Own The Build

In this Own the Build Question Time episode, Paul is joined once again by Chris Barber , COO and Co-Founder of C-Link , to answer listener questions shaped by recent episodes and the Leadership Series.  The conversation focuses on the real challenges QSs face as they progress through their careers — from transitioning into the role, to stepping up into leadership and delivering meaningful value on...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Ray Mellor-Pike , Managing Director at RMP Consulting, for a deep dive into one of construction’s most uncomfortable — and important — questions: Are we allocating risk in a way that actually works?   Drawing on experience across PQS, main contracting and subcontracting, Ray brings a rare, balanced perspective on how contracts are written, negotiated and — often...

In the fourth episode of the Own the Build Leadership Series , Paul is joined by Anil Rai , Commercial Director at M Group Water , a £900m+ business within the wider £2.5bn M Group.  Anil’s journey offers a clear view of what it takes to build a leadership career in a large, complex Tier 1 environment — from early progression through commercial roles to leading at scale across a major infrastructu...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Pamela Cunningham , consultant at Growth & Performance Solutions, to unpack one of the biggest inefficiencies in construction: The disconnect between main contractors and subcontractors during tendering.   Having worked on both sides of the fence, Pamela brings a rare perspective — combining Tier 1 procurement experience with hands-on support for SMEs trying...

In this Own the Build Question Time episode , Paul is joined once again by Chris Barber , COO and Co-Founder of C-Link , to answer listener questions sparked by the recent Leadership Series with leading Commercial Directors across the UK construction industry .  The discussion dives into some of the most practical leadership challenges facing QSs and commercial managers today — from when to step i...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Cian Brennan , founder of Quantum Contract Solutions and author of The Subcontractor’s Edge , for a candid conversation about one uncomfortable truth: Most subcontractors don’t lose money on site — they lose it in the paperwork. From four-hour “favours” that quietly erode margin, to delayed variations that become interest-free loans to main contractors, Paul and...

In the third episode of the Own the Build Leadership Series , Paul is joined by Mark Walker , Managing Director of Seddon Housing Partnerships , an £85m social housing contractor operating across the North West and Midlands, part of the wider Seddon Group. Mark’s journey is a powerful example of progression through ownership, resilience and long-term thinking. Starting in construction at 16 as a t...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Kate Kennedy , Head of Legal Bids and Contract Transformation at Laing O’Rourke , to explore a bold idea: what if construction contracts were actually easy to understand? Kate is leading an industry-first initiative to rethink how construction contracts are written, used and negotiated — starting with a simple premise: most people working on projects don’t unders...

In this episode, Paul is joined once again by Simon Robinson , former main contractor Managing QS turned founder of Subport, to unpack a question that sits at the heart of construction delivery: What actually makes a “good” subcontractor — and a “good” main contractor — from a commercial perspective? Using results from a live poll of 100+ main contractor QSs, Paul and Simon explore the four traits...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Davin Dillon , founder of Clearnorth — known in the industry as “the QS people” — to unpack one of the most important career questions in construction: What does it really take to become a Commercial Director? Drawing on insights from more than 40 in-depth interviews with Commercial Directors , Davin shares the patterns, pitfalls and turning points that consisten...

Question Time is back for 2026! 🎉 In this episode, Paul is joined once again by regular co-host Chris Barber for a lively and candid discussion driven entirely by listener questions . Together, they cover a broad range of topics—from fantasy fixes for the construction industry, to spotting the next generation of commercial leaders, and the fine line between being “commercially astute” and just pl...

In the second episode of the Own the Build Leadership Series , Paul is joined by Chris Hartley , former Commercial Director at McLaren Construction , a £1bn+ main contractor, and now a business change consultant and quantum expert. Chris shares a deeply reflective account of his journey from early career QS to leading commercial teams of more than 50 people — and what that experience taught him ab...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Brandon Silver , construction solicitor at Bexley Beaumont , for a deep, practical conversation on where construction contracts most often unravel — and how QSs and commercial leaders can protect themselves before problems escalate. Brandon works daily on adjudications, payment disputes, termination claims and delay arguments, acting for contractors and subcontra...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Amy Connor from Clear North — a QS-focused recruitment specialist who supports freelance quantity surveyors across the UK. Amy describes herself as “the QS agent” , helping QSs stay off job boards, understand the freelance market, and make informed, sustainable career decisions. This is a practical, no-hype conversation about what freelance life really looks like...

In this episode, Paul is joined by David Longman , Managing QS at Rendesco , a £15m M&E specialist contractor, for a frank and wide-ranging conversation about quantity surveying from the subcontractor’s perspective — an angle that is often misunderstood higher up the contracting chain. David’s career path is unusual and valuable: starting in main contracting, moving into PQS work, and ultimate...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Simon Rubinsohn , Chief Economist at the RICS, for a deep dive into one of the most pressing and under-discussed challenges facing the industry: the critical shortage of quantity surveyors — and what it means for productivity, cost, innovation and delivery across UK construction. Drawing on the RICS 2025 Skills Survey and the latest Construction Monitor data, Sim...

We’re launching a new monthly Leadership Series on Own the Build — spotlighting the journeys, mindsets and behaviours behind world-class Commercial Directorship in construction . For the first episode, Paul is joined by Mark Sheridan , Commercial Director of Commercial Services at BAM UK & Ireland , one of the UK’s largest Tier 1 contractors. Mark shares his 25-year journey from graduate QS to...

In this episode, Paul is joined by Jordan Toman , QS recruitment specialist at ClearNorth — known by many as “the QS Insider” . Jordan sits at the centre of the UK QS market, speaking daily with quantity surveyors and commercial leaders across the country. Few people have a clearer view of what’s really happening behind the scenes. With 2026 underway, this conversation tackles some of the most pre...

For our 250th episode, we mark a major milestone for Own the Build with a special collaboration with the RICS and the Project Flux podcast. This conversation arrives at a pivotal moment: the RICS has just published its first-ever global professional standard for the responsible use of AI in surveying , coming into effect in March 2026. To unpack what this means for QSs, valuers, project profession...

We’re kicking off 2026 with something special — a full replay of Own the Build Live , recorded in front of a packed audience in October 2025. If you were there, you’ll know the energy in the room was electric. If you weren’t, you’re in for a treat. In this live session, Paul sits down with a formidable panel: Sarah Fox (legal consultant), Mike Wharton (Complete Roofing Systems), Kelvin Maye (Group...

In our final episode of 2025, we wrap up the year with a Christmas Question Time special — and as ever, Paul is joined by C-Link co-founder and former QS, Chris Barber , for an honest and entertaining look at the issues commercial teams are grappling with right now. This episode is built entirely from listener questions, including: • Have you ever received (or issued) a notice on Christmas Eve? Pa...

In this episode of Own the Build , Paul is joined by Trevor Wilkins , Managing Director of PAH Building & Construction — a contractor working deep inside one of the UK’s most complex and least-understood built environments: the defence estate. Trevor shares the unique story of PAH’s evolution from a one-client refurb contractor to a £15m business operating across the UK, including the landmark...

In Episode 246, Paul is joined by Mike Rigby , Managing Director of MRA Research and architect of the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) . With 35+ years in the industry and a mission to bring clarity to construction data, Mike pulls back the curtain on how our sector is being misrepresented — and why it matters. Together, they explore: 📉 Why you can’t always trust official statistics — and...

In Episode 245 of Own the Build , Paul is joined by Faye Allen , a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Quantum Expert Witness, and Fellow of the RICS, with over 30 years’ experience in construction. Faye is the author of Building Women — a powerful new book that examines why the industry continues to lose talented people, and what leaders can do to change that. This episode is essential listening for any...

In Episode 244, Question Time is back – and Paul is joined by recurring co-host Chris Barber to answer another round of listener questions from quantity surveyors and commercial professionals across the UK construction industry. This month, we tackle: Should I switch from Main Contractor to Subcontractor? Chris shares real insight from his own experience and a surprising comparison to his wife’s r...