Construction Disrupted

The Grenfell Tower fire changed everything, but it was a tragedy that not only shouldn’t have occurred but was completely avoidable. In an industry where tight margins and the utilisation of cheaper alternative products to remain competitive can take president, we look forward to today, tomorrow and thereafter to ensure that the safety and integrity of high-rise residential buildings is the non-ne...

There is always a healthy debate around events and exhibitions in terms of cost vs return, especially within construction where one order can make an event lucrative, but on the flipside, a poor exhibition can leave a large dent the marketing budget and a sour taste in the CFOs mouth. Done right, exhibitions can serve as powerful platforms for networking, brand exposure, and knowledge sharing. The...

I spent last year covering some of the best (and not so best) events and exhibitions within the UK Construction space - You can find my reviews on my YouTube channel (link in the show notes as ever). So this year, instead of creating the reviews, I thought I’d try my hand at previewing - First up, UK Construction Week. For anyone who doesn't know what UKCW is all about, it’s the biggest exhibition...

In 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment day was released, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the first film. On its release, we were all treated to the latest in CGI technology, cyborgs and other robots n’shit. Over 30 years later, we still hear murmurings that the robots are going to kill us all and that one day AI will become smarter than us and destroy the modern world.  And that’s where we’ll pause...

Today's episode promises to be an eye-opener as we explore the often-overlooked synergy between sales and marketing two-bed fellows cut from the same cloth but at different ends of the table…. usually. In an industry where precision and collaboration are paramount, the integration of sales and marketing functions holds the potential to be a game-changer. Yet, despite their inherent alignment towar...

It’s easy, as humans, to focus on the end goal, what we set out to achieve and whether we’ve achieved this or fallen short. It’s the same in construction, be it remedial works or a new build there is always an end goal in mind.  It’s easy to forget the peripheral, the support functions, the necessary ones that will help achieve this end goal but will not be around to share in the glory. Take...

In an era where every nail hammered, every beam placed, and every brick laid can be augmented by technology, Power BI emerges as a beacon of efficiency and insight. From project management to resource allocation, from cost estimation to risk mitigation, this robust business intelligence tool has been making waves across the construction sector, revolutionising the way projects are planned, execute...

If you’re going to host a podcast, make sure you always cover subjects you know something about so that you can engage with your guests and make sure you don’t look the fool when asking questions or inviting healthy debate.  Well, let’s try something different this week and go with a topic I know very little about, even though we touched upon it in episode 25, Capturing Reality with Derek Law...

You are what you eat. Not literally true, but technically, yes.  Bad eating habits are just one way to get yourself into ill health, but not the only way.  We could all reel off the things that are good for us and those that are classed as bad, from food to the amount you sleep, the exercise you do, what you drink, the content you consume and even the company you keep. There is one facto...

3 Step Marketing Plan Template Link: https://www.builddifferent.marketing/post/3-steps-to-implementing-a-basic-integrated-marketing-plan In today's fast-paced and interconnected business landscape, a well-coordinated marketing approach is essential for success in the UK construction industry. An integrated marketing plan brings together various tactics to create a harmonious and impactful brand pr...

When you’ve been in marketing as long as I have there are a number of topics that crop up over and over again. Lack of resources limiting what can be done, difficulty targeting decision-makers and the most common topic - what to do on a limited budget.  Regardless of budget, you can still make your marketing work for you, as long as you are realistic with your expectations. Entering the marke...

Thought it was about time I jumped back behind the mic for a solo episode, been a while hasn’t it? But this episode has been sparked by the previous 20 or so guests who have given up their valuable time to chat about topics and news that are disrupting the industry. With this in mind, I wanted to turn your attention to the one thing that connects all of this together, that binds the market togethe...

Within the ever-expanding world of technology, there is one process that is a constant, it can sometimes feel like it is the only way to create that single source of truth which most tech needs to function and more organisations need to successfully deliver projects.  I am of course talking about BIM (Building Information Modelling) and even though it has been around in theory since the 1970’...

Transverse, diverse, universe, metaverse, versatile. Odd way to start I know, but for most there doesn’t seem to be a solidified answer to what the metaverse is. Ask most people and they will say that the metaverse is a mere extension of what Facebook is developing—a misconception that it's "Facebook on steroids."  This could not be further from the truth and in this episode, we’ll uncover th...

A picture is worth a thousand words was a statement invented by an advertising executive, Fred R. Barnard in 1921. We’ve come a little bit further than static images in the one hundred and two years since then, with technological advancements within both digital and imagery. 3D is now a reality, virtual walk-thoughts are possible and project management (what was once lines on a spreadsheet) can be...

When it comes to our own physical and mental health it’s always a good idea to engage and talk to others about what should we be doing, who can help us and what steps need to be taken to achieve our goals. Buildings don’t have this luxury (well that was a step change I didn’t see coming), they rely on us to build them and keep them upright, in shape, and healthy. But these buildings and our surrou...

When we analyse the construction industry, we often focus on the building cost. However, the true cost of inefficiencies, rework and waste is frequently underestimated. In episode 9 we spoke to Caner and Jayan from Gamma AR and how augmented reality can help to reduce some of these reoccurring problems. But what about the tangible, construction is all about the tangible right? The physical product...

Carbon neutral, carbon negative, net zero and other similar words are banded around like a dutchie to the left-hand side (one for the younger generation there), with commitments and targets to a more sustainable future set decades away do nothing to help what many believe to be the biggest problem the construction industry faces. It can be frustrating for everyone involved within the built environ...

One critical part of the construction process that can be detrimental to success is the tendering process. Without this there would be less competition for work available and although at times it can be painstaking, lengthy and if you’re on the wrong end of a result disheartening, the industry cannot do without it. Whether you’re at a PQQ stage, completed the PAS91 or have a templated tendering do...

One thing that has been a constant on this podcast is the fact that most of our guests are the kinda people that are actually doing something they care about and you’ll hear a lot of that on this episode – more on that later. When you hear the word Decarbonisation it’s easy to be flippant about what is being discussed. It is one of the buzzwords in construction that is easy to say, and harder to d...

Today I welcome back Andrew Curtin, CEO of Construction Wave, providing news and insight into the UK construction industry. If you haven’t already, sign up for their daily email newsletter that covers infrastructure, commercial, residential, regulations, and strategic news. Alongside this Construction Wave have recently announced their first Construction CFO Summit - 19th Feb 2024 in London where...

If there is one thing the construction industry loves, it’s a report, the more complex the better, and the longer the better it seems. But sometimes size isn’t everything. Over-engineered reporting can stifle the main outcomes and put blockers on achieving over-inflated or even unachievable targets. So it’s always refreshing to see a report that cuts the crap and gets to the heart of the matter. T...

If you ask Google ‘what's the most important thing in any business’ you get a variety of answers from Relationships, Reputation and People to profit and even Urgency. All are key aspects, and that is undeniable, if one of these is weakened it surely impacts the success of a business. But this isn’t a definitive list by any stretch of the imagination as each business is different. But one thing tha...

Today, we've got a thought-provoking and important topic to discuss - Women in Construction. It's a subject that has been gaining increasing attention in recent years, and for good reason. The construction industry is undergoing significant changes in terms of technology and innovation but can this also be said in terms of diversity and inclusivity? We've seen a surge in interest and conversation...

When it comes to tradition, the construction industry can hold its own against other traditional industries such as mining and agriculture, but with tradition comes a reluctance to change. An inherent need to keep things as they are.  But this simply isn’t true. We do need to change and we have in various ways, some are more obvious and visual than others - such as the impetus for onsite safe...