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 maintenance, and maximizing subcontract profitability.
Tune in now to empower your subcontracting journey with "The Subcontractors Blueprint" and take confident strides toward a more prosperous future.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 21 minutes
- Episodes
- 109
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Building a Strong Foundation: Prioritising Mental Health in Construction
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, highligh…
Show Me the Money: Cash Flow Survival Guide for Subcontractors in Construction
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…
The Most Essential Guide to Provisional Sums for Subcontractors
In episode 27 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin educates us on Provisional Sums. He clarifies ways in which undesigned works are included in a subcontract such as Prime Cost Sums,…
Navigating Unquantifiable Risks in Construction: Insights and Strategies for Subcontractors
In episode 26 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin is talking Unquantifiable Risks - a baffling practice within the construction industry practiced by clients and contractors alike, …
Understanding and Managing Latent and Patent Defects in Construction: Implications for Subcontractors
In episode 25 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin explores construction defects and their effects on subcontractors. He clarifies the difference between patent defects, which are ob…
Unraveling the Complexities of Design Liability: Insights from a Construction Industry Expert
In episode 24 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin is discussing Design Liabilities and Design & Build Subcontracts. Jacob starts by discussing the issue with Fitness for Purpose cri…
Are Actual Cost Contracts Hindering Efficiency in Construction Projects?
In episode 23 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin is discussing target cost and cost plus contracting. He criticises cost plus contracts, citing lack of incentives for contractors t…
What is the JCT Subcontract?
In episode 22 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin discusses how JCT subcontracts in the construction industry are formed. He emphasises the importance of understanding the terms and…
Risk management in construction: From uncertainty to opportunity
In episode 21 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin is talking to you all about Risk and Risk Management. This is a topic in Construction that is not talked about enough, and for Subc…
#20 Completion or Not Completion?
In episode 20 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin is talking all things Completion.
This is yet another topic which is simple on the face of it, but the construction industry has it…
#19 Value Engineering
In episode 19 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin discusses the topic of Value Engineering and Whole Life Costing. He starts by defining these two phrases which are widely used in t…
Valuing Changes
In episode 18 of the Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin delves into the topic of valuing change. He starts by discussing the different terminology used for changes in various contracts, h…
Retrofitting
In episode 17 of the Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin explores the topic of retrofitting. He explains that retrofitting involves introducing new materials, products, and technologies in…
Payment Notices and the Construction Act
In this episode of the Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin discusses payments under the Construction Act, with a focus on payment notices. He explains that the Construction Act enforces ru…
The Tender Process Demystified: How to Secure Lucrative Subcontracts
In this episode of The Subcontractors Blueprint, Jacob Austin discusses the tender process and submitting quotations. He acknowledges that while two-stage tenders are not commonly used in subcontract…
Unraveling the Complexity of Relevant Events and Relevant Matters
Jacob tackles the topic of relevant events and relevant matters in construction contracts. Building on the previous episode's discussion on submitting an extension of time request, Jacob explains th…
Dealing with Delays as a Subcontractor
Jacob discusses the topic of delays in construction projects. He emphasises the importance of issuing notices to alert others of potential delays and suggests having a conversation with the relevant…
Maximizing Profitability through Acceleration
Get ready to dive into the fascinating topic of acceleration, as Jacob takes us on a journey through its complexities. This is when subcontractors are asked to speed up their work due to project dela…
The Impact of Insolvency on the Supply Chain
Jacob delves into a pressing issue within the construction industry: insolvency. He's noticed a concerning trend in recent headlines, with more and more contractors and subcontractors facing financia…
The Pros and Cons of Retentions in the Construction Industry
Let's take a deep dive into the intricate subject of retentions! Jacob conducts a comprehensive discussion on the manifold challenges and exasperations retentions can pose for subcontractors. This ep…