All Episodes
Own The Build — 291 episodes
Commercial Cock-Ups, Nightmare Meetings & Lessons Learned the Hard Way (EP 282)
Own the Build Leadership Series #8: David Taylor, Former Group Commercial Director at Costain (£1bn+ Contractor)
Why Better Contracts Could Save Lives in Construction (EP 280)
Why QSs and Design Managers Need to Talk About Money (EP 279)
Leadership Question Time: How the Best Commercial Leaders Think (EP 278)
Own the Build Leadership Series #7: Genna Rourke, Former Commercial Director at Costain (£1bn+ Contractor)
Practice the Contract, Protect the Relationship: The Art of Commercial Leadership (EP 276)
Commercial Director or Freelance? The Career Choice More QSs Are Making (EP 275)
Question Time: Is there actually a QS Shortage & Finding the Right Mentor (EP 274)
Own the Build Leadership Series #6: Prabhat Shikotra, Strategy Lead at BAM UK & Ireland (£3.5bn Contractor)
Advanced Influence: The Leadership Skill Construction Never Teaches (EP 272)
Why Good QSs Are Walking Away from Permanent Jobs (EP 271)
From Gun QS to Commercial Leader: The Habits That Matter Most - Question Time (EP 270)
Why Standard Contracts Fail on Data Centres (And What Needs to Change) (EP 269)
Own the Build Leadership Series #5: Justin Fahy, Managing Director at Structure Tone UK (£400m+ Fit Out Contractor)
Why Construction Contracts Are Broken (And What No One Tells You) (EP 267)
Question Time: Cost Engineer to Commercial Leader: The QS Career Shift Explained (EP 266)
Who Should Carry the Risk? The Subcontract Debate Commercial Directors Must Have (EP 265)
Own the Build Leadership Series #4: Anil Rai, Commercial Director at M Group Water (£900m+ Contractor, part of £2.5bn Group)
Tendering from Both Sides of the Fence: What Main Contractors and Subcontractors Miss (EP 263)
Why Tough Projects Make the Best QSs: Question Time is Back (EP 262)
Acceleration and Risk: How to Read the Contract Before it Bites (EP 261)
Own the Build Leadership Series #3: Mark Walker, Managing Director at Seddon Housing Partnerships (£250m+ Group)
Rewriting the Rules: How Laing O’Rourke is Transforming Construction Contracts (EP 259)
Main Contractor QS vs Subcontractor QS: What Really Matters (EP 258)
The Road to Commercial Director: What 40 Leaders Taught Us (EP 257)
Question Time: Commercially Astute or Commercially Difficult? Let’s Discuss…
Own the Build Leadership Series #2:Chris Hartley, Former Commercial Director at McLaren Construction (£1bn+ Contractor)
Termination, Delay & Contract Chaos — What Main Contractors Get Wrong (EP 255)
Freelance QS in 2026: The Real Numbers, Risks and Rewards (EP 254)
The Subcontractor’s Perspective: From Tender to Final Account - What a Main Contractor needs to know (EP 253)
What RICS Data Tells Us About the Future of UK Construction: Insights from the RICS Chief Economist (EP 252)
Own the Build Leadership Series #1: Mark Sheridan, Commercial Director at BAM (£3.5bn Contractor)
Inside the QS Market: Salaries, Burnout & Hiring Reality in 2026 (EP 251)
The RICS AI Standard: What It Means for QSs and the Future of Professional Practice (EP 250)
Own the Build Live: What World-Class Procurement Really Looks Like in 2026 (EP 249)
The Christmas Question Time Special: Notices, Variations & 2026 Reality Checks (EP 248)
Inside the Defence Estate, Retrofit Reality & Leading a Modern Contractor (EP 247)
Can We Trust the Data? Construction Metrics That Actually Matter (EP 246)
Why We’re Losing Good People – What Every Leader in Construction Needs to Hear (EP 245)
Question Time Returns: Adjudication or Relationship – Where’s the Line? (EP 244)
Why Modular Construction Fails in the UK – And How to Fix It (EP 243)
Estimating vs. Quantity Surveying – Can We All Just Get Along? (EP 242)
Curiosity, Communication, and Coaching: How to Build Better QSs (EP 241)
Question Time: Bonuses, Burnout, and the QS Brain Drain – What's Going On? (Ep 240)
Why Do We Keep Defaulting to Scaffold? (EP 239)
Trust is Earned: Building Better Leadership in Construction (EP 238)
Why Competence is Now a Procurement Risk – What Every QS Needs to Know (EP 237)
Question Time Returns: The QS Career Clinic (EP 236)
The Building Safety Act: How QSs Need to Procure Differently (EP 235)
Procurement Reimagined: Building Better Supply Chain Relationships at Guildmore (EP 234)
The QS Career Isn’t Linear — And That’s a Good Thing (EP 233)
Question Time Returns: The QS Career Clinic – From Roy Keane to Red Flags in Procurement (EP 232)
QS to Software Founder: Why Construction Needs to Work Smarter, Not Harder (EP 231)
Can AI Empower the Subcontractor? (EP 230)
Clause-Dumping and Risk Wars: Why Subbies Deserve Better (EP 229)
10 Commercial Mistakes I Made Early in My Career — And What I’d Do Differently (EP 228)
Capping Your Risk – Why Every Contractor Needs to Limit Their Liability (EP 227)
When It’s Time to Walk Away: How to Terminate a Contract Without Blowing Everything Up (EP 226)
The Habit of Excellence – What Construction Can Learn from Army Leadership (EP 225)
Redefining the QS Role: Strategy, Influence, and Impact (EP 224)
Settlement Strategies: How to Resolve Construction Conflicts Before They Spiral (EP 223)
From Labourer to Leader: Why Every QS Should Spend More Time on Site (EP 222)
From Oil to Off-Grid: How One Village Set a New Standard for UK Housing (EP 221)
Question Time #6: Your Construction and QS Challenges Answered (EP 220.1)
Estimators vs QSs: Can We Finally Work as One Team? (EP 220)
THE MERGER SPECIAL: Built by QSs, Built by Estimators: Why C-Link and E1 Joined Forces
Breaking the ‘Cycle of Doom’: How Subcontractors Can Take Back Control of Their Business (EP 219)
Psychic Entropy: The Silent Killer of Leadership Teams in Construction (EP 218)
Mental Toughness = Commercial Power: Win the Hard Meetings (EP 217)
Question Time #5: Your Construction and QS Challenges Answered (EP 216.1)
The Immune System of the Project: How QSs Can Protect Margin and Spot Risk Early (EP 216)
The Softer Side of Contract Management: Lessons from the Real World (EP 215)
Mastering FIDIC: How to Handle Claims, Payments & Disputes Like a Pro (EP 214)
What to Do When a Client Refuses Practical Completion (EP 213)
Question Time 4: Subcontracting Pressure, QS Career Advice, Design Management (EP 212.1)
Mastering Contract Audits: The 3-Page Hack Every QS and Project Team Needs (EP 212)
Mastering Project Planning & Delay Analysis with David Moreland (EP 211)
How to Reduce Disputes and Build Stronger Project Relationships (EP 210)
Pointless Amendments: Why the Industry Needs a Simpler Approach to Contracts (EP 209)
Question Time #3: Your Construction and QS Challenges Answered (EP 208.1)
Breaking the Silence: Why QSs Need to Pick Up the Phone with Keith Kelliher (EP 208)
£4,500 a Tender: Why Specialists Are Walking Away and How MCs Can Win Them Back (EP 207)
Demystifying Recent Legal Cases: Lessons for Construction Professionals with Sam Bawden (EP 206)
The Construction Act and Prolongation Claims with Scott Coulton (EP 205)
Question Time #2: Your Construction and QS Challenges Answered (EP 204.1)
The Aspiring QS – The Path to Becoming a Commercial Director (EP 204)
AI, Blockchain, and the Future of Dispute Resolution with Rob Dean (EP 203)
How to Scale Your Construction Business and Boost Profitability with Greg Wilkes (EP 202)
Systemising Procurement and Rethinking Construction Value with Chris Mackenzie-Grieve (EP 201)
Question Time: Your Construction and QS Challenges Answered (EP 200.1)
Celebrating 200 Episodes: Reflecting, Growing, and Looking Ahead (EP 200)
Turning the Tables: Your Questions, My Answers – A Special Listener Q&A (EP 199)
Mastering Delay, Disruption, and the Power of "No" in Construction Disputes (EP 198)
Mastering the Middle East Construction Market: Lessons from 70 Years in Business with Marcus Siddons (EP 197)
Why Construction Needs to Act Like a Satnav: Ali Mafi on Time, Flow, and Project Success (EP 196)
Changing Perceptions: How Deconstruction is Fixing Construction’s Reputation (EP 195)
Understanding Construction Costs and the Pitfalls of Low Tendering (EP 194)
Valuable QS: How to Create or Become a 10/10 Quantity Surveyor. (EP 193)
Can we Rebuild Confidence in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) (EP 192)
From Variations to EOTs: How to Defend Claims - Your Framework for Success (EP 191)
Mastering Provisional Sums: Navigating Complex Situations as a World-Class Quantity Surveyor (EP 190)
How to Stop Micro-Managing and Become an Effective Construction Leader: Insights from Eric Anderton (EP 189)
Transforming Construction: Insights from the FIS Manifesto and Design Development Proposals (EP 188)
From Basic Tools to AI: Understanding Digital Maturity in Construction (EP 187)
Mastering Groundworks Procurement: A World-Class Approach for Quantity Surveyors (EP 186)
CSI meets Construction: How Reconstructing Crime Scenes for the Met Police Makes Me an Expert in Reconstructing Construction Claims (EP 185)
Mastering On-Account Payments: Ensuring Smooth Cash Flow in Construction. (EP 184)
Navigating Uncertainty: Insights from the Q3 2024 Construction Market Report. (EP 183)
Data Visualisation Secrets Every Quantity Surveyor Should Know (EP 182)
Mastering Delay Analysis: A Deep Dive into How to Win Your Next Claim. (EP 181)
Construction Leadership – Are We Cultivating High-Quality Leaders in Our Industry? (EP 180)
Navigating Disputes: A Career in Construction Adjudication (EP 179)
Winning at Procurement: Success Tactics for Now and the Future (EP 178)
How to manage a Main Contractor: A subcontractor view. (EP 177)
Behind Tender Rejections: Unveiling the Reasons Main Contractors and Sub-Contractors Fall Short (EP 176)
3 Pleas to Construction Clients to Improve the Construction Industry (EP 175)
The 14 Biggest Reasons Construction Companies Go to Adjudication (EP 174)
A Review of Mitigation Obligations in Construction Contracts (EP 173)
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Spreadsheets: Why Data Visualisation Matters in Construction Claims. (EP 172)
Why Carbon is the New Currency for Quantity Surveyors. (EP 171)
How can AI help Main Contractors Reimagine the Construction Supply Chain? (EP 170)
Construction Productivity is Broken - How Technology Can Fix It. (EP 169)
Strategies for Improving Procurement: Strategic Procurement vs. General Buying. (EP 168)
Navigating Today's Market: 3 Critical Contract Clauses Contractors Must Master. (EP 167)
The Death of the Quill - and the Birth of the eSignature (EP 166)
Final Account Meetings: How an FBI hostage negotiator’s tactics impact my approach. (EP 165)
How to resolve construction contract disputes quickly and cheaply. (EP 164)
How Mace are seriously addressing Collaboration with their Supply Chain through its Business School. (EP 163)
Dragging the dreaded Tender Analysis process into the 21st Century with AI (EP 162)
Data and designing an equitable built environment in the ‘post-growth’ era. (EP 161)
How learning a language makes me a better Project Manager! (EP 160)
How to Best Manage the Design Process - a focus on M & E and Services. (EP 159)
The death of D & B and Traditional Contracting: a new procurement route for the 21st Century (EP 158)
How to Write Simple and Effective Subcontracts that are Back to Back with the Main Contract. (EP 157)
Lessons from Rugby: How Contractors can build a world-class Company Culture and improve employee retention using Rugby principles. (EP 156)
QS’s as data scientists: will this improve margins in the construction industry? (EP 155)
A reflection on construction costs in 2023 and a look ahead to 2024 and Beyond (EP 154)
Where is the data to decarbonise the built environment? (EP 153)
The Future of Construction Payments (EP 152)
Financial Forecasting: A Construction Economist reviews 2023 and explains where we are heading in 2024. (EP 151)
How Main Contractors manage subbies today and how they will manage them tomorrow. (EP 150)
From 120-Day Payment Periods to Fair Payment: Rudi Klein's Vision (EP 149)
Managing Risks in Tendering: What's a World-Class process when receiving a Tender? (EP 148)
Strategies for Improving Procurement: A Focus on the Relationship between Procurement and Commercial Departments. (EP 147)
The Future of Contracting Series: Why QS’s shouldn’t only have margin as their KPI. (EP 146)
Building Profits: Mastering Sub-contractor Payments, Applications, and Cashflow! (EP 145)
BIM: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Project Success. (EP 144)
How to get paid (everything your mate down the pub doesn’t know). (EP 143)
The Future of Contracting Series: The end of the ‘subcontractor’ and the start of something new. (EP 142)
Understanding the Difference: Liquidated Damages vs. Consequential Damages Explained. (EP 141)
Making Health and Safety a Profit Centre, not a Compliance Department. (EP 140)
Emotional Intelligence in Construction: How to Build a team and Project. (EP 139)
Wrongful Termination in Construction and how to spot a Termination at Will Clause. (EP 138)
The new way to tender and manage your supply chain: a Main Contractor’s story. (EP 137)
Navigating Collateral Warranties: A lawyer’s insight into what they are and when you need them. (EP 136)
The Future of Quantity Surveying: The Project Brain. (EP 135)
From Estimator to QS: How do you handover from pre-construction to construction? (EP 134)
Project Delays: How do you recover the cost of delay in three simple steps? (EP 133)
86% of workers believe they need to up-skill to cope with the changes that AI will bring. How does the RICS recommend Quantity Surveyors do this? (EP 132)
Construction Contracts: Common misunderstandings, misconceptions and how to avoid mistakes that have massive consequences. (EP 131)
Working with the RICS on the Conflict Avoidance Pledge. (EP 130)
Contract Management in Construction: Tips to Avoid Pitfalls with Variations, Payments, and Nominated Subcontractors. (EP 129)
The Future of Construction Technology and the Role of Contractors and Quantity Surveyors. (EP 128)
Expert Insights for Quantity Surveyors on Resolving Claims in Construction. (EP 127)
Redefining the Hard Hat: Stories from 16 Years as a Woman Working on Site (EP 126)
Why subcontractors should never walk off site when they are not getting paid. (EP 125)
How much should Quantity Surveyors be paid? A Recruiter's view... (EP 124)
An Open Letter to the Construction Minister - why we need Project Bank Accounts. (EP 123)
Letters of Intent: A How To Guide. (EP 122)
Making Construction a great place to work: can flexible working help - a view after one year of research. (EP 121)
Smash and grab adjudications: what are they and how can you protect your project? (EP 120)
The Power of Record-Keeping: Why Records are Critical for Project Success. (EP 119)
Entire Agreement Clauses: What You Need to Know Before Submitting Your Tender (EP 118)
Navigating the Use of Provisional Sums in Construction Contracts (EP 117)
The Equipment Equation: Weighing the Costs of Hiring vs. Buying Plant for your business (EP 116)
The Contractor's Guide to Getting Paid: Dealing with Delays and Cost Disputes (EP 115)
The Future of Quantity Surveying: Data Analytics and the Changing Landscape of Construction with the RICS (EP 114)
Inside the Mind of a Subcontractor: What Happens when they receive a Main Contract Tender (EP 113)
How to navigate the choppy waters between material supplier and customer, as a subcontractor. (EP 112)
How to Work Smarter, Not Harder: Balancing Work and Life in Construction. (EP 111)
Beyond the Headlines: The Impact of Value Engineering on the Grenfell Disaster. (EP 110)
Why Subcontractors need to be better at saying no (EP 109)
How a kit-of-parts will impact construction in the future (EP 108)
How to ACTUALLY manage risk on construction projects (EP 107)
Project Alliancing vs. Fixed Price Contracts - A New Dawn (EP 106)
Why construction finds a home in the circular economy (EP 105)
Could we do a 4-day week in construction? (EP 104)
How main contractors collaborate: a subcontractor's story (EP 103)
The top 10 things to look out for in a contract (EP 102)
How do you get your contract right? (EP 101)
How one woman’s attempt to save her family business is saving UK construction (EP 100)
5 Own the Build moments you need to listen to! (EP 99)
Why are we struggling so much with labour in UK construction? (EP 98)
How to manage pre-construction: a digital QS’ perspective (EP 97)
Do main contractors realise how fragile their supply chain is? (EP 96)
How do you best procure an M & E package? (EP 95)
How will bitcoin and blockchain technology affect construction? (EP 94)
Why only 15% of contractors have valid insurance (EP 93)
How a lawyer suggests you manage the final account process (EP 92)
Why you should use mediation to solve disputes (EP 91)
How to save Quantity Surveying from extinction (EP 90)
The skyscraper of the future (EP 89)
Is Quantity Surveying on the verge of extinction? (EP 88)
A secret about Building Regs you need to know (EP 87)
How to avoid disputes in construction? (EP 86)
A guide to patent defects, latent defects and structural warranties (EP 85)
How smaller main contractors can spot timewasters at tender stage (EP 84)
Broken window theory with Danny Clarke (EP 83)
Specifications: your project needs one! (EP 82)
How to recover from losing 50 million pounds (EP 81)
How to change procurement - the construction playbook (EP 80)
How to prove variations: a lawyer's 5-step guide (EP 79)
Managing inflation claims from your supply chain (EP 78)
Bridging the knowledge gap between Main Contractors & Subcontractors (EP 77)
Is off-site manufacturing dead? (EP 76)
From the BBC to ESG (EP 75)
How to build a neighbourhood (EP 74)
What construction learned from NASA (EP 73)
Who are the ICE and what's it's place in the modern world? (EP 72)
How to build your own custom home - A conversation with Gus Zogolovitch (EP 71)
Mental health in construction (EP 70)
From Handbags to Cherry Pickers: the AWS of construction (EP 69)
Episode 68 - Construction workers are the real heroes
Episode 67 - How hydrogen power can revolutionise your project
Episode 66 - Talking with the Government about Architecture
Episode 65 - A lawyers guide to adjudication
Episode 64 - The story of London's super sewer
Episode 63 - Data literacy and the blockchain in construction
Episode 62 - Better Call Saul and the future homes standard
Episode 61 - What can construction learn from other industries
Episode 60 - BIM there, done that.
Episode 59 - A construction lawyers guide to proving delays
Episode 58 - Strategic construction procurement – what is it?
Episode 57 - Return of the swamp thing
Episode 56 - The professional relationship between Architects and QS
Episode 55 - How can main contractors improve their businesses
Episode 54 - Growing a pipeline of site deals
Episode 53 - How to manage a design team
Episode 52 - Creating a legacy of healthy buildings
Episode 51 - The spiralling cost of construction
Episode 50 - Helen Chorley on investor relations as a developer
Episode 49 - Do construction folk make good developers?
Episode 48 - The construction knowledge gap
Episode 47 - The tech is there, why no takeup
Episode 46 - Managing the party wall process
Episode 45 - The decline of the high street
Episode 44 - Can construction contracts be 500 words long?
Episode 43 - Data-driven sustainability
Episode 42 - What working at a big developer teaches you about being a small developer?
Episode 41 - Creating a production line mentality
Episode 40 - Addressing the skills shortage
Episode 39 - Using AI to manage project risks
Episode 38 - Identifying commercial to resi opportunities
Episode 37 - Applying 3d Visualisation as an SME
Episode 36 - The swamp thing – is he real?
Episode 35 - Building a Project Business Case
Episode 34 - Socially responsible building for SME developers
Episode 33 - Building a capital stack
Episode 32 - Five marketing mistakes in construction
Episode 31 - BIM strikes back
Episode 30 - Strip out ahead of design development
Episode 29 - The Art of Tendering
Episode 28 - Time is money
Episode 27 - How do lenders think?
Episode 26 - Project teams for larger SME developers: What does one look like?
Episode 25 - Cashflow and IRR
Episode 24 - Negotiating with neighbours
Episode 23 - Ask the Architect #2: Discharging Planning Conditions
Episode 22 - Swimming with Sharks
Episode 21 - BIM for SMEs – is it even relevant?
Episode 20 - Designing and selling unique homes
Episode 19 - Let’s talk about variations
Episode 18 - Planning for Success
Episode 17 - Missing the boat on development finance
Episode 16 - Equity vs. Debt
Episode 15 - The cost of the fit-out
Episode 14 - Ask the Architect
Episode 13 - Vesting Certificates
Episode 12 - Programme Negotiations
Episode 11 - Planning for Opportunities and Risks
Episode 10 - Bank Monitoring on Project Developments
Episode 9 - Where and How do I find a Project Manager?
Episode 8 - Architects and Delay Analysis
Episode 7 - In what circumstances is Construction Management not suitable for a developer? Part 2
Episode 6 - In what circumstances is Construction Management not suitable for a developer? Part 1
Episode 5 - What do lenders look for from a developer?
Episode 4 - Late Payments & Site Delays
Episode 3 - Subcontract Tendering and Procurement
Episode 2 - Give me the numbers
Episode 1 - How do I structure construction management?