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UK Construction Podcast

by UK Construction Blog · English · News

Join us for your weekly deep dive into the beating heart of <a href="https://ukconstructionblog.co.uk/">UK construction</a>. From ground-breaking projects to game-changing innovations, the UK Construction Podcast brings you face-to-face with the industry's brightest minds and boldest thinkers.

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest: 18 Aug 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

18 Aug 2026 · 42 min

How AI Is Changing Construction | Digital Twins, Data & the Future of Engineering

AI is already changing the way construction and engineering work gets done. The question is no longer whether the technology is coming, but how the industry uses it without losing the experience and judgement that still sit with the people doing the work. On the UK Construction Podcast, host Jimmy Webb speaks with Nathan Marsh about where AI is making a difference across complex projects — from analysing huge volumes of project data to spotting risks, supply-chain problems and missed connecti...

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Earlier episodes 23 most recent

S1 · E22 · 5 Aug 2026 · 57 min
How to Start a Career as a Crane Operator in the UK with Tim Milligan
The crane industry can offer exceptional earning potential, yet many people don't realise the opportunities it presents—or how to break into the profession. Tim Milligan, founder of Lift Tec Academy, shares how a chance move from labouring into lifting operations transformed his career, eventually leading him to build a training academy dedicated to helping others follow the same path. Speaking with Jimmy Webb, Tim discusses why crane operations remain one of construction's most rewarding car...
S1 · E21 · 20 Jul 2026 · 45 min
Blanket Bans, IR35 & Hiring Contractors: What Construction Businesses Need to Know
Most discussions around IR35 focus on tax. But the real impact is being felt in the way construction businesses hire, retain and work with contractors. Matt Williams from Clear North joins us on the UK Construction Podcast to unpack why so many firms are still getting IR35 wrong, how recent changes have shifted the conversation again, and why blanket bans may no longer be the safest option they once seemed. Along the way, they discuss the ongoing shortage of quantity surveyors, why some secto...
S1 · E20 · 29 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
British Construction Expertise Is In Demand Across The Middle East | Marcus Siddons
The Middle East has become one of the world's most ambitious construction markets, attracting global contractors, consultants, and investors with its mega projects, rapid growth, and long-term infrastructure plans. But behind the headlines is a market where success depends on far more than simply winning work. Marcus Siddons, Group Director at Baker Wilkins & Smith, joins Jimmy Webb to discuss the realities of delivering projects across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. Drawing on nearly 60...
S1 · E19 · 29 May 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
How Drones And AI Are Mapping Heat Loss Across Neighbourhoods in the UK
1.8 homes per minute. That's how many homes need retrofitting between now and 2050 if the UK is going to meet its energy efficiency goals. The challenge isn't just carrying out the work. It's knowing where to start, which homes need attention first, and whether retrofit projects are actually delivering the results they're supposed to. Lucy Lyons, Co-Founder and CEO of Kestrix and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree in 2024, joins us on the UK Construction Podcast to explain how her company is using...
S1 · E18 · 16 May 2026 · 41 min
Inclusive Personal Protective Equipment Is Changing Construction
Jane Middleton and Charity Rose join the UK Construction Podcast to discuss the realities of inclusive PPE in construction, from oversized clothing and unsuitable footwear to pregnancy PPE, menopause, neurodiversity, and the wider issue of “standard” PPE not fitting the workforce it’s designed to protect. Recommended Inclusive PPE Products & Resources: Inclusive Hard Hats (smaller head sizes & braided hair compatibility) MSA Safety V-Gard rangeWomen’s Safety Boots Amblers Safety Women...
S1 · E17 · 8 May 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Why So Many Men In Construction Suffer In Silence
Mental health on-site is often acknowledged, but rarely understood in practice. This episode looks beyond policies to explore what is actually happening across construction sites, and why many of the warning signs go unnoticed. From long hours and pressure to conversations that rarely go beyond football, work, or a quick “you alright, mate?”, the discussion examines how many men in construction avoid speaking openly about what they’re really struggling with. It highlights how humour, banter, ...
S1 · E16 · 1 May 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
"People First” Leadership Is Missing in Construction And It’s Costing You
Construction doesn’t fail because of process alone — it fails when the people behind it are overlooked. This episode looks at how a People First approach to leadership is reshaping the way projects are delivered and teams are managed on site. Jonathan Cinelli brings decades of experience from within the construction industry, having worked as an electrician, led teams, and managed large-scale electrical projects. That experience now informs his approach to People First Leadership, a system bu...
S1 · E15 · 17 Apr 2026 · 1 hr
Can AI Replace A Lift Plan?
Most people on-site won't read a lift plan. Gheorghe Busuioc built an AI to fix that. In this episode of the UK Construction Podcast, Jimmy Webb sits down with Gheorghe Busuioc, founder of Construct Tech, to explore how technology is transforming lifting operations in the UK construction industry. Gheorghe shares his journey from gate man and slinger signaller to building one of the most innovative lifting solutions in the UK — combining AI-generated lift plans, 3D visuals, training videos, Q...
S11 · E14 · 16 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
How To Build A Home That Uses 80% Less Energy | PassivHaus UK Explained
What Is PassivHaus and why aren't we building every home this way? Jimmy Webb sat down with Liam Schofield of LGS Airtightness for the latest episode of the UK Construction Podcast. This is an honest conversation about the state of British construction and why PassivHaus needs to become the standard. Here's what they cover: What PassivHaus is and how it works in practiceWhy UK housing stock is the oldest and draughtiest in EuropeHow volume builder lobbying is slowing down energy standardsThe ...
S1 · E13 · 27 Feb 2026 · 35 min
UK Construction Skills Shortage 2026: Inside the Labour Crisis & Recruitment Frontline
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast. The UK construction industry continues to face mounting pressure from labour shortages, skills gaps and ongoing market uncertainty. While headlines focus on project delays and rising costs, the real story often sits on the ground, with contractors struggling to secure reliable, qualified workers. Jimmy Webb is joined by Riley Pond, Contracts Manager at The Labour Desk, to discuss why construction is struggling to find workers, and what recruiters are ...
S1 · E12 · 2 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
CITB Funding Changes: The Questions the Industry Is Asking
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. Recent changes to CITB funding have prompted a lot of discussion across the construction industry. For many employers and training providers, those changes raise practical questions about how training is funded, supported, and delivered. Jimmy Webb speaks with Deb Madden, Executive Director of Engagement and Operations at CITB, to explain the context behind those decisions and how the levy and grant system functions ...
S1 · E11 · 14 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 34 min
The Gap Between Health and Safety Policy and Practice 📋➡️🏗️
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. Health and safety policies are often well-written. But what happens when they meet the reality of a live construction site? Jimmy Webb speaks with Beth Slade, Founder of Beth Slade Safety Ltd, about the gap between health and safety policy and everyday practice across construction. The conversation covers: Where paperwork and compliance fall short on-siteWhy culture, behaviour, and communication matterThe...
S1 · E10 · 29 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
What 30 Years in Plumbing Reveals About Gas Safety
Plumber of the Year 2022, Jimmy Hendry, joins the UK Construction Blog Podcast for a candid conversation on the realities of gas safety in the UK. Hosted by Jimmy Webb, the episode draws on over 30 years of hands-on experience in plumbing and gas engineering to explore why serious safety risks continue to exist despite strict regulations. This episode looks at how gas safety is applied in the real world, not just on paper. In this episode, we cover: Why gas safety laws and enforcement a...
S1 · E9 · 17 Dec 2025 · 52 min
Do Zero-Tolerance Drug Policies Really Work in Construction? 🏗️🔍
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. Drugs and alcohol policies are meant to keep construction sites safe. But what happens when those policies don’t match real-life behaviour on site? In this episode, Jimmy from UK Construction Blog speaks with Nick McMurray from Positive Matters, a company working with construction businesses to rethink how they approach drugs, alcohol, testing and support. Instead of relying on old “zero tolerance” rules that are often ign...
S1 · E8 · 17 Nov 2025 · 50 min
💡🚧 The Construction Industry Needs to Move Beyond Tick-Box Training
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. Kevin Bennison, the founder of InspHigher and a respected voice in the lifting industry joins us to talk about what’s gone wrong with construction training and how to fix it. As he draws on his experience from the military to the crane cab, Kevin shares with our host Jimmy Webb from UK Construction Blog on how competence, repetition, and leadership can transform the industry from a “tick-box” culture into one built o...
S1 · E7 · 22 Oct 2025 · 55 min
Restore Trust’s Mission to Remove Employment Barriers in the UK Through Construction 🏗️🚀🔑
Jimmy Webb from the UK Construction Blog sits down with Chris Scriven, Director of Education at The Restore Trust, to explore how construction is helping people with complex backgrounds — including those with criminal records — find purpose and meaningful work. From prison education programmes to hands-on training and mental health support, The Restore Trust is opening doors for people to rebuild their lives while helping the construction industry tackle its growing skills gap. Here’s what yo...
S1 · E5 · 26 Sep 2025 · 35 min
Retentions Are Costing the UK Construction Industry Up to 💰 £5 Billion a Year!!
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. Retentions have been used in UK construction since the 1840s. Yet today, many in the industry are questioning whether they still offer the security they once promised. Originally introduced during the railway boom, retentions were meant to protect projects. Today, they’re locking up billions in unpaid funds and pushing contractors closer to insolvency. In fact, it’s estimated that £3 to £5 billion is held in retentions ac...
S1 · E6 · 11 Sep 2025 · 42 min
⚠️ 60% of Site Injuries Happen in the First 6 Months – Fix It With Video Training!
How do you keep construction sites safer, smarter, and more efficient using video? In this episode of the UK Construction Podcast, we’re excited to introduce our new host, Jimmy Webb. Having years of experience as a construction industry expert and as the voice behind The Construction Cogs Podcast, Jimmy brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the show. Jimmy sits down with Paul “Indy” Newman, UK founder of Luma1, to explore how interactive video technology is changing the way the constr...
S1 · E4 · 19 Jun 2025 · 40 min
The Digital Transformation 🖥️ Construction Didn’t Ask For, But Needed 🔧🚀
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. How did Manchester go from a struggling industrial city filled with abandoned mills and a thriving rave scene to a forward-thinking hub for business, technology, and innovation? For PushON, a leading digital agency based in Manchester’s Ancoats, this transformation isn’t just a story from the sidelines. It’s something they’re a part of every day. In this episode, we sit down with PushON’s Strategist and Managing Director, ...
S1 · E3 · 8 May 2025 · 20 min
😲 You Won't Believe What This Dad Did With Over 862 MILLION Plastic Straws 🥤
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast, from the UK Construction Blog. What do 862 million plastic straws have to do with driveways? When Johnny Pearce saw plastic waste building up along the beaches near his home, he couldn’t shake the feeling—especially as a dad—of wanting to set a better example. He already had a successful business. But what if that business could be part of the solution? In this episode, we talk to Johnny, co-founder of Oltco, the company behind Recycle Bound—the world’s...
S1 · E2 · 3 Apr 2025 · 13 min
🏗️ Teaching Construction in Further Education 🧑‍🎓
Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast hosted by the team from the UK Construction Blog! Ever wondered where your construction skills could take you beyond the job site? In this episode, we talk to John Ryan, a skilled bricklayer who took his on-site experience to the classroom as a trainer in Further Education. He shares his inspiring journey, challenges faced and why he believes it’s important to train the next wave of tradespeople, now more than ever. If you’ve...
S1 · E1 · 19 Mar 2025 · 33 min
Sustainability in Construction 👷 Turning Quarries into Forests
Welcome to the very first episode of UK Construction Podcast hosted by the team from the UK Construction Blog! In this episode we talk with Tom Redfern, Senior Sustainability Manager at Aggregate Industries, to uncover the ground-breaking ways the construction industry is going green. From turning quarries into forests to recycling asphalt infinitely, Tom breaks down how sustainability is changing the game in construction and how Aggregate Industries is contributing to this mission.&n...
S1 · E1 · 15 Nov 2024 · 1 min
UK Construction Podcast
The UK Construction Podcast: Your weekly insight into British construction innovation. Join industry leaders, architects, and engineers as they share expert knowledge on projects, trends, and emerging technologies. Featuring: Expert interviewsMarket analysisProject insightsProfessional guidanceSubscribe now to stay informed on Britain's evolving construction landscape. Hosted by The UK Construction Blog.

About UK Construction Podcast

UK Construction Podcast is a English news podcast from UK Construction Blog. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: UK Construction Blog
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 52 min
Latest episode: 18 Aug 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1779967807

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