SRV-05 · SERVICES / EMPLOYER'S AGENT
Employer’s agent for design and build projects
On a JCT Design and Build contract the employer’s agent acts for the client: preparing the employer’s requirements, reviewing the contractor’s proposals, managing change and certifying payment. We take on the role on schemes where design and build is the right route for the client.
What the service involves
Drafting clear requirements so the contractor prices what the client actually wants.
Reviewing proposals against the requirements and closing gaps before contract.
Pricing and agreeing changes to the employer’s requirements before they are built.
Assessing applications and issuing payment notices in line with the contract.
Practical completion, defects and the final statement.
Who it is for
Developers and clients procuring under JCT Design and Build who need someone independent of the contractor to protect the brief, the budget and the programme.
What you get
- ▸Employer’s requirements that leave little room for argument
- ▸Independent scrutiny of the contractor’s design and cost
- ▸Change priced before it is built
- ▸Certificates issued on time and to the contract
Typical projects
Residential and mixed-use schemes and sports and leisure facilities procured on a design and build basis, typically between £1 million and £10 million in construction value.
Where we take the role
Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Surrey, where we can attend site regularly. We take employer’s agent appointments selectively, where the scheme and procurement route suit the role.
Frequently asked questions
What is an employer’s agent?
Under JCT Design and Build the employer’s agent is the client’s representative named in the contract, carrying out the functions the contract gives to the employer, including instructions, valuations and certification.
How is an employer’s agent different from a contract administrator?
The contract administrator is a role under traditional JCT contracts and must act fairly between the parties when certifying. The employer’s agent is the employer’s representative under Design and Build; the design responsibility sits with the contractor.
Do you always act as employer’s agent?
No. We take the role where design and build is the right route and the scheme suits it. Where a traditional route is better for the client, we say so and act as quantity surveyor and contract administrator instead.
Can you help decide between design and build and traditional procurement?
Yes. That advice comes before any appointment. The right route depends on how fixed the design is, how much control the client wants and how risk is best shared.
Which areas do you cover?
Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Surrey.