strategies,

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24:49

Unlocking Profit: Mastering the JCT Target Cost...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/09/29

In episode 111 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin reviews the new JCT Target Cost Subcontract 2024. He explains the fundamentals of target cost contracts, focusing on open book accounting, pain and gain share mechanisms, and contract flexibility. Jacob highlights the importance of detailed cost tracking, confidentiality, and proper management of contract adjustments. He also discusses the increased administrative demands of these contracts. The episode sets the stage

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21:36

Case Law Coffee Break - Autumn 2025: Insights from...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/09/22

In episode 110 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin brings you his Autumn ‘Case Law Coffee Break in which he reviews key UK construction law cases from April to September 2025. He covers crucial topics for subcontractors, including payment disputes, adjudication enforcement, contract variations, extensions of time, and liability for defective work. Jacob explains recent court decisions, highlights the importance of timely notices and precise contract language, and

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18:09

Building Your Future: How to Leverage Government...

The Subcontractors Blueprint ·

2025/09/15

In episode 109 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin breaks down the current landscape of England’s housing pipeline, examining government targets to deliver 1.5 million new homes and the latest planning reforms designed to accelerate small and medium-sized developments, the recent decline in housebuilding rates, persistent planning delays, and the impact of building safety regulations—particularly for high-rise projects. Jacob highlights new opportunities arising from

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129 results

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