Own The Build

In this episode, Paul is joined by Kate Kennedy, Head of Legal Bids and Contract Transformation at Laing O’Rourke, to explore a bold idea: what if construction contracts were actually easy to understand?
Kate is leading an industry-first initiative to rethink how construction contracts are written, used and negotiated — starting with a simple premise: most people working on projects don’t understand the contracts they’re expected to deliver. 
Drawing on global research and collaboration with the not-for-profit World Commerce & Contracting, Laing O’Rourke is piloting a simplified subcontract designed to be clearer, shorter and far more practical for the people actually using it on site.
In this conversation, Paul and Kate explore:
why construction contracts have become so complex over the last 40 years;
the surprising statistic that 88% of business users struggle to understand their contracts;
how redesigning contracts with diagrams, timelines and clearer structure can transform how projects operate;
why simplification must come before the bigger challenge of fairer risk allocation; and
how industry-wide collaboration between contractors could finally drive meaningful contract reform.
The goal isn’t just shorter contracts — it’s better outcomes for clients, contractors and supply chains alike.
A fascinating look at how one Tier 1 contractor is attempting to shift the industry towards simpler, more collaborative and outcome-focused contracting.
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📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:
Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success
For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.
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Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link. 
C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.
Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

In this episode, Paul is joined once again by Simon Robinson, former main contractor Managing QS turned founder of Subport, to unpack a question that sits at the heart of construction delivery:
What actually makes a “good” subcontractor — and a “good” main contractor — from a commercial perspective?
Using results from a live poll of 100+ main contractor QSs, Paul and Simon explore the four traits most valued in subcontractors — including timely applications, real-time variation submissions, and the surprise winner: strong records and audit trail.
The discussion then flips perspective.
From the subcontractor side, what really matters?
 Clear information at tender stage.
 Fair and timely assessment of variations.
 Cash flow discipline.
 And, above all, communication that doesn’t label professionalism as “being contractual.”
The episode digs into:
why poor variation timing destroys trust;
how “payment on account” can quietly cripple subcontractor cash flow;
the perception gap between managing one project vs managing twenty;
why structured applications dramatically increase payment success; and
how simple planning and empathy can transform commercial relationships.
The conclusion is refreshingly simple:
 Professionalism. Communication. Planning. Empathy.
If both sides understood each other’s pressures just a little better, many of the industry’s recurring disputes would disappear.
A practical, honest conversation for any QS operating on either side of the fence.
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📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:
Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success
For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.
Send us Fan Mail

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link. 
C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.
Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

In this episode, Paul is joined by Davin Dillon, founder of Clearnorth — known in the industry as “the QS people” — to unpack one of the most important career questions in construction:
What does it really take to become a Commercial Director?
Drawing on insights from more than 40 in-depth interviews with Commercial Directors, Davin shares the patterns, pitfalls and turning points that consistently shape the journey from graduate QS to commercial leadership.
The conversation explores three critical phases of the journey:
1️⃣ The Early Years — Accidental Beginnings & the Power of Mentorship
Most Commercial Directors never set out to become QSs. They fell into it. What separated those who progressed was strong mentorship, deliberate development and early exposure to responsibility. The message is clear: don’t drift — take ownership of your career.
2️⃣ The Middle Years — The “Glass Ceiling” Moment
Many technically excellent QSs stall at senior level. Why? Because the next step isn’t about technical competence — it’s about leadership. Delegation, emotional intelligence and developing others become the defining skills. As Davin puts it:
Delegation is the major career unlock.

3️⃣ The Final Step — Readiness, Not Recklessness
Chasing the title too early can damage credibility. Commercial Directorship requires strategic thinking, people leadership and self-awareness. The best leaders didn’t force the move — they built capability until someone else saw they were ready.
The episode also covers:
why curiosity consistently stands out in future leaders;
what Commercial Directors really look for in interviews;
the difference between managing projects and leading teams;
how to know when you’re genuinely ready for the step up; and
why honesty, humility and cultural fit often matter more than technical brilliance.
If you’re a QS aiming for the top seat — or a Commercial Director developing the next generation — this is a grounded, experience-led conversation on building a credible, resilient leadership career in construction. You can find the ClearNorth Road to Commercial Director eBook here.
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📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:
Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success
For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.
Send us Fan Mail

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link. 
C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.
Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

Question Time is back for 2026! 🎉
In this episode, Paul is joined once again by regular co-host Chris Barber for a lively and candid discussion driven entirely by listener questions. Together, they cover a broad range of topics—from fantasy fixes for the construction industry, to spotting the next generation of commercial leaders, and the fine line between being “commercially astute” and just plain difficult.
Expect strong opinions, industry war stories, and the usual dose of friendly disagreement.
🧠 Topics Discussed:
If you had a government mandate, how would you fix construction?
Are we being held back by planning delays and building safety bottlenecks?
The role of project bank accounts and retention reform in creating a fairer supply chain.
How to spot future leaders in your commercial team — and how to retain them.
The hidden career value of being on-site early in your QS career.
What makes a QS commercially difficult versus commercially sharp?
Industry phrases we’d happily never hear again (yes, “progressing well” made the list…).
📣 Listener shoutouts include:
James (Commercial Manager)
Darren (Surveying Director)
Alexandra (Commercial Lead)
Alan (Senior QS)
💬 Got a question for the next Question Time? Email Paul directly at [email protected]
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📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:
Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success
For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.
Send us Fan Mail

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link. 
C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.
Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

In the second episode of the Own the Build Leadership Series, Paul is joined by Chris Hartley, former Commercial Director at McLaren Construction, a £1bn+ main contractor, and now a business change consultant and quantum expert.
Chris shares a deeply reflective account of his journey from early career QS to leading commercial teams of more than 50 people — and what that experience taught him about trust, detail, leadership and decision-making at scale.
Rather than a linear career story, this conversation focuses on the realities of commercial leadership: earning trust through technical credibility, knowing when to empower people to make mistakes, and why the best Commercial Directors never lose touch with the fundamentals of construction.
The discussion explores:
why mastery of detail is the foundation of commercial authority;
the transition from “doing” to leading — and why people skills become decisive;
building high-performing commercial teams in large, complex organisations;
how trust is given, earned and sometimes rebalanced;
the role of information quality in better commercial decisions;
freeing up QS time from administration to focus on commercial judgement; and
what world-class commercial leadership looks like in 2026 and beyond.
Chris also reflects on succession planning, developing future leaders, and why rushing progression without grounding ultimately limits long-term impact.
This episode is a thoughtful, experience-led perspective on Commercial Directorship — essential listening for QSs with leadership ambitions and senior commercial professionals looking to sense-check what good really looks like at the top.
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📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:
Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success
Send us Fan Mail

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link. 
C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.
Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.