Subcontracting, 1st edition

In the context of a construction contract, a subcontractor is a person who agrees to perform some or all of the obligations that the main contractor is obliged to perform under a separate main contract with the employer.

This guidance note covers most issues that can arise as a result of subcontracting on a major project, but some of these issues will not arise on most smaller projects. It is necessarily limited in its content and focuses on subcontracting in the context of building and civil engineering projects in the UK, but not private finance initiative (PFI) projects. It does not cover the management of subcontractors on site, or the role of suppliers of materials or goods.