The Take Off - The Quantity Surveying Podcast

Matt Stone is the Director of Ashlo Construction Consultants. He is an experienced Quantity Surveyor with a demonstrated history of working across multiple sectors of the Construction industry throughout the UK and New Zealand. He is skilled in Value Engineering, Cost Management, Project Estimation, Construction Cost Control, and Cost Engineering. On this episode we discuss Matt's career as a...

On this episode Mick is joined by Dennis James Stokes. Dennis has worked in the NZ construction industry for over thirty years, starting out in manufacturing frames & trusses, moving into drafting and detailing. Now as a member of N.Z.I.Q.S. he specializes in Quantity Surveying and is the Founder of Quantity Surveyors of New Zealand, a highly connected community of over 1000 quantity surveyors...

On this episode Mick discusses a recent piece of content he published regarding the job prospects within a career in Quantity Surveying. This post has reached over 17,000 views in a few days with 160+ likes and comments. It hits a nerve because the industry is at an all time knife edge. Contractors are making less money and industry giants are going into liquidation far quicker than ever before. T...

🎙️🏗️ Welcome to episode 97 of The Takeoff Podcast! In this captivating interview, we bring you an exclusive conversation with Robert Sobyra, the Head of Policy at the Australian Constructors Association. Robert is a driving force behind ACA's policy agenda, championing sustainability and progress in the construction industry. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he actively contributes...

On this episode of The Take Off; Mick discusses the strategies you can utilize to ensure you take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Whether you're a Senior Estimator, Senior Quantity Surveyor or Project Manager, Mick discusses the techniques you can demonstrate in order to move up the ranks to Estimating Management, Commercial Management or Construction Management within your...

Have you worked hard to reach senior roles in your career, but don't know where else to go? In EP 94 of The TakeOff Podcasr we discuss how to continue developing professionally once you have reached the top. We'll discuss the key traits of successful senior managers, the challenges of continuing to grow and develop, and strategies for setting ambitious new goals. What can you do to stay ah...

Are you worried about the economic future and want to secure your investments? Join us on The TakeOff podcast EP 93 as we explore where the best investment options are when everybody is talking about a recession. What strategies we use when there's an uncertain market? What are the risks associated with investing during a downturn? And how do we protect ourselves financially if it does happen?...

Tune in to the latest episode of The TakeOff Podcast where Mick discusses the Topic of Diversity and Why having more Women in Construction will evidently benefit men in the long run! 👩‍💼🤰Mick breaks down 9 great ideas from Alison Mirams recent article in the Australian Financial Review and provides his analysis from a talent acquisition perspective. 💼💪 Join the conversation and share your tho...

🎉 New Episode Alert! 🎉 🎙️🌐 Check out Episode 94 of The TakeOff Podcast: "The Changing World of Quantity Surveying & Estimating" featuring @Tony Avsec, National Cost Planning Manager of @built! 🏗️💼 In this insightful episode, we delve deep into the evolving landscape of quantity surveying and estimating. Tony, with his wealth of experience and unique perspective of the constructio...

Working in the construction industry comes with its risks, contractors are going under at an unprecedented rate. Margin right now, is not easy to find. In this episode of The Take-Off Podcast, we’re talking about why that is – and how you can learn from it. Don't miss out - tune into The Take-Off Podcast now!

Are you curious about the differences between the construction markets in Ireland and Australia? This episode is for you! The Take-Off Podcast provides a recruiter's perspective on this topic! Join us as we explore the key distinctions between the two economies, and how they can affect your next job search. Learn what it takes to be successful across both markets with our experts who have expe...

Are you curious about the future of salaries in Brisbane? With Sydney and Melbourne dominating the job market, it can be hard to know what opportunities exist for those looking to make a move. But now, with the potential for salaries in Brisbane to start competing with some of Australia's major cities, this could be the perfect time to make a change! Join us as we explore why Brisbane could be...

Curious about Brisbane's booming job market? Are you a Brit or Irish looking to start a career in Australia or New Zealand ? 🇦🇺 Do you know where to start? 👀 If the answers to the previous question are Yes and No then you have come to the right place. Welcome to The TakeOff podcast! 🎙👷🏼‍♂️ Join our guests Mick and Paudie into real conversations about the construction industry and how they b...

Are you a construction worker or you might work with one? Then this video can help you a lot! In this episode of The Take Off Podcast we dive into the growing mental health and binge drinking crisis in the construction industry. Join us as we dive into the reasons behind the problematic, our own experiences and what can we do to break the stigma and start the conversation about mental health in th...

Are you a Construction Professional looking to make the jump from Contractor to Client or Developer? In this episode of The Takeoff Podcast, we discuss the top 5 reasons why making the switch is an attractive option! We explore how changing sides can bring great opportunities, both personal and professional — you won't want to miss it. Tune in and get all of your industry insights and career a...

In this episode, we will be exploring the age-old question of whether or not a college degree is necessary for a successful career. We will delve into the various factors that affect career success, including experience, skill set, networking, and education.

On this episode Mick reads a blog in reaction to his latest Linkedin post. On this episode Mick will discuss how Chat GPT will transform the construction industry as we know it and why we need to adapt or face an existential crisis. What is Chat GPT capable of? How could it transform Construction in its current form? What are the possibilities of growth? To connect with Mick Donaghy and the team a...

On this episode of  #TheTakeOff Mick and Pat discuss what it's like experiencing BURN OUT. It's something we as construction AND recruitment people very rarely talk about. Burning the candle at both ends and feeling empty from back breaking and mentally draining work. I think a lot of construction people could do with listening to this now, especially in todays market. #ProofIsInTheProgres...

Today on the Take Off, Mick and Pat discuss the big winners and big losers of the Aussie Construction Market. Why do Main Contractors make such little money? Do they all have boats parked up in Noosa or is there other reasons for their rapid burning of 50 squid notes. Why expat candidates aren't guaranteed big money when they arrive in Australia and why Pat shaved his ed' at Christmas. It&...

Welcome to another episode of The Take Off where Mick is joined by a special guest. Today, we're speaking with Paudie McGrath - an old friend and a colleague! With increasing population comes the need for more housing, commercial buildings, social spaces, and infrastructure. The latest figures in Australia showed that the gross value added by the construction industry amounted to over 150 billion...

Being proactive rather than reactive💲 Recruitment can be a time-consuming and costly process for companies. From advertising job vacancies to conducting interviews, the entire process can be overwhelming for businesses, especially smaller ones with limited resources. That's why hiring a recruitment company can be a smart solution. You need to understand how much recruitment is actually costing yo...

Women in the industry breaking the barriers 🚧 Welcome to another episode of The Take Off where Mick is joined by a special guest. Today, we're speaking with Megan Rodgers - Consultant | Architect | UQ School of Architecture Industry Advisory Board Member | Assemble Brisbane. Megan has more than 20 years of experience working for practices throughout Australia, South America, and the United Kingdo...

Suggesting Solutions VS Doing the Work 😎 Welcome to another episode of The Take Off where Mick talks about why Contractors are paid more than Consultancies. While both job titles can be profitable and allow for a flexible work schedule, the key difference is that a company usually hires contractors to complete a specific task, while consultants may have a broader scope of responsibilities. Consul...

Not About Us, it's About You!  Welcome to another episode of The Take Off where Mick is joined by a special guest. Today, we're speaking with Cian Brennan - Managing Director of Quantum Contract Solutions.  Cian was on the Dark Side (Client Side) of Construction for 15 years. Over this time he saw hundreds and hundreds of Construction Companies being bullied contractually, losing money,...

The State of Quantity Surveying in Australia!? Mick is back with another episode of The Take Off where he's joined by Asif Khan - Senior Quantity Surveyor, Mitchell Brandtman.  Asif Khan is a Quantity Surveyor who has over 12 years of experience in the construction industry having worked for various PQS consultancies as well as Contractors in South Africa and Australia. In this episode we tal...