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In a bid to help construction businesses improve their profitability during the credit crunch, consultant Knowles has announced it is to hold an expanded series of seminars across the country this autumn.

Knowles, part of Hill International, will host more than 60 half day seminars covering some of the key contractual business issues affecting construction companies during the current economic climate.

Seminars will cover a range of topics including contractual awareness, sub contract forms, NEC 3 contracts, avoiding partnering contract problems, CDM regulations, and the latest 25 common pitfalls and their solutions.

The events will address a wide range of issues affecting those involved in construction contracts, including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, construction employers, architects, engineers and project managers.

Events will be held across 12 regions in the UK including: Greater London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, County Durham, Somerset, Hampshire and County Antrim.

Lecturers at the events will include a range of construction and legal professionals, accredited mediators and arbitrators including Geraldine Fleming BSc LLB MRICS., Nick Sunderland BSc, Msc, MRICS, Paul Lomas Clarke MRICS, FCIArb, FCIOB, and Paul Mansell BSc BEng, MBA.

Fleming said: "The current economic situation means that construction businesses are increasingly finding that profit margins are tightening, which has a detrimental effect on their cash flow.

"Having good contractual awareness enables people to negotiate more advantageous contract terms and conditions, protect their interests whilst working on site, and subsequently achieve the best final account possible.

"The forthcoming seminars have been designed to give people the most up to date contractual knowledge and equip them to protect their company’s commercial interests during the tough financial period ahead."