Nigel recently delivered a series of talks to EN:Procure. Our thanks to attendee and Director of Operations, Emma Mottram, who took to social media – just in time for Halloween – to share the treats (no tricks) she took away from Nigel’s terrifyingly good recent session. We couldn’t resist sharing her perfectly themed post…
Warning: A Spook-tacular Halloween Post Approaches!
This Halloween week, the EN:Procure Team wrapped up our final module on the JCT Contract Suite, exploring the dark arts of post-contract administration.
For me, mastering contract administration is a bit like bringing Frankenstein’s monster to life — you need careful assembly, clear control, and a spark of brilliance ⚡ (though hopefully with fewer random “stitched-together” clauses… we’ve all seen those copy-and-paste horrors lurking in old drafts!).
Once again, we were guided by Nigel Barr of Stradia — our very own Mary Shelley — who helped us tame the beast, with some frightfully good insights into concurrent delay and the Society of Construction Law Protocols.
The team have thoroughly enjoyed the modules and found them both enlightening and fang-tastically useful.
So, if your procurement is about to go bump in the night, or you sense something spooky hiding in your contracts, don’t be afraid to get in touch — we promise we don’t bite (much)!
On Friday, 2 October 2025 0800-0900 hours, Nigel will deliver a webinar on Decoding Construction Warranties, Bonds and Guarantees as part of Quantity Surveyors International’s First Thursday CPD Club.
At this free of charge event, Nigel will deliver an essential guide to understanding how bonds, warranties, and guarantees are applied in construction contracts—their purpose, timing, and the commercial impact they have on successful project delivery.
to reserve your place email cpd@theqsi.com
Our Head of Procurement , Jenny Swainson, recently gave a talk to members of Quantity Surveyors International (QSi) at their monthly First Thursday Club CPD webinar. The presentation was a review of the Procurement Act 2023. Jenny provided valuable insight on the key changes for the Public Sector and Suppliers
Matthew Barr, son of our Managing Director, has produced a very interesting piece of research as part of his Construction Management degree on the importance of site management teams understanding the contractual arrangements governing the projects that they are delivering.
Not surprisingly the research highlights the importance of site management teams having a working knowledge of the important contractual processes necessary to ensure that contractors are protecting their commercial interests. Insufficient knowledge in this area can mean that contractors may struggle to recover their proper entitlement to time and money under the construction contract.
The research also highlights the important connection between providing adequate contract training for site managers, project success and avoiding disputes.
The document can be viewed in full at the following link. We would be interested in your feedback!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ePmlJTYvI1mRMOjYXaoy3XkUASPGhdPo/view?usp=sharing
Following an in-depth two-stage interview process, firstly with the lead tutor of the NEC Panel of Tutors & Consultants and secondly with a member of the NEC Contract Board, I am delighted to have been appointed as a Consultant on the NEC Panel of Consultants. I’m very pleased to have been recognised as an NEC expert by Thomas Telford and look forward to working with the team.
Members of the Stradia team met recently to hear a company update from the Directors and to enjoy a lunch together 
Nigel’s professional standing and accomplishments in the industry have been recognised with his appointment as an Ambassador for Quantity Surveyors International (QSi).
Nigel was presented with his award medal at QSi’s recent 20th anniversary celebrations at the House of Lords
We are delighted to announce that Andrea Rae has been promoted to the position of Director with effect from 1 June.
Andrea will continue to play a key role in providing legal and commercial support to our existing clients, while also developing our services to reach a wider range of clients. 
Dates: 1 June 2026 09:30 – 11:00 Part 1; 8 June 2026 09:30 – 11:00 Part 2; 15 June 2026 09:30-11:00 Part 3
14 September 2026 13:30 – 15:00 Part 1; 21 September 2026 13:30 – 15:00 Part 2; 28 September 2026 13:30-15:00 Part 3
Location: online
This is an RICS course led by Nigel Barr.
For anyone involved in construction projects it is essential that accurate records are kept. In order to provide construction professionals with the skills and knowledge required in this field, the Contract Administration course will provide a practical insight into up to date practices on construction contracts. Contractual requirements, best practice, modern methods of information management and guidance on post contract administration will all be covered.
Attendees will have the opportunity to practice the implementation of the topics discussed by completing a practical example on documentation. The role of the Contract Administrator in practice will be extensively explored with opportunities to share experiences and answer questions relating to real world scenarios.
Contract Admin – 3 Part Series (rics.org)
As JCT announces the release date for it’s new suite of contracts, Stradia can confirm that we will be offering training on the new forms on an in-house basis. For more information contact Suzanne (suzanne.cash@stradia.com) or Liz (liz.duncan@stradia.com)
