NEC4 Training

The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for taking a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion. The EA has regulatory and operational delivery functions, addressed via Asset Management and Incident Management functions respectively. The EA reduces the risk of flooding by constructing, operating and maintaining assets, by working with and influencing others, by providing expert technical advice, and by using its enforcement powers to ensure others meet their responsibilities. Its vision is to develop Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) within the EA to be at the forefront of asset management internationally. The EA wishes to be recognised as an Industry leading asset management organisation. Project & Programme Delivery (PPD) provides project and programme management services to various customers, including those relating to civil engineering/construction projects. PPD is situated in the Flood & Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Directorate. Previously known as Programme and Contract Management (PCM), PPD utilises a mix of internal project managers, other support professionals plus contractors/services from its National Framework suppliers (since 2019 ‘Next Generation Supplier Arrangements’ (NGSA)). The EA has identified a need for a selection of NEC4 training solutions to be made available from January 2026 onwards, primarily for permanent EA Project Managers. These training solutions will need to accommodate those who need to refresh their knowledge or who are new to the EA. The aim of the training is primarily to improve understanding/application of the NEC4 PSC and ECC main and short contracts, as well as the NEC4 TSC main and short contracts. However, the EA is also considering the wider NEC knowledge base and how development in this area could further enhance its employees’ expertise. To be consistent with its training provisions across the whole of its asset management portfolio, there is an identified need for staff within its Local Operations and Environment and Business directorates, especially Future Framework, Area and Defra Group Commercial teams who have exposure to and involvement with NEC4 contracts to also be able to access the same NEC4 training as PPD Project Managers. The EA wishes to have available both e-learning provision and in-house classroom development solutions moving forward, both used as separate items and / or blended learning. It has previously utilised externally-hosted e-learning provisions and off-the-shelf training that has been delivered via in-house classroom workshops with minor adaptations. For traditional face-to-face classroom / group learning solutions, please note that ‘virtual’ classroom solutions via a suitable online platform may be required moving forwards. To supplement the above, the EA is also seeking a programme of accessible bite-size learning on key topics and themes, delivered via pre-recorded webinars or a similar mechanism that would provide a flexible training resource for staff to access as required on an ongoing basis to complement and re-enforce more formal e-learning and face-to-face training.