Deconstructing Digital

Paloma Hermoso, Head of Sustainability at Ward Williams, joins Deconstructing Digital to challenge one of construction's most persistent assumptions - that sustainability is something you address once the real decisions have been made. Drawing on over a decade of experience across project management, construction and corporate sustainability, Paloma makes a compelling case for why the industry...

Construction has more data than ever before. So why does the industry still struggle to turn that data into better decisions, better projects, and better outcomes? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Dr Adam O’Rourke, Emerging Technologies Consultant and former academic, brings a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on why construction data isn’t working - and what the industry must do t...

What does forty years in construction actually teach you about digital change? Quite a lot, it turns out - including what not to do. David Emery, consultant at the Supply Chain Sustainability School and one of the industry's most experienced digital voices, has been there for all of it: the early computing systems that cost two company cars and became obsolete before they paid back, the rise o...

AI is already shaping the way construction, infrastructure and built environment projects are delivered. The focus now is on turning early adoption into long-term value while ensuring industry and policy evolve together. In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, we’re joined by Ben Goodwin, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), to unpack wh...

April 2029 is closer than you think. So what happens when e-invoicing becomes mandatory and your business isn’t ready? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Tim Cole, Trading Cloud Product Director at Causeway, joins us to break down the UK e-invoicing mandate and what it means for construction businesses ahead of the 2029 deadline. With over 30 years of experience in digital invoicing and da...

Digital transformation doesn’t start with AI. It starts with getting the basics right. In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Mike Gibbons - former CIO of Holcim UK - reflects on more than 20 years leading IT and digital strategy in one of the UK’s largest construction materials businesses. An engineer by background, with a career spanning automotive and construction, Mike brings a rare combin...

Digital adoption doesn’t fail because the technology is wrong. It fails when it makes the job harder. You can invest in the right systems. Roll them out well. Track the adoption numbers. And still struggle to make digital stick. In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Brian Hammersley, Director of Digital Adoption at Balfour Beatty, shares what it really takes to bridge the gap between IT and f...

Paper is old. That’s where this episode begins. In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Will Clarke, Managing Director of Direct Enviro Services, shares how to connected digital systems helped reduce admin, improve visibility and support rapid growth. From creating digital job packs to developing AI-powered identification and alert systems, Will explains what it really takes to scale operations...

Scaling a construction business from small beginnings to £5 million and beyond takes more than tools and talent, it takes the right strategy. In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Amelia speaks with Greg Wilkes, founder of Develop Coaching, about how construction firms can grow sustainably in a digital-first world. They explore lessons learned the hard way - what happens when systems outpace...

How do you transform one of England’s most rural and complex highway networks into a high-performing, data-driven, digitally connected service? In this episode, Kris Westerby, Head of Highways at Northumberland County Council, shares how his team has redefined public service delivery - starting with potholes, and ending with transparency, trust, and performance at scale. With real examples of inno...

What if the biggest barrier to digital transformation in construction isn’t the technology, but the way we think about it? Roman Baran, who leads the digital construction strategy at Canary Wharf Group, joins Deconstructing Digital to unpack why lasting change starts with people, not platforms. Fixing broken processes, empowering on-site champions, and building tech around real-world needs - this...

Everyone’s talking about AI, automation and digital twins - but what happens when the data behind it all can’t be trusted? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, we're joined by Alex Small, Digital Platforms and Innovation Lead at Tata Steel, who makes the case for a radical rethink of how construction product data is managed and shared. He explores how technologies like QR-coded materials...

What happens when digital ambition meets real-world delivery? Chloe McCulloch, Editorial Director at Assemble Media Group, joins us to unpack what Building Magazine’s Top 150 consultants survey reveals about the state of digital transformation in the built environment. She shares exclusive insights into how firms are approaching AI, where investment is heading, and whether digital strategies are t...

Digital transformation in the built environment is often synonymous with complexity, slow adoption, and misaligned expectations. But what happens when an architect breaks the mould and embraces innovation from the ground up? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, we're joined by Pierre Saunal - architect and co-founder, of airc.digital - to unpack the practical, painful, and powerful journ...

Think your building project is low-carbon? You might be missing a major piece of the puzzle. In this sharp and revealing episode, architect and sustainability advocate Tim den Dekker, Associate Architect at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, pulls back the curtain on embodied carbon – the emissions baked into every brick, beam, and bag of cement. It’s the construction industry’s quiet contributor to c...

What does it take to secure construction’s digital future? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, cybersecurity expert and CurveTech CEO Daniel Skeggs shares why the built environment faces growing risks, and what leaders can do to respond. Fragmented supply chains, sensitive design data, and increasing reliance on cloud-based systems have all made construction a prime target for cyberattacks....

How do you make digital construction legally watertight? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, construction lawyer Sarah Rock joins us to explore how BIM, the Building Safety Act, and the Golden Thread are transforming expectations in construction contracts. As co-author of the influential Winfield Rock Report, Sarah breaks down what it takes to define, embed, and enforce digital requirements...

Many construction companies often invest in digital tools - but many fail to deliver their full value. In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, we speak with Lorna Killick, Head of Business Transformation at BW, about how to revive underused construction software and drive real business impact. Lorna shares how her team reconfigured legacy systems, rebuilt user engagement, and brought clarity to...

How do you drive digital transformation in construction when budgets are tight, time is short, and the frontline team is wary of change? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, Sarah Darville-Downs, Group Finance Director at Tamdown, shares a refreshingly honest take on what it really takes to embed new tech on-site. She explores how to turn digital ambition into real-world action, securing buy...

Rework is draining time, money, and morale from construction projects - and it’s happening more than you think. Up to 39% of on-site accidents are linked to rework. The cost is an eye-watering £2 billion a year in the UK alone. So why does it keep happening and how do we fix it? In this live episode recorded at Digital Construction Week, Amelia Fletcher-Blackburn is joined by Jon Ozanne (CIO, Balf...

Digital transformation often starts at the top – but what happens when it reaches the subcontractor on site, holding the tablet, trying to make it work in the real world? In this episode, we speak to Joanna Brooker, founder of C2C Group, who specialises in helping SMEs and subcontractors navigate the digital shift. With boots-on-the-ground experience, Joanna unpacks why so many systems fail at imp...

When it comes to modernising IT infrastructure, many organisations are stuck with legacy systems that are difficult to scale, costly to maintain, and risky to secure. But what if these systems could be transformed into a competitive advantage? In this episode, IT consultant Tim Clark shares his deep expertise in legacy modernisation, cloud migration, and risk management. From navigating geopolitic...

What does it really take to make buildings safer, smarter, and more sustainable in today’s construction industry? Vicki Reynolds cuts through the complexity of digital twins and the golden thread - two essential frameworks transforming how we design, deliver, and manage the built environment. With clarity and depth, she explores how these tools support compliance with the Building Safety Act, impr...

What does it really take to scale a multi-business group in today’s construction and manufacturing landscape? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, we speak with Matthew Ayres, Group Managing Director of the Bennie Group, about how technology, strategy, and culture come together to fuel sustainable business growth. Matthew shares candid insights from the trenches - ripping out outdated system...

Can generative AI really change the way we build - and is it worth the hype? In this episode of Deconstructing Digital, we’re joined by Shelly Dar Rapaport, Senior Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services, to unpack how generative AI is reshaping the construction industry. From predictive maintenance and site safety to smarter planning and sustainability, we explore real-world use cases where AI...