How to set up your first project in Validate

Everything in Validate hangs off a project: the programme, the validation queue, the payment certs, the RAMS. Setting one up takes a few minutes with the four-step wizard, and you do not need every detail to hand. Anything you skip can be added later.

If you won the job through a tender in Validate, do not use this wizard. Convert the tender instead so the value and scope carry across without re-keying. See How to convert a won tender into a project.

Before you start

• Have the project name and, if you know it, the contract value and dates.
• If you have the contract as a PDF, have it ready. The wizard can read the key terms out of it for you.

Step 1: Start the wizard

Go to Projects and click + New project. If this is your very first project, the empty page shows + Create your first project instead. Either opens the same four-step wizard.

Step 2: Name the project and pick the contract basis

Give the project a name and an internal reference if you use one. Then choose the contract basis:

• Formal contract for jobs with payment certificates and formal change control.
• Day rate for time and materials work. This adds two fields: the day rate in pounds per day and an optional materials markup percentage.

You can also upload the contract PDF here. It is optional, but if you do, Validate extracts the key terms automatically and pre-fills the next step.

Step 3: Review the contract terms

If you uploaded a contract, check what was extracted and edit anything that looks wrong. If not, fill in what you know: contract value, employer or client name, start and end dates, your contract position (main contractor, subcontractor or sub-subcontractor) and a contact. Every field on this step is optional, so do not let a missing date stop you. CIS, VAT and payment terms are set after creation in the project settings.

Step 4: Decide how to handle the programme

A programme is a list of dated tasks per trade, and it drives the validation queue and your payment applications. The wizard gives you two choices:

• Download template gets you the Excel programme template. Fill it in and import it from the Programme page once the project exists.
• Add later skips it for now. You can build the programme any time from the project.

Step 5: Review and create

Check the summary of everything you have entered, then click Create Project. You land on the new project's dashboard.

Step 6: Finish the setup

The project is created active and ready to run straight away. Two things make it useful:

• Import your filled programme template from the Programme page, or add tasks there directly.
• Add your team and invite your engineers to the site app. See How to add your team.

Once engineers start logging work you approve it in the validation queue, and from there your first Application for Payment is a click away.

If something looks wrong

• Next is greyed out on step one. The project name and contract basis are required. Day rate jobs also need the day rate figure.
• Extraction is taking a while. You can carry on. The wizard lets you fill the fields manually, and you can correct them later in project settings.
• You downloaded the template but the programme is empty. Downloading does not import it. Fill the template in, then import it from the project's Programme page.