Construction industry professionals produce terms of contracts all the time; whenever they write a specification clause or put a dimension on a drawing for example. Unfortunately, a lot of graduates leave university without realising this, or the significance of contracts in general, where misunderstandings and mistakes can be extremely expensive and cause considerable delay. This new text is a practical and reader-friendly approach for students and new professionals in Civil Engineering and the Built Environment, starting at the very beginning of construction projects and making important connections between stages. The text is full of helpful illustrations and real-life industry examples. Includes: * Extensive explanation of two of the most commonly used forms of contract, NEC3 ECC and JCT SBC05 * General principles of contracts; concepts such as the importance of time and programmes, and payment and pricing mechanisms; processes such as tendering; and the importance of stakeholders * An introduction to contract law and negligence as they affect the construction professional * The EU Procurement Directive and framework agreements * Site investigation and how to carry one out * The CDM regulations and safety