The Infrastructure Podcast

We are back for 2025 and in today's podcast we will I hope, start the new year by catching a glimpse of the art of the possible when it comes to embracing the use of data, technology and digital tools to drive improvement across the infrastructure sector. As such it is my pleasure to sit down today with Nicholas Cumins, chief executive of global infrastructure software giant Bentley Systems ....

Today’s podcast is the second of a two-part year end special recorded with Sir John Armitt out-going chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission and all round voice of experience and knowledge when it comes go planning and delivering the UK’s infrastructure needs. And its the last episode of 2025! In the last episode we covered a lot of ground talking about NISTA, the all new National Infra...

Today’s podcast is a bit special in that it is the first of a two-part, year-end special recorded with infrastructure giant Sir John Armitt.  To be fair, this podcast really needs very little in the way of set up from me, other than to say that Sir John is long standing chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers and, to most inside and...

In today’s podcast we take a deep dive into planning and how look specifically at how the recent Banner Review might accelerate the delivery of the UK’s NSIPs - Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Reform is certainly overdue. Nick Smallwood, out-going chief executive of the government’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority highlighted the UK’s poor track record of infrastructure deliv...

As the latest COP29 global climate change conference draws to a close in Baku, this podcast focuses on how the infrastructure sector can summon the courage to transform its approach to sustainability and ensure that the issue moves from niche to become business as usual in the mainstream at every level of the supply chain.  It's a potentially exciting time in infrastructure. The government’s...

In today's podcast we talk about how modern engineering consultancy really can change lives by creating sustainable infrastructure that focuses relentlessly on delivering creative, value-led solutions for the benefit of people, places and planet. I am deliberately quoting from the values page of engineering design firm Buro Happold in honour of the fact that my guest today is Paula Gough, the...

It's a powerful episode this week as we talk about housing and in particular what can be done to accelerate construction of the vital homes that are needed to support our society across the UK. Now the need for housing – in particular affordable housing - has become one of THE most pressing social issues of our time. The current New Homes in New Ways project being hosted at the Building Centr...

Today’s podcast is a bit special - and I have to say it was a bit nerve-racking - as we talk about the challenges, barriers and opportunities for women in leadership with executive coach and strategy consultant Alex Oliver who – full disclosure – is also my wife. Alex works with a range of people – women and men - across a multitude of sectors helping all these leaders to, as she puts it, “unleash...

A week after Labour's first budget in 14 years - its "big" budget - we talk on the podcast about how the UK turns all the infrastructure aspiration announced into the kind of life, economy and climate changing reality that is implied – perhaps promised. Yes, infrastructure investment plays a key role in driving economic growth across the nation and across the regions of the UK – and...

In today’s podcast we talk about the very latest digital twin visualisation technologies and find about a bit more about how and why these new immersive tools are truly set to transform the way we design construct, operate and maintain our infrastructure.  At the heart of today’s discussion will be infrastructure software developer Bentley Systems’ new iLab experience which gives hands-on experien...

Today's special episode is recorded live in Jamie Oliver's new restaurant in Covent Garden London as we return to the tricky, but absolutely crucial issue of skills and the need to lever more of the best talent from schools into the infrastructure, construction and building sector.  Now, anyone who has ever attended an industry conference recently and, I dare I say it, anyone that's...

In today’s podcast we return to the interesting, important and very often controversial topic of artificial intelligence – specifically the way that it is set – or not set - to transform the way we design construct, operate and maintain our infrastructure.  Now, no one will have escaped to ubiquitous emergence of AI tools now finding their way into virtually every aspect of our lives – driving our...

Today's podcast comes from Canada as I'm on a short North American trip, and  our discussion is focused how technology is set to – perhaps is already – transforming the delivery and operation of public transport.  In particular, we ask what lessons can be learnt from around the world – specifically from Toronto - by welcoming Kirsten Watson, Vice President of Government Relations and Tra...

In the podcast today we talk about the challenge of inclusive design and how to make the infrastructure sector more accessibility to a wider range of society. It’s a huge issue and “not merely a problem to be solved, but a commitment to ensuring independence and dignity for all.”  Not my words but those of my guest today Meg Ginsberg, who describes herself as an assistant project manager at South...

In today's podcast we tackle a vital but too often overlooked area of infrastructure delivery namely commissioning – the art and science of preparing and taking assets into service ready to deliver the outcomes required from the investment.    It is indeed a vital activity for every infrastructure professional to be aware of. For every asset owner and project sponsor for that matter. And whil...

In today's podcast we reflect on last year’s HS2 north project cancellation and, one year one, explore what lessons might be learnt for future major project delivery as we move into the Starmer government era. Now, I have been writing about infrastructure projects for 30 years and it seems that when you look back, one consistent theme constantly crops up – the delivery of major infrastructure...

In today's podcast we talk about housing – specifically what needs to happen to ensure that the construction sector is set to meet the new government’s ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. There is no question that when we look back at the past performance of housebuilding in the UK, we have some way to go to meet this 300,000+ new homes a year target....

In today's podcast we once again build on Labour’s first King’s Speech and dig into the UK’s ambitions for an energy transition. The government has placed energy security and the rapid move away from fossil fuels high on its agenda for this parliament underlining its pre-election manifesto pledges to do just that.  This set out the route towards energy independence, stretching towards a clean...

In today's podcast we discuss the way artificial intelligence is set to transform infrastructure performance. In the short time since generative AI tools such ChatGPT and array of AI driven apps have emerged and become mainstream, our daily interactions with data has changed dramatically.  There should therefore, be absolutely no doubt in anyone’s minds that AI has the power to truly transfor...

We're back from a short summer week off and with today's podcast  we are going to talk about how the engineering sector can support the new Labour government’s ambition to roll out infrastructure investment at pace and drive growth back into the UK economy. There can be no doubt about the new government’s infrastructure ambitions following the recent King’s Speech which unequivocally pla...

In today's podcast we build on last week’s Kings Speech and dig into the new government’s ambitions to reform the much-criticised water sector and drive investment into this vital part of the UK’s infrastructure. And it’s just a week or so after the delayed release of Ofwat’s long-awaited draft determination setting out how much water companies will be allowed to charge customers over the nex...

In the podcast today we spend a few moments digging behind the headlines from last week’s Kings Speech and try to understand what the implications of the new government’s ambitious first legislative programme will mean for the civil engineering and infrastructure sector. In my Kings Speech preview last week I perhaps adopted a somewhat optimistic tone regarding the potential prospect of a rake of...

This podcast is a bit different. In short, due to various reasons, you just have me.  But that’s fine as it’s a great opportunity to have a quick catch up post General Election and a gaze into the crystal ball to see what the new and very shiny Starmer government has in store for infrastructure as we head towards the Kings Speech and opening of a new Parliamentary session this Wednesday. And witho...

In today' podcast we talk about new thinking to create a new era for infrastructure delivery By the time you hear this podcast the dust will have settled on the General Election and we will know the rough direction in which the UK is set to take for the next five years. But as it stands right now, all we can really say for certain is that whoever is in Downing Street, they will have investmen...

It's General Election week and so in today's podcast we talk about creating sustainable growth - and how we ensure that professional engineers remain at the top table when it comes to influencing the vital infrastructure investment decisions needed to deliver it. Given that we are choosing out next government this week, it seems a great moment to find out how an organisation like the ACE...