IN Brief:
- JCT Contracts Discovery has been revised and updated for the JCT 2024 Edition.
- The module covers procurement, contract formation, roles, and core contract mechanisms.
- The update lands ahead of the JCT 2016 edition withdrawal deadline.
The Joint Contracts Tribunal has released an updated version of its Contracts Discovery education and learning module for 2026, revising the structure and content to reflect the JCT 2024 Edition of contracts, including the Target Cost Contract.
Contracts Discovery is designed for teaching and learning on construction contracts and contract procedures. It can be used as a stand-alone module or integrated into broader construction process teaching, and is intended to support both educators and students working through the practical mechanics of standard-form contracting.
The 2026 revision expands and reorders coverage compared with the prior 2018 version, with updates aligned to the current JCT suite and a refreshed chapter structure. The module sets out an overview of the JCT contract range, reviews procurement methods and appropriate form selection, and provides guidance on setting up a contract using JCT documentation. It also addresses how JCT forms are arranged and written, focusing on layout, style, and the language used in contract drafting.
Beyond structure and selection, the updated module drills into roles and obligations that sit at the centre of contract administration. That includes the primary obligations of employer and contractor, the roles played by contract administrators and quantity surveyors, and how key processes are managed through the contract cycle. The content spans control of the works — including quality and time — payment, variations, insurance, security documentation, third party rights and collateral warranties, termination, and dispute resolution.
The 2026 chapter list reflects that emphasis, moving from procurement and contractor selection through to core administration topics such as payment, insurances and security documentation, termination, and an introduction to dispute resolution. The structure is designed to be used alongside the relevant contract forms and guides, rather than as a substitute for contract-specific texts, positioning it as a reference framework for how standard-form contracts are built and operated.
Neil Gower, chief executive at JCT, said: “JCT takes its obligation to help address the issues of skills shortages and knowledge gaps in the industry seriously, particularly in providing services that support the development of competency and skills in the use of construction contracts.
“JCT Contracts Discovery is an invaluable tool to gain an understanding of the JCT contract process, and forms a crucial part of JCT’s wider services, including JCT training courses and materials, to support this initiative.”
The updated module is published as a hardcopy product on the JCT online store, priced at £66. JCT’s corporate guidance on education and training positions Contracts Discovery within a wider training offer tied to the JCT 2024 Edition.
The release also lands against a live transition point for contract users. JCT has set 31 March 2026 as the final date for purchasing 2016 edition contracts in hardcopy or digital formats from its online store, with 2024 edition forms now treated as the mainline suite for new procurement activity.
