The Subcontractors Blueprint Jacob Austin

In episode 42 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin of QS.Zone dives into the nuances of critical path analysis for effective project management. He elucidates how this technique can streamline subcontractors' projects, ensuring optimal resource allocation and focus on pivotal tasks. With practical examples, like making tea, Jacob breaks down activity dependencies and the use of tools like Excel for critical path planning. He stresses the value of understanding project logic and that unlocking the principles is the key to understanding construction programmes.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:


 Critical path analysis and project management techniques for subcontractors.
 Why Critical Path Analysis is important to YOU.
 Illustration of dependencies and relationships between activities in a project
 A worked example using an every-day task familiar to us all.
 Understanding the logic behind the program and interpreting project manager programs with confidence.

BEST MOMENTS:

"It can help you identify the most important areas to focus on and allow you to effectively allocate your resources to the most productive tasks, preventing you from wasting resources on tasks that aren't critical."

“True concurrency is actually quite rare because as much as anything else, just what's the chances.”

"Critical path analysis is one of the tools you can use to demonstrate that you've lost time, which is crucial when it comes to proving delay."

“I’m saying teabag too many times now.”

"By doing your critical path analysis, this is going to enable you to plan and resource your work, monitor against it, and inform your next job."

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 41 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin brought his extensive experience with NEC contracts to the table. We dove into the intricacies of managing changes under the NEC4 suite of contracts. Jacob highlighted the critical distinction between variations and compensation events, emphasising the importance of using precise terminology to ensure clear communication and proper compensation. He also shared his insights on the timing for submitting compensation events, the need for accurate pricing, and the benefits of including assumptions in quotes. His practical advice is a must-hear for subcontractors looking to navigate the NEC4 contracts with confidence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:


 The importance of understanding and administering changes under NEC4 suite of contracts.
 Pricing and quoting for compensation events.
 Proactive management of timing and communication with main contractor.
 Inclusion of assumptions in pricing of compensation events.
 Discussion on the importance of Early Warnings, and how they can help you or hinder you if done badly.

BEST MOMENTS:

It's vital that you get your head into the right frame from the start because you don't want to come to the end of the job and realise, 'Oh, I need another six weeks of time because of all these instructions that have happened.'"

“True concurrency is actually quite rare because as much as anything else, just what's the chances.”

"We're not saying, 'Right, we want an extra ten weeks now,' we're saying we might need some; we don't want to burden you with ten weeks' worth of out-of-hours costs if we don't need it."

"Had I taken that approach with my client, I have no doubt whatsoever that they wouldn't have given me an extra penny."

"It's one of those things that clients love to throw around, especially when they're trying to get something done for free."

For more information on NEC4 contracts, click here listen to Episode 7: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-subcontractors-blueprint/id1701638267?i=1000635658618

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 40 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin discusses the critical topic of proving extensions of time for subcontractors. He recalls the story of a plastering contractor friend to share a cautionary tale about the challenges and financial repercussions of project delays. Jacob offers practical advice on how subcontractors can safeguard their interests, including the necessity of timely notices and the complexities of critical path analysis. He stresses the importance of maintaining clear records to substantiate claims for extensions of time, aiming to help construction business owners enhance profitability, manage cash flow, and achieve business growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:


 The importance of proving extensions of time for subcontractors.
 The significance of submitting a notice to the contractor to raise awareness of potential delays.
 Complexity of critical path analysis.
 Importance of providing clear records and evidence to support extension of time claims.
 Discussion on protecting subcontractors from financial losses due to delays.

BEST MOMENTS:

"I couldn't help but feel for him because he's just one of those people that likes to help people out."

“True concurrency is actually quite rare because as much as anything else, just what's the chances.”

“The giving of a notice, particularly when you can do it at the right time, when something can be done about a problem, should be seen as something positive, because you're what you're actually doing is raising somebody's awareness that there's an issue here is going to cause a problem."

"He's always been one of those sort of spit and a handshake kind of guys that he expects that if he does something to help you out, you'll help him out at the right point."

"It really beggars belief the situation that he's found himself in because the contractor, the cheeky bastard, has caused some clear delays to his subcontractor and then he's going about stitching him up for a contribution to his losses.”

For more information on relevant events mentioned in this episode, click here listen to Episode 14: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-subcontractors-blueprint/id1701638267?i=1000635658680 

 

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 39 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin delves into the critical topic of final account procedures for subcontractors. Drawing from a friend's challenging experience, Jacob underscores the importance of a thorough understanding of the final account process. He offers expert advice on the content and structuring of final account statements, the intricacies of the JCT contracts, and the best practices for a smooth final account journey. Jacob emphasises the value of regular submissions and preparation for final account meetings, while also clarifying the timelines for submissions, disputes, and payments. His commitment to empowering SME contractors with practical knowledge shines through, as he advocates for knowledge sharing within the subcontracting community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:


 The importance of final account procedures for subcontractors.
 What a final account should include for different types of contracts.
 Structuring a final account statement.
 Best practices for subcontractors in navigating the final account process.
 Preparing for a final account meeting.
 Timescales for submitting and disputing final account calculations and when final payments should fall due.

BEST MOMENTS:

"Sadly, he'd not been submitting cumulative valuations properly, and at some point in the job, some of the early variations he completed had dropped off his application.”

"Obviously, that was disappointing for him, and with hindsight, he would do different things."

“On an NEC project, I think this way of working is ideal. And the proviso that this works on is that each time there is a change, there's a compensation event as it's referred to under that subcontract."

"Of course, by the time you finished the job, all of the unknown items should be known, and therefore all of the unknown sums of money should have been firmed up and the provisional sum omitted and a variation added back to cover the piece of work."

"a good way to approach your final account is to include a rolling final account within your regular interim applications, because what you want to happen is for there not to be any surprises when it comes to getting around the table to make that final assessment.”

 

For more information on Provisional Sums, and other provisional items mentioned in this episode, click here listen to Episode 27: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-subcontractors-blueprint/id1701638267?i=1000643452382

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 38 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin provides crucial advice for subcontractors on the seven key areas to review before signing a subcontract. He highlights the importance of understanding the financial standing of the contracting party, clear payment terms, and the specifics of price, program, scope of work, design liability, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Jacob stresses the need for a seven-day notice period for payment and the benefits of the adjudication process under the construction act for swift dispute resolution. He urges subcontractors to scrutinise the subcontract for any discrepancies and to consider the long-term effects of the contract's wording. If you enjoy the show, Jacob invites you to share the episode’s insights.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:


 The importance of clarifying payment terms, credit score, and understanding the contractor's payment culture.
 Ensuring the subcontract sum reflects the quoted sum, checking for qualifications, and value engineering.
 Checking agreement on the contract period, avoiding vague program terms, and watching out for limitations on extension of time and costs.
 Understanding the liability associated with design and ensuring the presence of a "reasonable skill and care" statement in the subcontract.  (Click to listen to episode 24 about design liability: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-subcontractors-blueprint/id1701638267?i=1000640967914 )
 The importance of the adjudication process as a quick dispute resolution method and the need to ensure it is not obstructed in the subcontract.

BEST MOMENTS:

"Who am I trading with? How long are they going to be around? Because at the end of the day, if you're going to commit to doing some work for somebody, you want to make damn sure that you're going to get paid for it."

"The combination of big inflation and the hike in interest rates have really brought the sale rates of big housing contractors down to a minimum."

"Cash flow is everything. It's also worth noting, if you're working for a contractor and they are themselves working for a small developer or quite a high-risk developer, it would be worth checking your contract to see what the terms say around the contractor paying you."

"You want to remember that you can rely on that if you're not paid; you submit a notice, and seven days later, you can pull off site."

"Going to court to resolve a dispute is a hell of a lot more expensive and time-consuming, and one you want to avoid if you certainly can."

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 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:


What records subcontractors should keep on a regular basis
Records can both support claims for delays to the contractor and help to defend the subcontractor from delays, damages and contra charges
Many of these records can be simply recorded and captured in monthly walk arounds
Progress photos are a simple and powerful tool to document the site, particularly if taken regularly
The simplest metric of tracking weekly man hours can support and protect subcontractors

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