The Main Contractor’s Reality, Unfiltered - Jordan Connachie - EP20

Jordan Connachie is the Managing Director of Kori Construction, a £60 million main contractor specialising in the later living sector. Jordan began his career as a surveyor before stepping into the family business. At the time, Kori was a respected local contractor with a modest turnover. Since then, he’s helped scale the company significantly, building a high-performing team and securing a reputation for delivering complex projects with consistency and commercial control. In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to grow a main contracting business sustainably and why the margins in our industry are tighter than ever. Jordan offers an honest, inside look at the pressures main contractors face, from pricing risk to cash flow strain, and why a lack of commercial awareness is often at the root of industry failures. He also shares practical advice for subcontractors on how to protect themselves financially, avoid disputes, and become more valuable partners on site. We also explore how to grow a profitable contracting business in a market where the margin for error is small and the commercial expectations are high. Three things that stood out to me: His view on why many contractors fail due to poor commercial management, not just bad luck. His breakdown of how main contractors operate on tight margins and still succeed. His clear, actionable advice for subcontractors looking to protect their business and get paid. If you want a better understanding of how main contractors think and what it really takes to grow in this space this episode delivers it.