In episode 51 of The Subcontractors Blueprint podcast, Jacob Austin of QS.Zone talks about the practicalities of managing change during live construction projects. Drawing from his extensive experience, Jacob offers valuable insights and actionable advice tailored specifically for construction business owners. He emphasises the importance of proactive planning, effective communication, and adaptability to ensure smooth project transitions and successful outcomes. This episode is a must-listen for those looking to enhance their project management skills and navigate the complexities of change in the construction industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The practicalities of managing change during a live construction project.
• Timing is crucial in managing changes.
• Consideration of time, cost, and quality in change management.
• Assessing the impact of changes and the need for alternatives.

BEST MOMENTS:

"Timing is absolutely key. Timing is everything. Timing is the difference between you moving those two lines on the drawing, or you're having to break something down and reconstruct it completely in a completely different place."

"Sometimes instructions are dished out because a problem is seen with how the works are unfolding. I don't know, maybe a room can't be used for its original intention and something needs to be changed. Maybe a more powerful piece of plant is required. There's 1,000,001 reasons for making a change."

"If you can minimise these kinds of things, particularly if you can minimise time, and that's going to prevent an extension of time from the contractor or from the client, and potentially prevent lads from being deducted. Then you're definitely onto a winner, and there definitely should be some recognition that you're able to achieve a solution here."

"Maintaining momentum, maintaining morale, maintaining good communication and a proactive approach go a long way towards avoiding issues when changes come about and finishing on time against all odds. Because you've worked together as a collective, that is one of the most rewarding and satisfying things about construction work, and one of the key things that can lead to you getting that reputation of delivering and the all-important repeat business that, in the long run, can be so much more profitable."

Jacob is on a mission to help the 1 million SME contractors working within the construction industry. If you've taken something of value from this episode, please share the podcast with someone you know, and pass the value on.

HOST BIO: Meet Jacob Austin, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with a rich background at construction industry giants Balfour Beatty, Kier, and Vistry Group. With extensive involvement in education, health, and residential projects spanning various scales, from £1000s to £100M in concurrent developments, Jacob brings a unique perspective. Having collaborated with numerous small businesses, he's now committed to sharing his expertise to drive their success. Join Jacob on his podcast, where he blends his profound insights and personable approach to offer guidance, industry secrets, and inspirational stories.

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-austin/

Instagram - www.instagram.com/qs.zone/

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