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Employers Agent

Employer's Agent Services in Bath, Bristol & Beyond

Leading certified architecture, engineering and surveying services in the South West. Contact our experts to discuss your options today.

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JCT Design and Build Contract Employers Agent

Post Contract Services for Design & Build

Kitchen spaces architect designs

What is an Employer’s Agent?

The RICS best practice note defines:

“The agent’s role is relatively straightforward, however: they act on behalf of the employer in all matters, unless the employer states expressly in writing to the contractor that they would like to act for themselves, or to appoint others to act for them on certain aspects of the contract.”

This is common practice in a design and build contracts such as the JCT Design & Build Contract 2016, by employing Western Building Consultants to act as your employers agent you can be certain that a professional surveying practice will be there to help ensure your project’s success.

What does an employer’s agent actually do?

The role can be quite varied and can often include pre-contract advice, the RICS however defines this as project management or administration services, the role of the employer’s agent strictly speaking is involved with the post contract services such as:

  • Chair and minute site meetings
  • Review the Contractor’s detailed design throughout the contract
  • Carry out quality control inspections
  • Provide cost control services
  • Issue any certification required under the JCT contract.

Modern Kitchen design, wood finished furnishings

Loft living space, roof window with modern TV furnishing

Why do I need an employer’s agent?

Design and build contracts are becoming very popular in the construction industry due to the desire from employers and their financiers for cost certainty. When you pass the design of a project over to a contractor you need to ensure your requirements are properly defined and included in the Employers Requirements documentation. Western Building Consultants not only help you develop these but ensure that the contractor delivers on the project to the appropriate performance standards for time cost and quality.

Contact one of our team

James Dean MSc BSc (Hons) MFPWS FCIAT FCABE C.Build E AssocRICS

T. 01225 789307
E. [email protected]

Sam George MSc BSc (Hons) MCIAT FCABE C.BuildE AssocRICS

T. 01225 789307
E. [email protected]

Why us

Ethically Minded

Ethically Minded

Being socially responsible and promoting excellent ethics is at the forefront of our business. Our staff are happy and content and this is shown through our positive approach to your project. We work to the highest professional standards as required by both the RICS and CIAT. You can rest assured that when you employ WBC you will be supporting an organisation that champions local, national and international projects through schemes such as FairTrade, Mentoring Plus and the Bath percent club. This is backed up by a rigorous Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. We sponsor many grass roots sports clubs such as Combe Down Rugby Club, Frome Park Bowls Club & Cardiff Harlequins.

Realistic Timescales

Realistic Timescales

We are realistic with timescales and honest about what you will receive. Most people underestimate the time involved with a building project, but we are upfront about what is involved and will be clear about how long a project might take. Throughout the project we will continue to update you about progress and will advise you if there will be a disruption in the timetable.

Varied Architectural Style and Building Types

Varied Architectural Style and Building Types

We have vast planning experience and are adaptable to most architectural styles and ages of buildings. We are perfectly able to adapt to the style of your property from contemporary to traditional, urban to rural. We have designed projects in most styles and can use our broad experience to help design the best solution for your property, using whatever construction technology best suits your needs. Whether you plan a modest alteration or something spectacular WBC can help you achieve your project goals.

Consultant Levels of Knowledge

Consultant Levels of Knowledge

We employ qualified professionals with a variety of skill sets and the latest training. many of our employees have specialist post graduate qualifications. We also train selected staff through university programmes and professional qualifications to ensure our clients get the best trained surveyors and up to date advice. You will receive a professional, comprehensive and cohesive consultation and guidance throughout the project, ensuring that your development is handled with a consultant level of knowledge.

Survey to Completion Guarantee

Survey to Completion Guarantee

We are here for you when you need us, with our survey to completion guarantee. You won’t be left alone, we will fit in wherever you need us in the project or guide you through the whole process. You will have the knowledge that someone is always at hand whatever level of service you need.

Cost Conscious, Value for Money & Fixed Fees

Cost Conscious, Value for Money & Fixed Fees

Whilst offering exceptional value for money we also bring a positive, approachable, pragmatic, realistic and well rounded attitude to your project. You will feel at ease discussing issues with your project, our pragmatic approach to design and refurbishment means that we can often deliver built in VALUE. One example of this is recognising where cost savings can be made in the design without compromising the overall scheme and offering a higher standard of technical specification over many of our competitors, this reduces the need for outside engineering input and ultimately saves you money in fees. We are grounded which means that we can deliver a build in a cost conscious manner in order to make sure our projects are buildable.

Well Networked with Local Knowledge

Well Networked with Local Knowledge

Where we do not have the in house skills to tackle an element of a project we are well networked locally to utilise outside consultants that we have built up relationships with over many years. You will get the best of local knowledge and be introduced to like minded trusted suppliers with excellent professional services.

One Stop Shop

One Stop Shop

We can provide the majority of services required for a small project in house, making us practically a one stop shop. Having most services in house means that we are often fully accountable for the professional services on your project, this ensures simplicity, communication and efficiency. By utilising a multi-disciplinary approach we are able to keep professional costs for the project extremely competitive and hassle free, essentially you only pay for one set of overheads.

Unparalleled Technical Knowledge

Unparalleled Technical Knowledge

We have unparalleled technical knowledge and produce comprehensive architectural designs and surveys. You will be getting market-leading technical advice that has been approached with imaginative problem-solving techniques. This helps us to identify potential problems with a build before they arise.

Our knowledge adds value, an example of this is that most architects do not provide any advice on the structure of a building during the building regulations approval stage, relying on a structural engineer to produce all work relating to the super structure. At Western Building Consultants we provide structural advice on many areas, such as timber design for floors and roofs, limiting the scope of the engineers work and saving you money.

Large Team of Surveyors

Large Team of Surveyors

Having a large team of surveyors means that your project is unlikely to be held up due to other circumstances, there will always be at least two surveyors familiar with the project therefore continuity and a personal service will be retained. On larger schemes a bigger team will be assembled with the required specialist knowledge to fully support your project.

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Newport Office

Merlin House

No 1 Langstone Business Park,

Priory Drive

01633982588

Frome Office

Commerce Park, Unit R17, Marshall Way

01373488566

Bath Office

Western House,

2 Rush Hill

01225789307

Cardiff Office

Sophia House,

28 Cathedral Road

02922679366

Swindon Office

Kingston House,

Lydiard Fields

01793234516

Bristol Office

Studio 1a,

31 Berkeley Square



0117 3294290

South Gloucestershire Office

Unit 2, Byre Workshops, Winterbourne Court Farm Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne

0117 3294290

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