Blog

JCT welcomes publication of The Construction Playbook

/ Latest News, Press Releases

The publication of the The Construction Playbook, a new guidance document released by the UK Government for public sector procurement, has been welcomed by JCT at their December 10th Council meeting. JCT is listed within the Playbook as one of the key standard form contract providers recommended for use on public sector projects. The Construction Playbook is a guidance document aimed at professionals across public sector bodies who are responsible for the planning and delivery of public work programmes and projects. The 12-chapter document sets…

Data driven culture vital to delivering benefits of Construction 4.0

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Latest News, Press Releases

Establishing a data driven culture that encompasses people, processes, and products is vital to delivering transformative benefits to the construction industry and its clients, said Dr Damien Buie, group technical director, Laing O’Rourke, in delivering the JCT Povey Lecture 2020 on Wednesday 18th November. In his presentation, ‘Safety in numbers – Resilience and Certainty Through Data’, Dr Buie described Laing O’Rourke’s own journey toward Construction 4.0 – delivering a closer alignment with clients, creating a safe working environment, and consistently delivering quality engineering solutions that…

Preparing for public procurement post-Brexit

/ Contractual Issues, Latest News, Public Sector

Blog Authors: Graeme Young, Partner and Shona Murphy, Associate – CMS UK The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020. Under the terms of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the current EU public procurement rules have continued in force in the UK during an 11 month transition period. That transition period expires on 31 December 2020. While the UK may still be able to agree a limited form of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU by the end of this year, it seems…

JCT chair to speak on Blockchain and Covid-19 in online events

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT chair, Richard Saxon CBE, will be giving presentations at two online events, as part of the Construction Blockchain Consortium Annual Conference on Tuesday, 15 October 2020 and a CRS / BISNOW webinar on Tuesday, 03 November 2020. Richard’s presentation at the Construction Blockchain Consortium Annual Conference, forms part of the ‘Smart Legal Contracts for Construction’ session, taking place on Tuesday, 15 October, from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Richard’s paper, “Built Environment as a Service: a Blockchain use case”, will discuss the potential for…

Dr Damien Buie to give JCT Povey Lecture 2020

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Latest News, Press Releases

“Safety in Numbers: Resilience and Certainty Through Data” will be the topic of the 2020 JCT Povey Lecture, presented by Dr Damien Buie, group technical director at Laing O’Rourke. For the first time the JCT Povey Lecture will be streamed as a live-broadcast interactive webinar, with the opportunity for attendees to take part in a Q&A via the streaming interface. Dr Buie’s presentation will show how harnessing the power of data has helped Laing O’Rourke achieve closer alignment to the needs of clients, create a…

JCT launches new online ‘JCT Training’ programme

/ Education, Skills and Students, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has developed a new package of online training to sit alongside its traditional, face-to-face courses. The programme aims to provide more flexibility for contract users as restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic remain in place. The new digital JCT Training delivers courses as live broadcast webinars, with the same expert trainers as the physical courses – all either past or current members of the JCT Council or JCT Drafting Sub-Committee. As well as being broadcast live, the courses also provide interactivity for attendees who…

Suite of updated Covid-19 articles available from JCT website

/ Contractual Issues, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has made available a suite of new articles providing information about the impact of Covid-19 on construction projects and the contractual issues that arise. The new articles, authored by JCT past-chair, Peter Hibberd, follow on from the orginal article, “Coronavirus (Covid-19) and JCT Contracts”, released in April. The latest articles update the original information from the April piece, set out the guidance from Government and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and the important contract areas affected, and address the issues that need to be considered for future projects. The suite highlights specific issues that apply to the…

JCT seeks new chair

/ Latest News, Press Releases

The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT), the UK’s premier contract writing body for the construction industry, is looking for a new chair of the JCT Board and Council from March 2021, for a three-year term. JCT is seeking an individual with experience of chairing board meetings comprising various interest groups, with the ability to overcome challenges and to facilitate and achieve collaboration and consensus. The chair’s role is an opportunity to be at the head of an organisation with a unique span of influence across the…

JCT Digital assists construction professionals as lockdown eases

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has been adopting a ‘digital first’ approach in the provision of its contract products and services, in an effort to increase the efficiency and flexibility for those working with construction contracts during the lockdown period. As the lockdown eases, its digital services are aimed to assist construction professionals in their return to work. JCT Digital encompasses a range of online services, including JCT On Demand and JCT Construct. JCT On Demand is the digital equivalent of the JCT hardcopy contract. Users are able to…

Full range of JCT 2016 contracts now available digitally

/ JCT Product Updates, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has released the final batch of its JCT On Demand documents so that the entire range of the JCT 2016 Edition of contracts is available digitally. The contracts in this latest release include documents from the JCT Major Project Construction Contract (MP) family, JCT Constructing Excellence Contract (CE) family, JCT Construction Management (CM) family,  JCT Management Building Contract (MC) family, plus a range of sub-contracts, agreements, and guides. JCT On Demand is the digital equivalent of the JCT hardcopy contract. The service provides instant, online…

New ‘Coronavirus and JCT Contracts’ article available

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has released an article, authored by Peter Hibberd, past-chair, JCT, aimed at contractors, clients and contract administrators to provide information on understanding how the effects of coronavirus impact JCT contracts, what the contracts provide for to deal with such events, and how parties can ensure compliance. With the coronavirus having such an unprecedented impact on construction projects, it is important that all parties to the contract are able to understand the key areas of the contract that come into play, and what action may…

JCT Construct. Learn more about building and creating your JCT contracts online

JCT launches JCT Construct – a new digital contract drafting service

/ JCT Product Updates, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has launched the latest in its range of digital contract services, JCT Construct. JCT Construct is a subscription-based contract drafting system with advanced editing features, enabling users to create and amend JCT contracts in a secure, flexible, and easy to use online environment. With JCT Construct’s powerful tools the JCT contract text itself can be edited, enabling users to add their own amendments, clauses, or other customised text. This is alongside being able to use the same intuitive Q&A process as the JCT On Demand service to fill in contracts comprehensively. The system…

JCT Prime Cost Contract among new digital products on JCT On Demand

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has added more contracts from its current 2016 Edition to its On Demand digital service, increasing the range of JCT contracts available to purchase and fill in online. The latest release of new products includes the JCT Prime Cost Contract (PCC), JCT Measured Term Contract (MTC), JCT Repair and Maintenance Contract (RM), and their associated guides. Recently the service was updated to include the full range of JCT Sub-Contracts, which added to the range of best-selling JCT contracts that have been available for some…

JCT Chair to take part in Construction Blockchain Session at Futurebuild 2020

/ BIM, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT Chair, Richard Saxon CBE, will be participating in the “Construction Blockchain: BIM and Smart Contracts” session at Futurebuild on Wednesday 04 March 2020. The session, hosted by the Construction Blockchain Consortium (CBC), outlines the emerging applications of distributed ledger technology, and includes the presentation of a white paper from the CBC, for which Richard wrote the forword. Delegates will be updated on developments in technologies such as Blockchain, DApps, and smart legal contracts, and why they need to be considered in order to fully…

Digital technology will change the culture of the construction industry

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Latest News, Press Releases

A vision for the future of the construction industry and society as a whole was shared by Professor Alan Penn in delivering the JCT Povey Lecture 2019, entitled “Our digital future: space and place in a digital world”. Professor Alan Penn delivered his lecture to JCT delegates at the Local Government Association, London on Wednesday, 20 November 2019. Professor Alan Penn showed that throughout human history, developments in technology have impacted the way in which we have developed our built environment, and how we have…

Digital sub-contracts now available via JCT On Demand

/ JCT Product Updates, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has made its entire range of sub-contracts available digitally, via its JCT On Demand service. The service enables sub-contract users to purchase and complete their documents in a user-friendly, secure online format. The documents available include the following: JCT Standard Building Sub-Contract (SBCSub) JCT Standard Building Sub-Contract with sub-contractor’s design (SBCSub/D) JCT Design and Build Sub-Contract (DBSub) JCT Intermediate Sub-Contract (ICSub) JCT Intermediate Sub-Contract with sub-contractor’s design (ICSub/D) JCT Intermediate Named Sub-Contract (ICSub/NAM) JCT Intermediate Named Sub-Contractor/Employer Agreement (ICSub/NAM/E) JCT Minor Works Sub-Contract with…

Professor Alan Penn to give the JCT Povey Lecture 2019

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Latest News, Press Releases

Alan Penn, professor of architectural and urban computing, The Bartlett, UCL, will give the JCT Povey Lecture 2019, entitled “Our digital future: space and place in a digital world” at the Local Government Association on Wednesday, 20th November 2019. Professor Alan Penn’s Povey Lecture will discuss the relationship between the real world of space and place and the virtual world of the digital, and how the successful alignment of these two realms across the construction supply chain are vital for the industry’s future. BIM, and in particular,…

JCT Training addresses need for quality contract education

/ Education, Skills and Students, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT Training, established over a year ago, is meeting an urgent need across the construction industry for education and training in contractual matters. The courses are the most authoritative range of training packages on JCT contracts available, authored and delivered by members of the JCT Council and Drafting Sub-Committee, who are responsible for drafting the JCT suite of contracts. Since the launch of the JCT Training programme, over 20 courses have been delivered, with a further 9 taking place throughout the remainder of 2019. With…

JCT chair to present at Construction Blockchain Consortium’s International Symposium

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT chair, Richard Saxon CBE, will give a presentation at the Construction Blockchain Consortium’s (CBC) inaugural International Symposium in Paris on 7th June. Richard’s presentation, titled “Industry Challenges: How Can Data Assist?”, looks at the difficulties faced by UK construction that may be overcome by new digital possibilities and where more disruptive change might be required. In addition, Richard will be taking part in an evening panel discussion on Blockchain and Contracts. The CBC’s first International Symposium is titled “Digital Trust in the Built Environment”…

JCT provides leadership and innovation with new BIM guidance and digital contract technology

/ BIM, JCT Product Updates, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT used its annual Construction Industry Parliamentary Reception, hosted at the House of Commons, to update the industry on two areas where it is providing innovation and leadership – BIM and digital contract technology. The recent publication of JCT’s latest practice note, BIM and JCT Contracts, furthers the understanding of BIM related legal and contractual issues, providing practical, clear guidance to project participants and their professional advisers. The practice note focuses on the use of BIM with the JCT Design and Build Contract (DB), as…

JCT releases new practice note – BIM and JCT Contracts

/ BIM, Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has released its latest practice note, BIM and JCT Contracts, providing up-to-date guidance for using JCT contracts on construction projects where BIM is to be used. The aim of BIM and JCT Contracts is to further the understanding of BIM related legal and contractual issues and suggest ways of approaching such issues in a collaborative and constructive way. It also provides practical, clear guidance to project participants and their professional advisers. The practice note focuses on the use of BIM with the JCT Design…

New JCT On Demand digital contracts now available

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has released more of its 2016 Edition of contracts online via its JCT On Demand digital service. The contract families included are the JCT Standard Building Contract (Standard Building Contract With Quantities (SBC/Q), Standard Building Contract Without Quantities (SBC/XQ), and Standard Building Contract With Approximate Quantities (SBC/AQ)), and the JCT Intermediate Building Contract (Intermediate Building Contract (IC), and Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design (ICD)). Digital versions of the guides corresponding with each family, namely the Standard Building Contract Guide (SBC/G) and Intermediate Building…

JCT provides new guidance to public sector

/ Latest News, Press Releases, Public Sector

JCT has been providing new guidance for public sector clients on various aspects of JCT contracts, including contract selection, guidance on the JCT 2016 Edition, and specific contract families. The request from the public sector for further engagement with JCT comes amid an increase in the uptake of JCT contracts by a number of local authorities across the UK. JCT vice chair and vice chair of the JCT Drafting Sub-Committee, John Riches, has been at the forefront of the initiative by giving presentations to a…

JCT chair’s ‘Going Digital’ BIM guide for clients published

/ BIM, Latest News, Press Releases

‘Going Digital: A guide for construction clients, building owners and their advisers’, authored by JCT chair, Richard Saxon CBE, has been published by the UK BIM Alliance. Richard Saxon, who originally published the book ‘BIM for Construction Clients’ in 2016, has revisited the topic to further update and simplify it, providing this new, eight-step, plain language guide that enables construction clients and building owners to see the long-term value of a shift to a digital way of working, and to take practical measures within their…

Technology, governance and image essential to meet future infrastructure challenges

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Latest News, Press Releases

Embracing technology – in particular the power of data, concentrating on whole-life cycle sustainable outcomes, fostering a new culture through smart governance, and promoting the industry through positive projects are key to meeting the construction and infrastructure challenges of the future, according to Richard Threlfall, Head of Global Infrastructure, KPMG, addressing construction industry delegates at the sixteenth annual JCT Povey Lecture on Thursday, 8th November 2018. Richard Threlfall showed in his presentation, “Collaborative, Connected and Cool: How technology and governance could transform the impact, efficiency…

Richard Threlfall to give the JCT Povey Lecture 2018

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Latest News, Press Releases

Richard Threlfall, Partner and Global Head of Infrastructure, KPMG, will give the JCT Povey Lecture 2018, “Connected, Collaborative and Cool: How technology and governance could transform the impact, efficiency and image of the construction industry”, at the Local Government Association, London, on Thursday 8th November 2018. Richard has over 25 years’ experience in infrastructure policy, governance, strategy and financing, advising both public and private sector clients in the UK and overseas. He began his career as a civil servant at the UK Department for Transport…

Nigerian construction industry modernises by adopting updated JCT contracts

/ Latest News, Press Releases

The Nigerian construction industry is adopting up-to-date editions of JCT contracts as part of an initiative to modernise and adopt best practice. JCT contracts (albeit much earlier editions) have been adapted for use in Nigeria for some time, however this new initiative, spearheaded by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), aims to put a more formal process in place for the adoption of current JCT contracts and provide the Nigerian construction industry with training, advice and guidance about the up-to-date JCT editions and current…

Students show their inspiration in JCT Student Competition 2018

/ Latest News, Press Releases

Jamie Hume, of the University College of Estate Management, has won the JCT Student Competition 2018, with his video entry, “What inspires you about construction? – Leeds Corn Exchange”. The runner-up prize winner was Harry Simpson, Nottingham Trent University, with his photographic essay entry on Derelict Space Development. An accompanying selfie photo competition, running alongside the main competition was won by Max Hume of Ulster University. For the 2018 competition, entrants had to answer the question, “What inspires you about construction?” They could choose to focus on…

Build UK becomes a member of JCT

/ Latest News, Press Releases

The construction industry body, Build UK, has become a member of JCT. Build UK’s work focuses on delivering change and enabling the construction supply chain to improve the efficiency and delivery of construction projects, for the benefit of the UK economy. Their priority issues within the industry include improving business performance, increasing productivity, and recruiting and training talent. Representing a number of different organisation and specialisms within the industry, Build UK’s leadership and collaborative approach will be valuable assets within the JCT membership. JCT was formed…

L-R: JCT chair, Richard Saxon CBE, Eddie Hughes MP, JCT chief executive, Neil Gower

JCT celebrates range of new digital services at parliamentary reception

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT announced a major new development for the way construction contracts will be prepared in the digital age, with the launch of a range of new online contract services at their annual Construction Industry Parliamentary Reception, at the House of Commons on Wednesday 23rd May 2018. Many JCT customers will already be familiar with JCT’s On Demand service, which enables users to complete their contracts online in a seamless, online environment using an interactive Q&A process. JCT were today able to announce that a full…

JCT launches new range of training courses

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT Training is a new initiative from JCT, offering a range of training courses on JCT contracts, directly from the construction professionals involved in creating the JCT 2016 Edition. The new courses cover a range of topics, from an introduction to the JCT suite and choosing the appropriate JCT 2016 contract, to courses covering specific contract families and documents, to courses covering contractual and legal issues. The first group of training courses, available for June 2018 include: ‘Deciding on the appropriate JCT Contract 2016’ (13th…

JCT releases updated JCT Contracts Discovery education module

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has revised and substantially updated its education and training module, JCT Contracts Discovery, providing an improved and more in-depth tool for those working in construction education. JCT Contracts Discovery is designed for education and training providers, in-house training teams, independent tutors, and students studying contractual matters as part of their construction-related courses. It is also a useful reference guide for construction professionals who are new to JCT and the processes involved in working with standard form construction contracts. The module sets new standards for…

JCT launches improved On Demand digital service

/ Latest News, Press Releases

JCT has launched its new On Demand digital service, taking in feedback from users to deliver a service with a range of enhancements and features, enabling easy completion of JCT contracts online. JCT On Demand seamlessly integrates with the JCT online store, www.jctltd.co.uk, so that users are able to purchase the JCT On Demand digital version of their contract, log in to their account and access their contract any time that is convenient to them. The new JCT On Demand service enables users to: Complete…

Met Office and JCT team up to provide new weather services for construction industry

/ Press Releases

The Met Office and JCT have launched a new range of weather services designed specifically to assist in project planning and post-project analysis. The products will work in conjunction with the weather clauses in the JCT suite of contracts. Two new products, Location Based Monthly Planning Averages and Location Based Downtime Summaries, provide project teams with trusted information to inform scheduling, design refinements and budget in the planning stage. They also deliver accurate information to aid resolution of disputes and requests for extension of time….

Raven’s Enclosure, Tower of London

/ Case Studies

Legend has it that the kingdom will fall should the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. It was extra important therefore to provide a safe and comfortable new habitat for the iconic birds – one that was sensitive to its historic environment and enhanced their role as a visitor attraction. With a careful and collaborative approach required, the JCT – Constructing Excellence Contract provided the contract solution. The ravens of the Tower of London are an important part of British cultural folklore and history,…

JCT releases Intermediate Building Contract 2016

/ JCT 2016 Edition, JCT Network, Press Releases

The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has released the 2016 Edition of the Intermediate Building Contract family. The contracts are available to purchase via JCT’s online store, www.jctltd.co.uk. The 2016 Edition of the Intermediate Building Contract family includes the following documents: Intermediate Building Contract (IC) Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design (ICD) Intermediate Building Contract Guide (IC/G) Intermediate Sub-Contract Agreement (ICSub/A) Intermediate Sub-Contract Conditions (ICSub/C) Intermediate Sub-Contract with sub-contractor’s design Agreement (ICSub/D/A) Intermediate Sub-Contract with sub-contractor’s design Conditions (ICSub/D/C) Intermediate Named Sub-Contract Tender and Agreement (ICSub/NAM)…

Tony Giddings to talk collaboration at JCT Povey Lecture 2016

/ JCT Povey Lecture, Press Releases

“Collaboration: how Argent developed its successful way of working”, will be the title of the JCT Povey Lecture 2016, to be given by Tony Giddings at The Building Centre on Thursday 10 November 2016. Tony Giddings BSc FCIOB was executive director of Argent PLC from 1997, finally stepping down as partner this year. During this time he has been responsible for over £1.2bn of construction, including projects at Thames Valley Park, Green Park in Reading, Brindleyplace in Birmingham, Piccadilly Place in Manchester, and more recently…

Harlech Castle

/ Case Studies

Any building project has its unique complexities and a project which includes renovation and refurbishment, new-build construction, and the implementation of a variety of sustainable and energy saving techniques, is no exception. But in the case of Harlech Castle in Gwenedd, Wales, the former had to be achieved in a building, next to a scheduled ancient monument, on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in a conservation area on the edge of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), within a National Park. A JCT Standard…

Canopy House, Nairobi

/ Case Studies

This residential property, built for a British-raised Kenyan working for the UN, combines a mixture of renovation, extension, and smart sourcing of labour and materials to provide luxury on a budget. Key to saving costs was the use of a JCT Minor Works Building Contract with contractor’s design. The large site for this property, set in well-healed Nairobi suburb, already contained a bungalow which presented two initial challenges. Firstly, budget precluded the option to completely remove the structure and secondly, the undesirable aspect of the…

JCT Povey Lecture 2020: Safety in Numbers – Resilience and Certainty Through Data

/ JCT Povey Lecture

  JCT Povey Lecture 2020 “Safety in Numbers – Resilience and Certainty Through Data” Dr Damien Buie, group technical director, Laing O’Rourke Download presentation About the Povey Lecture The JCT Povey Lecture is an annual event at which an eminent person is invited to give their thoughts on significant matters that are relevant to the construction and property industry. The purpose of the lecture is to stimulate thought and encourage ways of continuing to improve the quality and value of construction output. The event was…

JCT Launches New Group for Young Professionals

/ Specialist Interest Groups

JCT has launched the JCT Young Professionals Group (YPG), a new cross-industry networking initiative for construction professionals. The aim of the YPG is to provide a focus group for construction professionals within the first ten years of their career, those that are “young in the industry” regardless of age, and students, who are interested in elevating their professional profile, expanding their industry network and connecting with peers, and giving back to the industry through fostering a long-term engagement with JCT. In its role as a…

Government Initiatives Create Opportunities for Businesses and Homeowners

/ JCT 2016 Edition

Blog Author: Peter Hibberd The construction industry, in keeping with most other industries, is going through one of the most challenging periods known to those currently employed. In April this year, construction activity, according to the ONS, fell by 40% month on month for new works and around 38% for repair works. Not surprising given lockdown, but a degree of miscommunication meant that many contractors stopped working when they could have continued, albeit with restrictions. As we emerge from lockdown, and business takes on a…

Wroughton Academy, Norfolk

/ Case Studies

The site of Wroughton Academy in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, was for many years shared by separate junior and infant schools. Having come under the same management recently, a project was commissioned to create a cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure to link the two buildings. A JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor’s design was the form of choice. The new CLT building symbolises the merging of the two schools under the Wroughton Academy umbrella by providing a new front and central focus point to the school, securely…

Chair’s Letter: Service or Product?

/ Chairman's Blog

Blog Author: Richard Saxon, CBE The Office for National Statistics lists the construction industry as part of the service sector. This makes some sense in that we provide bespoke facilities to customers rather like a restaurant provides meals. However, our output is not a transient meal but delivers a very concrete asset which needs looking after for its whole life, a service we do not provide except reactively. We treat our output like a product, leaving the buyer to look after it. Owners are not…

Construction Contract Execution During Covid-19 and Beyond

/ Contractual Issues, JCT 2016 Edition

Blog Authors: Marcus Harling and Alistair Russell – Burges Salmon LLP Electronic signatures, data rooms, Mercury execution? Evolving working arrangements mean we should all double check exactly how to execute construction documents. Whilst smart contracts and digital signatures are still very much the immediate future, for most people they did not arrive in time to help with the complexities of contract execution created by the COVID-19 lockdown. Suddenly the traditional way of contract execution became almost impossible and old questions on remote Mercury compliant execution…