Guides
Practical how-to guides for quoting, scheduling, and managing construction projects more efficiently.
Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) Explained for Contractors
CVR is how you find out whether a job is making money while you can still do something about it. What goes in a CVR, how to handle accruals and WIP, and the adjustments that stop a profitable-looking job losing money at the end.
Paying Subcontractors: Payment Runs, Remittance Advice and the Construction Act
How a compliant subcontractor payment run works in UK construction — payment and pay-less notices, the final date for payment, CIS deductions, remittance advice, and why the notice you did not send is the one that costs you.
The UK Construction Tender Process: From Invitation to Award
How UK tendering actually works — the routes, the documents, the bid/no-bid decision that saves more money than any pricing exercise, and the tracking discipline that stops a deadline being missed at 4pm on a Friday.
Dayworks Explained: When to Use Them, and How to Actually Get Paid
Dayworks are the fallback when work cannot be measured or priced in advance — and the single most commonly rejected item on a UK contractor's account. Here's when they apply, what a sheet must contain, and why signatures are worth more than rates.
The RFI Process in Construction: How to Raise, Track and Close a Request for Information
What an RFI is for, how to write one that gets answered first time, why unanswered RFIs become delay claims, and the register discipline that keeps a job's questions from turning into its disputes.
How to Take Off Quantities From PDF Drawings (Without CAD)
A practical method for measuring quantities straight off a PDF drawing — calibrating scale, what to measure in which unit, where deductions and wastage belong, and the four mistakes that quietly wreck a price.
CIS Deductions Explained: A Plain-English Guide for UK Contractors
How the Construction Industry Scheme works in practice — verification, 20% vs 30% deductions, what's deductible, monthly returns, and how to stay on the right side of HMRC.
Retention in Construction, Explained: How to Protect Your Cash
What retention is, how much is typically held, when it's released, and practical steps UK contractors and subcontractors can take to actually get retention money back.
The VAT Domestic Reverse Charge for Construction, Explained
A plain-English guide to the construction VAT reverse charge: who it applies to, the end-user exception, how to invoice, and the cash-flow impact on UK contractors.
5 Quoting Best Practices Every UK Contractor Should Follow
Learn the construction quoting best practices that help UK contractors win more work, reduce disputes, and get paid faster.
How to Write a Construction Quote in the UK
A step-by-step guide to writing professional construction quotes that win work. Covers what to include, common mistakes, and the difference between quotes, estimates and invoices.
How to Price a Building Job in the UK
Learn how to price building work accurately in the UK. Covers materials, labour day rates, overheads, profit margins, and the three most common pricing methods for contractors.
Construction Scheduling: How to Plan Projects That Actually Run on Time
Learn how to schedule construction projects properly with critical path planning, look-ahead scheduling, and buffer management to avoid costly overruns.
How to Win More Construction Tenders in 2026
Practical strategies for UK contractors to win more construction tenders — from qualifying opportunities to post-tender follow-up.
The Contractor's Guide to Managing Subcontractors Effectively
A practical guide to managing subcontractors in construction — from vetting and onboarding to payment terms and performance tracking.
Cash Flow Management for Small Construction Businesses
Practical cash flow management advice for small construction businesses — invoicing, stage payments, retention, and forecasting to stay solvent.
The Complete Site Induction Checklist for UK Construction Projects
A comprehensive construction site induction checklist covering CDM 2015 requirements, emergency procedures, PPE, hazard briefings, and record keeping.