Send us a text How do you design buildings where safety, sustainability, and education all come together? In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans talks with Kevin Higgs, Development Director at Happy Days Nurseries, about creating early-years environments that prioritise safety, learning, and sustainability. After a career in property and retail development—including nearly a decade at Tesco—Kevin joined Happy Days Nurseries to help shape spaces that support both...
Send us a text How do we keep moving forward in an uncertain world? And what does true leadership look like in sustainability and construction? In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Andy Hay, Managing Director at Hollis, about leadership, adaptability, and thriving through change. From starting his career at Adidas to leading one of the UK’s most respected real-estate consultancies, Andy shares powerful lessons on agency, mindset, and the courage to ...
Send us a text How can AI, emotional intelligence, and better communication transform the future of construction? In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans sits down with Bryony Coombs, civil engineer and Director at ALICE Technologies, to explore how innovation, inclusion, and risk-taking are shaping the next generation of the built environment. Bryony shares her journey from graduating as a civil engineer to becoming a leader in construction technology. She refle...
Send us a text How do we retrofit homes to be sustainable, affordable, and truly comfortable for the people living in them? In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Mark Allen, Head of Technical Services at Fortem, about the challenges and opportunities in retrofitting social housing and delivering on the UK’s net zero commitments. With decades of experience in retrofit, asset management, and technical strategy, Mark explores how to move beyond complia...
Send us a text Can we truly create homes with no energy bills while tackling climate change at scale? In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans speaks with Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy, about her journey from rural surveyor to national leader in sustainable housing. Emma shares the bold innovations behind Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills homes, reflects on her pioneering work building one of the UK’s first rural district heat networks, and explains ...
Send us a text How do we make the energy transition accessible, affordable, and scalable for millions of homes? In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Mohamed Gaafar, CEO & Founder of Gryd, a company transforming the way new homes access renewable energy. After a career designing large-scale energy and infrastructure projects across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, Mohamed left consultancy to build Gryd—an innovative model that installs solar and ...
Send us a text How can the construction industry balance legal risk, sustainability, and innovation while designing buildings for people? In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans speaks with Barney Soanes-Cundle, Senior Associate at Hollis, to explore how rights of light, ESG, and technological change are reshaping modern development. With nearly 10 years’ experience in Neighborly Matters and a passion for creating better, future-proof buildings, Barney breaks down...
Send us a text Mental health isn’t a weakness, it’s the foundation of strong teams and sustainable careers. In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans speaks with Vee Holt, Mental Health Trainer at St John Ambulance, who brings personal experience and professional expertise to the vital topic of mental health in the workplace. From overcoming their own struggles with anxiety and depression to training hundreds of professionals across industries, Vee shares practical strate...
Send us a text How do you lead teams, embrace technology, and deliver sustainable infrastructure in a rapidly changing world? In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans talks to Nathan Marsh, Chief Digital Officer and a visionary leader in the infrastructure sector. From his early days in elite sport and military service to shaping major infrastructure projects, Nathan shares unique insights into resilient leadership, digital transformation, and purpose-driven careers. Key...
Send us a text Concrete is the backbone of modern construction—but it’s also one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions. In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren Evans speaks with Nia Bell, Programme Manager at the Climate Group and lead of the ConcreteZero initiative. Nia shares how her team is working with global industry leaders to create a market for low and near net zero carbon concrete, driving real-world change in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive indus...
Send us a text From summiting Kilimanjaro to delivering some of the UK’s most complex heritage renovations, Jamie Mills lives by one rule: one step at a time. In this episode, Jamie shares how this mindset applies to business, charity, and sustainability, and why breaking down big goals is the only way to achieve them. You’ll learn: • How endurance challenges prepare you for business setbacks • Why culture matters in high-performance construction teams • How to keep moving...
Send us a text Most developments are built to sell fast, but what happens when you design for the next 500 years instead? Jerry Tate, founder of Tate+Co Architects, reveals why a legacy mindset changes every decision in the design process. In this episode, Jerry unpacks how long-term ownership, regenerative principles, and human-centred design can transform housing, universities, and public spaces. He explains why short-term profit thinking limits sustainable progress and how to build places ...
Send us a text The net-zero future depends on new builds designed from the start for low-carbon energy — not retrofitted later. In this episode, Mark Lufkin maps out the standard for net-zero-ready new builds: smart electric heating, embedded controls, and performance-first energy planning. This is the future of UK homes — and it starts now. You’ll learn: • Why energy usage matters more than low emissions after the build • Key role of heat pumps within an entire energy system • How thermal ...
Send us a text Despite building everything around us, construction remains misunderstood by the public and too many leaders are afraid of the spotlight. In this powerful episode, Leanne Tritton, founder of ING Media and Co-Founder of Don't Waste Buildings, reveals why the built environment struggles to tell its own story and what must change. From the fear of unscripted interviews to the missed power of podcasts, this is a call to arms for confident, human storytelling. We explore: • Why tr...
Send us a text BIM was meant to transform construction. So why did it stall? In this episode, Graham Kelly breaks down the real story behind BIM’s rollout. From poor client understanding to bloated consultancy models, learn what went wrong, what’s still worth salvaging, and how new tools like AI could finally unlock the potential BIM was meant to deliver. We discuss: • Why BIM’s promise didn’t match the outcome • What’s useful about the BIM process today • How international markets are doing...
Send us a text Steel and concrete make up 11% of global emissions, but we’re still designing like that doesn’t matter. Natalie Black shares how her team at Enbee is dramatically cutting embodied carbon through design, detailing, and smarter material choices. This is a clear, honest look at what can be changed now and why the future depends on it. Key topics include: • The real carbon cost of steel and concrete • Why timber matters more than ever • How reuse, not just recycling, transforms c...
Send us a text Governments love talking about new builds. But what if the real climate and housing solution is already standing? In this eye-opening episode, Anne Harper makes the case for upgrading existing homes and why retrofitting is faster, cheaper, and more scalable than building from scratch. With 80% of 2050’s homes already built, this is a wake-up call for investors, housing providers, and policymakers to stop overlooking what’s right in front of them. We break down: • Why upgr...
Send us a text Net zero isn’t just a goal, it’s a system-wide shift. In this episode, Dr. Anastasia Mylona breaks down the science behind net zero buildings and what it really takes to deliver on their promise. From carbon calculations to human behaviour, this conversation uncovers the critical levers engineers must understand to move from theory to practice. Key topics include: • What makes a building truly net zero • Why systems thinking matters more than ever • The ...
Send us a text In this powerful episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by Alexandra Knight, Founder of Stemazing, engineer, and advocate for diversity in STEM, to explore the reality of gender bias in engineering and the urgent need for change. Alex shares her journey from wallflower to purpose-driven leader, and reveals why, even today, many young girls still don’t know engineering is an option for them. Key topics include: • Why only 16% of engineers in the UK are women — and...
Send us a text In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Mats Bredborg, Head of Customer Cluster at Volvo Construction Equipment, to expose a little-known crisis: the massive pollution caused by small diesel excavators in our cities. With over 5,000 machines in London alone contributing the equivalent emissions of 100,000 cars, Mats breaks down how Volvo Group is tackling this challenge head-on with electrification, innovation, and collaboration. Key topics include: • ...