Black Cat Chat: The Building Podcast

Andy Clow sits down with Ben Pountney, Associate Director at Black Cat, to explore his career path, his promotion just weeks after joining the business, and the niche project management expertise he brings to large-scale development projects.Ben shares insights into working on complex regeneration and masterplanning schemes, the differences between corporate and independent consultancy life, and why Black Cat is increasingly well-placed to deliver major projects across the UK and Ireland.The episode finishes with a forward look to 2026, discussing the realities of planning, regulation and development viability, and where the biggest opportunities lie for clients and consultants alike.

We’ve taken Black Cat Chat on the road (and into a proper recording studio for the first time) for an episode with the Birmingham team.Joined by Birmingham lead Rob Green and Director / Building Surveyor Mack Argent, Andy Clow explores how the Birmingham office has grown, how Rob and Mack’s different specialisms complement each other, and the kinds of work keeping the team busy, from retail regeneration projects to fast-turnaround technical due diligence across national industrial portfolios.We also talk about what makes Black Cat different as the business has scaled (now truly multidisciplinary), why the Director-led model matters, and what opportunities are opening up in the Midlands as the team continues to grow.If you’re interested in building surveying, project work, technical due diligence, retail and industrial assets, grassroots cricket, or you’re simply curious about life at Black Cat, this one’s for you.🎧 Listen, subscribe, and let us know what you’d like to hear next!

In this episode of Black Cat Chat: The Building Podcast, Andy Clow (Marketing Director at Black Cat) is joined by Ruth Moorhouse and Tim Cornford to introduce BCAM – Black Cat’s new Asset Management offer.Ruth joins as Director & Head of Impact, helping to strengthen the foundations for Black Cat’s next stage of growth, while also driving BCAM’s development. Tim leads our London office, bringing over a decade of experience delivering town-centre and retail asset strategies – including working closely with Black Cat across a major national portfolio.Together, they unpack what modern town centre-focused Asset Management really looks like: hands-on problem solving, partnering with councils and private investors, and driving real change beyond the traditional “NOI-only” model. They also share how BCAM has already secured key mandates (including Charter Walk Shopping Centre in Burnley) and why 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for the market.Watch now and find out how BCAM and Black Cat are working together to help town centres thrive.

In this episode of Black Cat Chat: The Building Podcast, Andy Clow sits down with our first non-Black Cat guests – Joseph Russell and Ian Fairweather, the founders of Allegro Real Estate. Fresh from launching their new consultancy, they share the excitement, pressure and practical realities of stepping out on their own. From early wins to tough lessons and the evolving demands of the commercial property market, this is a candid conversation about what it takes to build a business from the ground up.

Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance might not be glamorous, but it is business-critical. In this episode of Black Cat Chat, Andy Clow sits down with Stephen Barnes, Director & Founder, to unpack what PI Insurance really is, why many firms misunderstand it, and how Black Cat sets a higher bar.Stephen explains:Why exclusions and sub-limits (fire, basements and more) matterWhat “adequate and appropriate” should look like in practiceBlack Cat’s approach: no exclusions, proportionate limits, full team education and rigorous QAThe simple question every client should add to their RFPIf you commission surveys or projects, or you are a surveyor who wants to protect clients and yourself, this one is essential listening.Watch now and learn the exact words to request in your next quote, plus how to sense-check PI against project value.

In this episode of Black Cat Chat: The Building Podcast, two rising Black Cats from our Southampton team join Andy Clow to talk about their careers, their differing routes into surveying, and how they ended up working at Black Cat.Will Spriggs started his career on the tools as a trained carpenter, but soon moved to a Building Surveyor degree and APC success. Joe Merrett, however, took the Degree-Apprenticeship path while learning on the job. They reflect on life at CBRE vs the Black Cat model, the growth of our Southampton office, business development on the South Coast, and support through the APC. Expect honest advice for students and career-changers, work-life balance insights, and a look at how our entrepreneurial approach lets younger talent build their own portfolio within the wider business.Don't forget to subscribe to be kept up-to-date for all the goings on at Black Cat!

Black Cat Chat: Brett Lee on Sheds, EPC wins and building a Liverpool hubIn this episode, And Clow sat down with the Director & Liverpool Lead Brett Lea to discuss his passion for buildings and Black Cat.From bonfire-night inspiration to leading our Liverpool office, Brett Lee shares how a teenage site visit set him on the path to building surveying. We cover why he is a self-confessed shed geek, how yard depth and clockwise yards shape real-world logistics, and why he earned an HGV licence to pressure-test designs. Brett unpacks practical decarbonisation moves that push industrial assets to EPC A without bloating CapEx, plus the autonomy-first, director-led model at Black Cat that keeps teams motivated and clients covered. We also talk Liverpool’s growing market, national client work, training the next generation, and running a £300k job with the discipline of a £20m scheme. If you care about industrial and logistics, this one is a must.

In this episode of Black Cat Chat, we take a career deep-dive with Ollie Folkes – our Bristol Office Lead and one of the longest-serving Black Cats. From a 15-year-old’s first site visit to leading Black Cat’s Bristol office, Ollie shares lessons on cautious growth, team culture without bureaucracy, and why collaboration wins on major projects. Ollie brings a somewhat different approach to his way of working to some within the Black Cat team, with a calm reassuring demeanour that is infectious.Subscribe now to get every episode delivered to your inbox!

Black Cat Chat: Building Regulations, Risk, and Responsibility with Tony ThreadgoldIn this episode, I sat down with the brilliant Tony Threadgold — our in-house expert on all things Building Control – to explore the changing landscape of regulation and the role of the Principal Designer.Tony's journey spans from major projects like the Trafford Centre to founding and running a national Approved Inspector firm. Today, he's leading Black Cat’s Principal Designer (PD) service, helping clients navigate complex regulatory challenges under the new Building Safety Act.What’s changed?The Building Safety Act (2022) has redefined responsibilities, especially for high-risk buildings.The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) now oversees approvals — with only 14% of applications currently approved.Principal Designers carry serious legal weight — including potential prison time for non-compliance.At Black Cat, we’re stepping up — not stepping back. Our PD team is already supporting dozens of live projects with expertise, rigour and the willingness to give actual advice.If you're grappling with the new regs — or simply want to avoid costly delays — give Tony a call. His insight might just save your project.

In this episode of Black Cat Chat, Andy Clow welcomes Joanna Whitear, ESG Lead & Director at Black Cat Building Consultancy, to explore how sustainability is reshaping UK commercial real estate. Joanna shares her journey from early ESG consultancy to leading a team of specialists, offering insights into carbon-led asset strategies, ESG-integrated due diligence, and authentic, actionable reporting that cuts through the noise."There are two really important metrics in real estate right now – revenue and carbon. Everything else is just fluff." – Joanna WhitearWhether you're a Building Surveyor, Asset Manager or Sustainability Lead, this episode highlights how ESG is no longer a tick-box exercise, but a strategic driver of value. Discover how Black Cat’s multidisciplinary approach is helping clients decarbonise buildings, plan smarter maintenance, and embed ESG across the project lifecycle.Subscribe now to stay ahead in the built environment.

In this episode of Black Cat Chat: The Building Podcast, Andy Clow speaks with Rob Mowat, Finance Director at Black Cat Building Consultancy, about how a unique and transparent financial model is driving rapid growth, employee satisfaction, and long-term success in UK commercial real estate. Discover how Rob transitioned from external accountant to leadership, and how Black Cat’s open-book approach to bonuses, unlimited holidays, and flexible working is reshaping consultancy culture. With insights into scaling a multidisciplinary firm, financial incentives for fee earners and support staff alike, and the power of transparency in business, this episode is a must-watch for professionals across surveying, property, and the built environment. Subscribe now to get every episode delivered to your inbox!

In this first episode of Black Cat Chat, founders Ben Golby and Stephen Barnes sit down with Marketing Director Andy Clow to discuss how the business came into being, how it’s grown, and what the future holds.We’ll be publishing episodes every fortnight, sharing more insights into the world of commercial real estate from colleagues across Black Cat.