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Own the Build is the podcast for Quantity Surveyors and Commercial Directors who want to sharpen their commercial edge and lead with confidence.
Hosted by Paul Heming, former Commercial leader and now co-founder of C-Link, each week’s conversation dives into the realities of modern commercial management — from procurement and contracts to digital transformation and leadership in construction.
Through honest discussions with industry leaders, forensic planners, and forward-thinking QSs, Paul explores how the best commercial teams deliver profit, performance, and project certainty in a changing industry.
If you’re serious about mastering the commercial side of construction — this is where you build your advantage.
251 Episodes
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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 retail-to-supplier career path.When is the right time to consider adjudication for delayed payment...
In this episode, Paul is joined by George Lujans, Director at GoModular, for a masterclass on modular construction that breaks down everything you thought you knew. George’s message is clear: most developers, QSs, and even modular startups have misunderstood modular construction – and that’s why it hasn’t delivered on its promises. Together, Paul and George unpack: Why modular is a verb, not a noun – and how that changes everything.The biggest myths in modular: standardisation, site access, a...
In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined by Mike Ashcroft (Co-Founder of EstimateOne) and Paddy Westbury (Estimating Director at Structure Tone) to explore the often misunderstood world of estimating – and its love/hate relationship with quantity surveying. They dive into Paddy’s 40-year journey from sleepy PQS firms to the intensity of fast-track fit out, his reflections on Structure Tone’s explosive growth, and how modern estimators are evolving from number-pushers to project strate...
In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined by Katie Taylor, Managing Quantity Surveyor, to explore what it really takes to raise the bar for commercial professionals in construction. Katie shares how she entered the industry by chance as a receptionist, studied part-time to become a QS, and developed a deep passion for coaching and communication. Together, Paul and Katie discuss: Why coaching is critical for QSs and subcontractors alikeThe underestimated importance of soft skills and ps...
!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!! ----------------------------------- In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined once again by his co-founder and sidekick, Chris Barber, for another round of Question Time. This time, the duo dives deep into one of the most shocking industry stats of 2025: the QS workforce has dropped by over 30% in just 12 months. Together, they unpack why so many quantity surveyors are leaving the industry and discuss the knoc...
!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!! ----------------------------------- In this episode, Paul is joined by Rob Munns, Head of Sales at BFT Mast Climbing Ltd — the UK’s leading provider of mast climbers. You might think access equipment isn’t the most exciting topic in the world, but this conversation is a wake-up call for QSs, PMs, and operational teams. Paul and Rob unpack why the UK construction industry still defaults to scaffold — despite the cost,...
!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!! ----------------------------------- This week on Own the Build, Paul is joined by Dave Stitt, a leadership team coach with 25+ years of experience working with boards and senior project teams across the UK construction industry. In this episode, Paul and Dave deep-dive into a subject that every QS, PM, and Director talks about—but few know how to actively build: Trust. Together, they unpack: 🔍 Why trust is so often m...
!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!! ----------------------------------- In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined by James Filus, Director at both the National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) and the Institute of Carpenters (IOC), to unpack what competence really means in the context of construction today. James shares the view from the front line of trade associations helping their members navigate the aftermath of Grenfell, the implications o...
In this lively episode, Chris joins Paul again to tackle YOUR questions in the return of Question Time. From the realities of AI in construction to the headaches of back-to-back contracts, we dive into the heart of what QSs are really facing on site. Highlights include: How AI is transforming tender analysis and improving subcontractor engagement.NEC vs JCT – which contract is most improperly administered?Back-to-back contracts: Are they practical or just punishment?The most misunderstood par...
In this episode, Paul is joined by Andrea White, Independent Fire Engineer, Chartered Safety Professional, and one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction (2023). Andrea is also the founder of Women Talking Fire and a leading voice on fire safety strategy in a post-Grenfell landscape. Together, Paul and Andrea unpack the critical implications of the Building Safety Act for quantity surveyors and procurement professionals. 💥 What do QSs need to do differently? 💡 Why is procureme...
In this episode, Paul is joined by Kelvin Maye, Group Commercial Director at Guildmore Ltd, a £100m+ main contractor with an impressive growth trajectory. Kelvin shares the story of his journey from graduate QS to group leadership and how Guildmore is actively reshaping its commercial and procurement strategies. They explore how Kelvin’s team is unlocking QS productivity, improving tender and contract governance, and critically, rebuilding trust in subcontractor relationships. At the heart of...
In episode 233, Paul welcomes Alice Graham, a chartered Quantity Surveyor turned Solution Specialist at Procore Technologies. Together, they unpack Alice’s career journey — from studying QS at Heriot-Watt University to working in consultancy, and eventually pivoting into construction technology. Alice shares how her “skills inventory” helped her redefine her path, the case for becoming a visible role model in construction, and why QSs have more career options than they might realise — includi...
Question Time is back — and it’s better than ever. After a brief baby-related break (sorry about skipping 224.1 and 228.1), Paul and Chris are back to answer your burning questions about quantity surveying, procurement, contracts, and even… sport. In this episode, we cover: 🧠 How to build a standout QS career — including which contract type to master and why🤖 What skills QSs need in an AI-driven world (spoiler: it’s not just tech knowledge)💸 Whether main contractors can mandate portals like P...
In this special episode of Own the Build, Paul is a guest on Ross Griffin's Inventing Construction podcast. The conversation dives deep into Paul’s journey from subcontractor QS to co-founder of C-Link, a software platform built to overhaul procurement and supply chain management in construction. Paul shares raw and honest reflections on why QSs are drowning in admin, how traditional tender processes fail everyone, and what needs to change to give commercial teams the tools and time to lead p...
In the final part of the Contract Clarity Series, Paul is joined once again by the brilliantly practical contract expert Sarah Fox to explore the future of contracting in construction. They dive into the rise of AI, what it means for lawyers and quantity surveyors, and how contracting must evolve in a digitised world. From empowering junior QSs to building smarter scopes of work, the discussion unpacks the risk and opportunity of emerging legal tech — and why simplification, not just automati...
In this episode, titled Subcontracting Simplified, Paul and Sarah Fox go deep into what’s really broken in subcontracting — and what can be done to fix it. From clause-dumping and risk overload to overlooked meeting minutes and unreadable contracts, this is a frank conversation about the challenges subcontractors face and the behaviours that hold the industry back. We discuss: ❌ Why many subcontractors are set up to fail before they’re even on site🧾 The madness of passing down entire main con...
In this reflective episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined by Chris Barber to dive deep into the early mistakes they made as young Quantity Surveyors — and what they’ve learned from them since. If you’ve ever sat in a final account meeting feeling underprepared, avoided a difficult conversation with a subcontractor, or been caught off guard by a variation — you are not alone. 🎯 In this episode, Paul and Chris discuss: The pressure of being thrown into the deep end as a trainee QSWhy their fi...
The Contract Clarity Series with Sarah Fox (Part 2) In this second instalment of the Contract Clarity Series, Paul is once again joined by construction’s contract queen, Sarah Fox — contract strategist, author, and keynote speaker — to explore a topic every subcontractor, QS, and contractor needs to understand: liability. Sarah breaks down the risks contractors are exposed to, explains how liquidated damages (LDs) really work, and pulls back the curtain on indemnity clauses – which she calls ...
In the first instalment of our 4-part Contract Clarity Series with Sarah Fox — contract strategist, speaker, and author of Small Works Contracts in Just 500 Words — Paul dives into one of the trickiest, most nerve-racking topics in construction: contract termination. Termination often strikes fear into contractors and lawyers alike — but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, Sarah and Paul explore why termination needs to be seen less like a courtroom drama and more like a planned, mutual exit...
In today’s episode, Paul is joined by Langley Sharp, former Head of the Centre for Army Leadership at Sandhurst, Commanding Officer of the Parachute Regiment, and now MD of Frontier Leadership. With over 20 years’ experience leading teams in the British Army—including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan—Langley brings a rare and proven insight into how leadership really works under pressure. He’s also the author of the bestselling book The Habit of Excellence and today, he’s helping construction te...
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