The Subcontractors Blueprint

In episode 37 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin delves into the critical role of project reporting for subcontractors within the construction industry. He emphasises the necessity for thorough documentation and outlines the essential components that should be incorporated into these reports to ensure transparency and accountability. This episode is a must-listen for construction business owners looking to streamline their project management processes and enhance communication with their subcontracting teams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

BEST MOMENTS:

"If things end up turning for the worse and you end up in a delay situation with fingers being pointed at you, the best way to defend that is to have taken contemporary records as and when issues crop up."

"Those times when you need the records the most are probably the times when you've been least on top of keeping them, particularly if the relationship starts to get a bit fractious."

"The best thing to do is just to be honest about it and say, 'Look, this has happened,' and even better if you can present something to say, 'And this is what I'm going to do to make it better."

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 36 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin provides a detailed overview of the stringent requirements subcontractors must meet to collaborate with main contractors. He delves into the expectations around social value, apprenticeships, training, and legal compliance, among others. Austin sheds light on the challenges these demands pose, their effect on costs, and the importance of understanding the full scope of contractual obligations. His insights aim to guide SMEs in the construction industry through the intricate subcontracting environment. KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Requirements for subcontractors to work for main contracting partners * Social value, apprenticeships, accredited training, employability support, local supply chain spend, and compliance with anti-slavery and anti-bribery legislation * Challenges and practicality of meeting these requirements * Importance of understanding and assessing the implications of these demands * Contractual obligations and requirements for subcontractors * The key to Subcontractors protecting themselves is understanding terms and conditions BEST MOMENTS: "But at the same time, are any of these things practical? Maybe two and three men sharing a van heading to and from work might be, but any more than that is a potential logistical nightmare." "So then you go back around to the client organisation, going back to competitive tendering to try and lessen the cost that they're paying out. And what that basically tells you is they don't want to pay the price for all of the things that they're trying to burden you with. So why do it in the first place?" "Now all of these things I'm saying to you, they sound like a rant perhaps, but I'm saying it because I want you to be aware. I want you to know what you're getting into, and that's got to start with reading the documents you get sent." 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 35 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin offers essential guidance for subcontractors on how to sidestep disputes in construction projects. He underscores proactive management, meticulous record-keeping, a thorough understanding of the subcontract, and the ability to present a strong case as key strategies for issue resolution and certainty. Austin also touches on the importance of swift adjudication, the value of project management systems, and the benefits of direct communication with contractors to prevent disputes from escalating. His expert advice aims to equip construction business owners with the tools to navigate contractual challenges and maintain healthy project relationships.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

BEST MOMENTS:

"God only knows how long it could actually take and how much it could cost when you don't even have an ounce of certainty that the outcome is going to come your way."

"For something that somebody is either going to make a flip decision on or perhaps come up with some arbitrary split and award you only a portion of what you're looking for, if anything at all."

"If you're missing some of the things we've already spoken about, like the records, the timely issued notices, then getting around the table and having a frank and open conversation about these things could be the only thing that sees you get any kind of payment."

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 34 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin addresses the critical issues of disruption and delay in construction projects, offering valuable advice to subcontractors. He clarifies the distinction between the two, with disruption impacting work efficiency and delay affecting project timelines. He emphasises the importance of proactive communication, written notices, and detailed record-keeping to manage disruptions effectively. He also guides listeners on the three-step process for handling disruptions and the significance of expert advice and analytical methods. Additionally, he stresses the need for precise estimating and the strategic submission of claims, while highlighting "This Zone's" resources for subcontractors. His expertise provides a roadmap for construction business owners to navigate and mitigate the challenges of project disruptions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

BEST MOMENTS:

"You're losing a chunk of your day, you're losing time, you're losing that effective output from the guys that you've got to pay their wage anyway."

"So what do you need to do when there's a disruption situation? Well, there's a three-step recipe for it."

"The best and most successful claims are built on a solid foundation of a lot of records."

"Nobody is going to thank you for receiving a disruption claim; this isn't something that you should just be doing lightly."

Link to episode 14 about relevant events and relevant matters: https://apple.co/4a2wK3t

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 33 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin addresses the critical issue of unclear contracts and their repercussions for subcontractors. He lists the top ten problems, including financial strain, project delays, and reduced profit margins, which stem from ambiguous agreements. Jacob also discusses the negative effects on relationships, productivity, reputation, morale, planning, growth potential, and the risk of legal disputes. He provides actionable advice for subcontractors to prevent such issues, emphasising the importance of clarity and communication during the tender process and pre-start meetings, and the thorough review of contracts before work begins.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Project Delays-

Disputes over scope and pricing lead to project delays, affecting timelines and potentially leading to additional charges.

Reduced Profit Margins-

Commercial views to win work can lead to un-costed elements, eating into tight margins and hindering competitiveness.

Productivity Loss-

Time spent on disputes reduces productivity, diverting resources from critical path activities and increasing inefficiencies.

Difficulty in Planning and Budgeting-

Large uncertainties in projects make it difficult to plan resources and form accurate budgets, leading to potential inefficiencies.

BEST MOMENTS:

"When you find that you've got to throw in elements of work which you'd never costed for, this can quickly eat into a tight margin that was already there to start with."

"Dealing with the stress and uncertainty of unclear contracts and continually working to a tight price or even potentially at a loss can be damaging to the tradesmen completing the work on a daily basis."

"The consequences of not doing these things can be absolutely dire, so why wouldn't you protect yourself?"

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 32 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin explores the intricacies of remeasurement in construction projects. He discusses the importance of accurate measurement and documentation to ensure subcontractors are paid correctly. The episode covers the rules and framework for valuing contracts, the structure of bills of quantities, and the use of the National Rules of Measurement. Jacob shares his personal experiences and emphasises the need for clarity in documentation to prevent disputes. He gives practical advice on maintaining organised records, using technology for measurements, and collaborating with contractors to manage potential discrepancies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The rules and framework for measuring and valuing a contract, including the different sections of a bill and the importance of consistency across the industry.

Jacob provides best practices for recording measurements, including common customs for writing and organising dimensions to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Jacob highlights the significance of collaborative measurement with the contractor, documenting measurements, and building trust to avoid disputes.

The importance of maintaining organised records and a good title system for accurate measurement, recalling and sharing what you’ve done and support your claim to the contractor.

BEST MOMENTS:

"There is something to be said for measuring the work on site; the amount of times that I've done a site measure and found things to be different to what is on the drawing for whatever reason."

"Imagine if you've worked your way through all of your tasks, and because you haven't organised things properly, you've missed a page out. You might have missed out on 50, 60, 100 square meters, whatever. What does that mean to you, for the sake of not putting a title on?"

"That might sound really basic, but when you've got a lot of repetitive work, some of these simple things that you can do can really ease the burden, prompt you to remember things you might otherwise forget, and ultimately help you to get it right, which helps you to get paid."

"There's nothing worse than getting to the end of a measure and realising that it hasn't been done properly, and all of your lengths are 10% out. That could be a disaster."

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 31 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin discusses the importance of quality control for subcontractors in the construction industry. He explains how poor quality control can lead to rework, safety issues, and financial losses. Jacob advises subcontractors to understand project specifications, conduct pre-start meetings, and ensure the right labour and materials are used. He advocates for self-inspection, using tools like inspection sheets, and stresses the importance of communication with the site team. Ultimately, Jacob suggests that maintaining high quality is essential for subcontractors to secure future work and achieve business success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The importance of thoroughly reviewing project specifications, bill of quantities, and labor allocation to ensure accurate pricing and avoid quality issues.

The significance of pre-start meetings in clarifying project expectations, roles, responsibilities, and quality standards to avoid misunderstandings and rework.

Challenges in procuring qualified labor and materials as per design specifications, and the potential impact on project quality and subcontractor payments.

Methods for ensuring consistent quality, including labor vetting, sample installations, and proactive self-inspections to prevent rework and contra charges.

The role of effective communication, planning, and collaboration with the contractor in maintaining quality and preventing disruptions due to changes and time pressures.

BEST MOMENTS:

"Quality control in the last ten years, I think, has really increased across the industry."

"Having the right money in your bid to be able to afford the right, good quality operatives is one key to getting off on the right foot and ensuring you can deliver the quality that you need."

"Performing high against quality benchmarks is as important as performing price-wise when it comes to securing future work."

Maintaining high quality.. “Is one of the most positive things you can do to secure repeat work from your contractor and maintain a high performing, successful business.”

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 30 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin shares a five-step model to help subcontractors manage and claim entitlement to changes in construction projects. He emphasises the importance of clear documentation, contract comprehension, and valuation methods for variations. The steps include establishing the variation, defining the change under the contract, valuing the change, applying variation rules, and providing supporting evidence. Jacob's guidance aims to empower subcontractors to navigate change management effectively and secure fair compensation for additional work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Milestone Achieved: Celebrating 30 episodes and six months of educational information for subcontractors.

The ongoing issue of change management: Subcontractors regularly face conflicts and challenges related to change management and variations in construction projects.

The frustration of unclear changes: The frustration of receiving a valuation from a subcontractor without clear instruction or knowledge of changes creates fallout.

Establishing entitlement to changes: Making it easy for the contractor to understand and approve variations will ensure proper payment.

Five simple steps to establish entitlement: A detailed guide on how subcontractors can follow a five-step model to establish their entitlement to changes.

BEST MOMENTS:

"Change can be one of the most difficult things to overcome."

“One of the most frustrating things that can happen as a contractor is to receive a valuation from a subcontractor, and it's got changes that you don't know about.”

"It's really frustrating because it just ends up in arguments."

"That bit of time is well spent and it will turn into you getting the amounts of money that you're due."

“Come application time, you can then just put it on your variation sheet, safe in the knowledge that you've done everything you can to get your hands on the money.”

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 29 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin interviews Mike Turlin, a seasoned construction professional and mental health advocate. Mike shares his personal journey, highlighting the evolution of the construction industry and its impact on workers, especially regarding qualifications and older employees. He stresses the importance of mental health, drawing from his own experiences with suicide loss to underscore the challenges in recognising warning signs. Mike discusses his commitment to suicide prevention, including investing personal resources and creating a database of mental health resources. The conversation also touches on the need for better working conditions, addressing workplace bullying, and providing adequate training and mentorship in the construction industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

CSCS Certification and Safety Assessment Discussion on the challenges and issues with the CSCS certification, including the pass rate, misleading questions, and time constraints.

Promoting mental health and wellbeing in construction Mike emphasises the importance of promoting mental health and wellbeing in the construction industry and the need for better education and mentorship programs.

Creating Positive Work Environments Importance of fostering a positive work environment, including examples of successful site management and the impact on worker well-being and productivity.

Improving Site Standards Emphasis on the importance of maintaining high site standards, including cleanliness, organisation, and proper inductions, to create a positive first impression and improve worker satisfaction.

Passion for Industry Improvement and Support Passionate commitment to improving the construction industry, supporting younger and older generations, and the importance of mental health support.

BEST MOMENTS:

"In 2009, I looked at ways to end my life because of the stress I was under at the time."

"Someone told me that it wasn't my time to die, and that was my turning point."

"Every event I go to, I get people literally opening up about their mental health issues after they've heard my story."

"We all think we're invincible, hiding behind this mask, but we're not."

"We need to help the guys a bit more because this is not the way we should be doing the industry."

"Whatever happens on this site today, we want you to go home safe."

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.

GUEST BIO:

Mike Turlin had an incredible career progression from labourer to site manager, to contracts manager, highlighting and is well placed to share experiences and challenges in the construction industry. He has founded Construction Buddies ( https://constructionbuddies.co.uk ) and ( https://bentleymentalhealth.com ) and is an advocate for mental health support and positive welfare in the construction industry. He is known as the Voice of Construction, using his knowledge and passion for the construction industry to fight the corner of tradespeople and improve education and site standards.

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

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

www.qs.zone/all-links

In episode 28 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin shares his expertise on cash flow management for construction industry subcontractors. He underscores the significance of cash flow for operational expenses like bills and salaries. Jacob addresses the common issue of late payments, referencing a survey that showed 92% of construction companies suffer from cash flow problems due to this. Despite some reported improvements in payment times, he stresses the need for better transparency. Jacob advises on cash flow tracking, stress testing, and contingency planning, and offers tips for improving cash flow, such as renegotiating terms, credit checking, and timely invoicing. He also discusses site-level management and financing options to handle cash shortfalls, providing a toolkit for subcontractors to maintain financial health.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The importance of cash flow in running a business, challenges in the construction industry, and statistics on late payments.

Guidance on cash flow planning, the unpredictability of cash flow, and the importance of tracking and updating financial information.

Strategies for stress testing your cash flow to understand what may happen when payments land late, or bills increase, managing cash flow, and implementing measures to improve cash flow and payment terms.

A number of things can be done to improve cashflow, including reducing stock holdings by just-in-time delivery, timing large deliveries to coincide with valuation dates to speed up recovery, negotiating longer payment terms and only paying invoices when they fall due.

Subcontractors should regularly monitor their cashflow, and put in place contingency plans for times when cashflow tightens.

BEST MOMENTS:

"Taking the eye off the ball is how insolvency can creep up on people.”

"There is some good news in that things are improving, and there may well be some more good news on the horizon."

"If any of those tests leave you in a less than comfortable position, then this is your opportunity to put a contingency plan into place."

"It's only by assessing your cash flow situation and monitoring what you're likely to have in your bank account that you can understand what you can afford when things aren't going your way."

"There's no point in overcomplicating a game of snap; if you set up your cash flow as I've described, it really is as simple as it gets, but it still gives you enough information to make informed decisions."

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