Construction Disrupted

Varun Bhartiya is the Co-Founder, and CEO of nCircle Tech, a company at the forefront of empowering passionate innovators in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Manufacturing industry, providing disruptive solutions that reduce time to market and exceed business goals. From Varun's early days blending coding and 3D visualisations along with the integration of AI, Machine Learning, and...

Jose is the Founder and CEO of DiRoots, a Custom Software and BIM consultancy company, with over 15 years of experience in the AEC and manufacturing industries aiming to transform global communities. As an expert in BIM strategies and automation, Jose and his team at DiRoots develop and implement innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and productivity which stems from his genuine passion for r...

Kristina’s Autodesk journey started out in the construction customer success team, helping hundreds of customers understand how to use cloud technology. Progressing within the organisation Kristina has experience in onsite training and upscaling people on technology, as well as exploring opportunities to minimise costs and reduce risks. With six years deeply immersed in the construction industry a...

Andy Steele initially served as a mentor to the founders of Buildots before transitioning to the role of Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). With a career spanning nearly four decades, Andy brings an extensive blend of expertise from both the construction and legal sectors. Prior to joining Buildots, he held the position of Group CEO for a top 40 UK-based construction group involved in various segments...

With over 25 years of experience in the Construction Industry, Roger Bradbury has gone from tea boy to Managing Director of a £30 million construction company. Like most construction businesses, Wren was run with spreadsheets, pen and paper. Not only was record-keeping (timesheets, H&S compliance, etc) a huge burden, but this meant that the whole company had only a backward view of costs and r...

Kris Lengiesa is the Global Technology Evangelist at Procore Technologies, bringing a wealth of experience and passion to the intersection of construction and technology and playing a pivotal role in Procore’s product strategy. Previously serving as the VP of Global Partnerships & Alliances, Kris oversaw a diverse ecosystem spanning channel, ISV, public, and association partnerships. His journ...

With 21 years of construction experience in numerous countries including U.A.E, U.K, Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Ben Huskisson is a member of the RICS and holds a Bachelor of Science. Currently the Managing Director of Gleeds India since 2010, successfully expanded from 1 office in Bangalore with 20 people to 6 offices across India and with over 300 people today. Today we’re taking a...

In the ever-evolving landscape of construction technology, one innovation stands out as a game-changer: Artificial Intelligence, or AI. Now I could go into the specifics of what is classed as AI, what most class as AI and what platforms are just LLMs (Large Language Models), but I won’t, as the simplification of classing the newest technology that seems to work magic and product something from not...

What's better than an event focussing on the built environment? OK, there may be quite a few things but I’m thinking of an event that focuses on the built environment AND new technology! Yes, I am of course talking about DCW (Digital Construction Week).  As we are only a few days away from DCW, I’m delighted to get Ollie Hughes back on the podcast. Ollie featured in Episode 15 when discussing...

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...