Agreement in relation to [insert brief details of the works/project] at [insert address of works] (Incorporating (inter alia) the NEC4 Professional Services Contract 2017 with January 2019 Amendments, October 2020 Amendments and January 2023 Amendments as modified and supplemented in the manner indicated in this Agreement and the Schedules hereto). This Agreement is made on the [insert number] day of [insert month] 20[insert year]. Parties 1 [insert name of the Client] (company registration number [insert number]) whose registered office is situated at [insert address of the Client] (‘the Client’), 2 [insert name of the Consultant] (company registration number [insert number]) whose registered office is situated at [insert address of the Consultant] (‘the Consultant’) Background (A) The Client wishes for certain works, namely [insert brief details of the works/project] as more particularly described in this contract, to be executed. (B) The Client wishes to appoint the Consultant and the Consultant has agreed to be appointed in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below to Provide the Service. Now it is agreed that: 1 Interpretation In this Agreement (including the recitals) words and expressions shall

Construction analysis: The NEC has published a second set of amendments to the NEC4 contracts, referred to as the ‘October 2020’ amendments. The first set of amendments to the NEC4 contracts (the ‘January 2019’ amendments) was published in March 2019. The NEC has stated that the October 2020 amendments build on feedback from users and industry experts, and further improve the contracts.

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This Practice Note summarises the changes made in the NEC4 standard form construction contracts as compared to the NEC3 editions. It focuses on the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC), however many of the changes in the ECC are representative of those found across the NEC suite more widely. The NEC describes NEC4 as building on NEC3 in a way which is an ‘evolution not revolution’. Most of the changes found in NEC4 appear to have been made to reflect good practice and/or reduce the need for Z clauses (ie bespoke amendments). For more information about NEC contracts generally, including how they are structured, see Practice Note: NEC contracts—introduction. Publication of NEC4 The NEC4 contracts were published by the Institution of Civil Engineers on 22 June 2017. NEC4 editions of the following contracts, and associated guides, were released (italicised items are entirely new to the suite): • Engineering and Construction Contract, Engineering and Construction Short Contract, Engineering and Construction Subcontract and Engineering and Construction Short Subcontract

The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) has published its Annual Report for the 2024–2025 financial year, outlining developments in the UK’s operational response to economic crime. The report highlights a significant increase in system-wide disruptions, asset denial actions and convictions related to fraud and money laundering. Fraud remains the most reported crime in England and Wales, accounting for 43% of all incidents. The NECC’s approach over the year focused on intelligence-led operations, cross-sector collaboration and the use of data and technology to address evolving threats. The report also marks the 10th anniversary of the NECC’s public-private partnership model and notes a leadership transition, with Rachael Herbert succeeding Adrian Searle as Director in April 2025.

The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) has published its 2025–26 annual report on the UK-wide response to fraud and illicit finance. It works with law enforcement, government, regulators and private-sector partners. The NECC has adopted a strategy to prevent economic crime earlier and improve the use of data and technology. This includes the planned Online Crime Centre and the expansion of Data Fusion. Operation Henhouse resulted in 557 arrests and £18.1 million in cash and assets seized. Operation Machinize led to 924 arrests, action at 2,734 premises and more than £10.7 million in suspected criminal proceeds seized or restrained. Operation Destabilise resulted in a further 46 arrests and more than £5.1 million in cash seizures. Since its launch, the operation has resulted in 129 arrests and more than £25 million in cash and cryptocurrency seized in the UK. The report also covers action against cryptoasset fraud, SIM-card abuse and overseas scam centres. It states that the wider system delivered 5,500 fraud disruptions and 3,158 illicit-finance disruptions in 2025–26.

The National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), in collaboration with the Home Office, has published its Areas of Research Interest (ARI) for 2025–28, outlining key priorities for tackling economic crime. The ARIs were developed through engagement with policymakers, law enforcement, and academia, including the 2024 Economic Crime Academic Forum. The publication follows Crime Survey for England and Wales data showing fraud accounted for 43% of recorded crime in 2024, with an estimated £100bn laundered annually through UK systems. It outlines ten research themes: threat, vulnerabilities, offenders, harms, prevention, enforcement, evaluation and impact, technology, research methods, and horizon scanning. The ARIs are intended to guide external researchers and funding bodies by identifying key evidence gaps where academic insight could inform future policy and operational decisions.

See Non-executive director(s).

Nominated Electricity Market Operator

Nuclear Emergency Planning Delivery Committee

Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group: A forum under the chairmanship of BEIS of a wide range of organisations with interests in off-site planning for an emergency at a civil or defence nuclear site. In 2012 NEPLG was incorporated into the Nuclear Emergency Planning Delivery Committee and its associated working groups.

Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance: A collaboration between skills bodies to ensure a joint approach to addressing the breadth of skills challenges across the nuclear programme. Members include: CITB, Cogent Skills, ECITB, NI, NSAN, Semta, Welsh Government and HEI representation

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has activated Grid Code modification GC0166 in the Electricity National Control Centre (ENCC), introducing two new parameters—Maximum Delivery Offer (MDO) and Maximum Delivery Bid (MDB)—for limited duration assets such as battery storage operating in the balancing mechanism. Five units across four lead parties are currently submitting MDO and MDB data in a phased rollout. Full operational implementation is required by 5 November 2026 for Grid Code compliance.