The Subcontractors Blueprint

The Subcontractors Blueprint

Hosted by: Jacob Austin

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...

All Episodes

Episodes

Why Being Right Doesn't Get You Paid

Episode 143 of The Subcontractors Blueprint sees Jacob Austin confront one of the most expensive commercial blind spots in the industry: the absence of records. Subcontractors are losing money on variations,...
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Main Contractors Are Banking on Your Silence for Their Cashflow

Episode 142 of The Subcontractors Blueprint sees Jacob Austin tackle one of the most commercially damaging patterns in UK construction: deliberate late payment. Drawing on government data showing late payment costs...
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The Hidden Dangers Buried in Your Subcontract

Episode 141 of The Subcontractors Blueprint sees Jacob Austin deliver a blunt commercial warning to every subcontractor in the UK who has ever signed a subcontract without reading it in full. Covering ten hidden...
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Five Ways Contractors Hide Illegal Payment Clauses

Episode 140 of The Subcontractors Blueprint sees Jacob Austin expose five ways main contractors are disguising illegal payment clauses in bespoke subcontract amendments — nearly 30 years after pay when paid was banned...
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Case Law Coffee Break

Episode 139 of The Subcontractors Blueprint delivers Jacob Austin's Spring Case Law Coffee Break — a plain-English breakdown of four recent UK construction judgments that directly affect how subcontractors get paid,...
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Adjudication, Records, and the ÂŁ180,000.00 Lesson.

Jacob Austin unpacks adjudication in Episode 138 of The Subcontractors Blueprint — cutting through the fear around it to explain why it's a commercial lever, not a last resort. He breaks down two routes available...
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From Financial Caps to Court Cases: What Every Subcontractor Needs to Know About Letters of Intent

In episode 137 of The Subcontractors Blueprint, Jacob Austin of QS.Zone breaks down the real risks of letters of intent (LOIs) for subcontractors. He explains how financial caps embedded in LOIs can leave...
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The Retention Ban: Is It Good? Or Is It A Case Of Be Careful What You Wish For?

In episode 136 of The Subcontractors Blueprint, Jacob Austin of QS.Zone unpacks the UK government’s landmark decision to ban retention payments in construction contracts. He explains the background, the new payment...
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Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Negotiation: A Guide for Subcontractors to Secure Better Contracts

In episode 135 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin , shares practical negotiation strategies tailored for construction subcontractors. He emphasises the importance of thorough preparation,...
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Building Hope: The Band of Builders Story

In this special episode, number 134 of The Subcontractors Blueprint, recorded as part of Podcasthon — a global initiative uniting over 1,500 podcasters across 40 countries in a simultaneous wave of charity awareness...
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JCT Mini-Series: Dangerous Amendments - Ten Common Amendments That Threaten Your Profitability

In episode 133 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues his mini-series on JCT subcontracts. He details the ten most dangerous amendments main contractors often add to JCT subcontracts,...
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JCT Mini Series: Final Account Do’s and Don’ts for Subcontractors

In episode 132 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, host Jacob Austin continues his JCT Subcontract mini-series breaking down 10 Do’s and Don’ts for mastering the final account process under the JCT 2024 standard...
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