Construction Talk

In Episode 21 of Construction Talk, Peter has a conversation with Tanya Morris, Business Development Director at Causeway Technologies. They delve into Causeway's recent acquisition of Reference Point.

Throughout the episode, it becomes evident that Reference Point has made a significant impact, with 3.5 million people utilising their solutions. The episode also underscores their noteworthy collaborations with industry giants like Network Rail, National Highways, and Kier.

Moreover, Reference Point's systems facilitate targeted communication within the supply chain and incorporate virtual smart cards for immediate updates and sustainability. Tanya provides valuable insights into how these innovations are reshaping the construction sector in this episode.

In Episode 20 of Construction Talk Peter sits down with  Paul Devlin, the dynamic Chief Operating Officer at Causeway. Paul, with over 30 years in software and tech, sheds light on the industry's evolution, from its traditional roots to embracing disruptive technologies.

Paul's journey takes a remarkable twist as he shares how he departed from the construction industry three decades ago, after working as a plumber and heat engineer, to embrace the world of software. This unique perspective fuels his passion for blending these worlds and driving Causeway towards a tech-infused future. As the interview unfolds, Paul unveils the challenges of digitisation in a field where each construction site is uniquely complex. He delves into the pivotal role of collaboration and the unexpected catalyst of COVID-19 in driving technology adoption.

Paul's breakdown of digital transformation levels, from redefining business models to on-site tech integration, paints a vivid picture of the sector's future. Witness Paul's vision for a data-driven construction landscape, where actionable insights pave the way for success. With a call to adopt a software mindset, he envisions a future where data, processes, and decisions intersect to shape industry leaders. Tune in to gain exclusive insights into Causeway's transformative journey under Paul Devlin's expert guidance and explore how the marriage of construction and technology is shaping a new era.

In Episode 19 of Construction Talk Peter sits down with Kirsty Connell-Skinner, Sustainable Construction Partnership Manager at Edinburgh Napier University and Project Manager for the Housing Construction Infrastructure Skills Gateway (HCI).

Kirsty shares her journey from politics to her current role, where she found her passion for sustainable construction. They discuss HCI, a £6 million program aiming to develop a skilled workforce for the construction industry, with a focus on sustainable practices using timber.

The conversation centres on HCI's efforts to promote inclusivity and early skills development to inspire young learners about construction as a creative career path. 

Kirsty emphasises the importance of upskilling in the industry to adapt to sustainability and discusses the challenges faced by experienced workers without necessary accreditations. They also touch on advancing diversity and inclusion through support initiatives.

The episode concludes with a discussion on making the construction industry more attractive to talent by embracing digital construction and automation while addressing challenges faced by small businesses.

In episode #18 of Construction Talk, Peter interviews Barry Trebes, the director of Trebes Consultancy Limited. Barry and Peter delve into the world of NEC contracts.

Barry, who began his career as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in 1983, shares his valuable insights on how NEC contracts contribute to improved project delivery.

During the interview, Peter and Barry also discuss the prevalent challenges in the construction industry, including the shortage of skilled workers and the necessity of embracing technology.

In episode #16 of Construction Talk, Asset Management Director at National Highways, Lila Tachtsi, shares insights from her 25+ years of experience in the road sector. Lila provides Peter with a fascinating look at National Highways' role in enabling more than 4 million journeys daily and delves into National Highways' innovative approach to data and technology.

Lila also explains how the organisation utilises technology to gain a deeper understanding of its assets, making it a trailblazer in this area. Tune in to episode #16 of Construction Talk to learn more from Lila's wealth of knowledge in the field.

In Episode #14 of Construction Talk, we are celebrating International Woman’s Day 2023! This year's theme, #EmbraceEquity, highlights the difference between equity and equality. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, equity is the means to achieve equality, which is the end goal.

For this very special podcast, we are joined by Claire Hendrick and Katy Robinson, who are both accomplished professionals, dedicated to promoting equality and diversity in their workplaces.

Claire, an IT Project Manager at SISK Group, and is responsible for delivering projects across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. She has a successful track record in her field and is passionate about promoting careers in technology to young women.

Katy, Regional Co-Chair at the National Association of Women in Construction, is a multiple award-winning Project Manager from East Yorkshire with experience in Quantity Surveying and Construction Project Management.

Both are excellent role models for women in the construction industry and we are delighted to have them on this episode.

In Episode #14 of Construction Talk, Marcus Bennett, who is the Head of Analysis & Forecasting (Future Skills) at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), chats to us about the recently released Construction Skills Network (CSN) report – which provides valuable insights into the UK construction economy and its future labour requirements.

Marcus and Peter explore the construction industry's prospects for the next five years, including the challenges it faces in terms of skills and employment, as well as the Apprenticeship Task Force, digitalisation, and diversity!

In honour of this year’s theme ‘Skills for Life,’ Construction Talk host Peter Haddock chats to Second-year apprentice joiner, Chloe Bidwell, and Antonia Morgan, who has recently traded her career in nursing for an apprenticeship in carpentry!

In episode #12 Trevor and Bill speak honestly about removing the stigma of mental health from on-site and give information on how Lighthouse Club can support construction workers and their families.

In episode #11 of Construction Talk, Nick Smee, CEO of Yotta, explores how people and technology can work through the digitalisation journey together. Nick also chats to Peter about Yotta’s data discovery, evolution, and it’s a the company’s exciting next chapter with Causeway.

In episode #10 of Construction Talk Alex Turner, Group BIM Manager at Oktra, talks about his role at the UK’s leading office design & build company, and how the company is using technology in design and construction, to supply its customers with the right digital information. With over 20 years of technical experience, Alex also highlights the importance of investing in the right technologies for your business and how learning from mistakes can be your richest data stream.

In episode #9 of Construction talk Andrew Moulds, Head of Advisory (Digital Ventures) at Mott MacDonald, talks about his role at Mott McDonald and how the company is supporting infrastructure owners to liberate their employees with digital transformation and effective data management. Andrew also discusses the importance of understanding digital maturity, and Mott MacDonald’s commitment to improve and leave a positive legacy in the communities the business works in through social value.

Episode #8 of Construction Talk was recorded live on the Main Stage of Digital Construction Week 2022 with Nathan, who talked about how “invisible helpers” – the technology you don’t see or hear about – are making a real difference to construction companies today. Listen back to the recording to hear how these “invisible helpers” are enabling the construction industry to leverage the power of digital to work towards increased productivity, carbon neutrality and profitability.

In episode #7 of Construction Talk, Chris talks about his role as Partnerships Manager at Digital Construction Skills – a CITB funded programme to support contractors in Scotland. Chris talks about the work Digital Construction Skills do to educate construction SMEs (companies with a turnover of less than £50m) about the digital tools available to them.

In episode #6 of Construction Talk, Annette talks about her role of Head of Innovation at National Highways and how the business is at the forefront of construction technology.

Annette discusses the innovation priorities for the business - spanning a range of topics from Net Zero and intelligent machine control right the way through to connected and autonomous plant.

In episode #5 of Construction Talk, Nathan talks about the perfect storm of society embracing technology and the tech itself getting increasingly capable. Nathan gives fascinating insights on construction data security, strategies and getting data right while covering a range of subjects that you will want to hear about.

In episode #4 of Construction Talk, Debby and Becci talk about International Women’s Day and advise women who want to start working in construction tech. Later in the podcast, they talk about exciting new tech changes and helping construction embrace technology.

In episode #3 of Construction Talk, Matthew and Peter talk about how technology can generate and harvest lots of data. By aligning systems and centralising data, The Bennie Group has created data-led strategies that save huge amounts of time and money.

In episode #2 of Construction Talk, Nicola and Peter talk about going “beyond the imaginable” to show that construction is an aspirational place to learn and work. Nicola just opened the UK’s first industry-led education centre - AccXel - a £3m facility established to address construction's severe skills shortage.

In episode #1 of Construction Talk, Alasdair and Peter talk about how our industry came together to tackle the skills shortage. We overcame the COVID fallout better than most sectors and there is a real belief that we can do the same now – especially with the CLC Skills Plan to guide us.