New optional provisions in JCT's Standard Building Contract enable employers to name individual specialists as domestic sub-contractors for identified parts of the works by appropriate entry in the Contract Particulars.
The modifications included in the Named Specialist Update can be incorporated in two ways; either by amending the contract document itself, or by attaching the update to the contract and inserting a provision within the Articles referring to it. Instructions on incorporating the modifications are included within the update itself.

Key elements from the Named Specialist Update include:

· Depending on the entry selected, the right may be limited to specialists pre-named in the Contract Documents (or their replacements), or, for provisional sum work, may also extend to post-naming.
· The Contractor has a right of reasonable objection in the case of the naming of any replacement specialist, or if post-naming applies.
· There are rights to both an extension of time for delays and to any loss or expense arising if the Contractor notifies their objection, or if a named specialist becomes insolvent.

The Named Specialist Update applies to all versions of the JCT Standard Building Contract 2011 (With Quantities (SBC/Q), Without Quantities (SBC/XQ), and With Approximate Quantities (SBC/AQ)) to include provision for Named Specialists, and is available as a free document via the JCT website at http://www.jctltd.co.uk/named-specialist-update.aspx