Around the Table: A podcast by Building Relations

In this special two-part episode of Around the Table, we explore changing attitudes towards apprenticeships following new Barratt Redrow research.

Apprentices Samrawit Tesheme and Rushane Williams share their experiences, before William Walsh of Barratt David Wilson Kent and Andy George of the Home Builders Federation discuss careers advice, progression and the future skills needs of housebuilding.

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In this episode of Around the Table, Rachel Colgan is joined by Andrew Link of Property Sports Network, adventurer and mental resilience speaker Alex Staniforth, and Caroline Richardson of Vistry to explore mental health, leadership and staying active in the built environment.

Together, they discuss why resilience is not just about pushing through pressure, but about creating healthier workplaces, stronger teams and better communities. From active networking and leadership culture to social value, placemaking and access to green space, this is a conversation about how the property sector can better support wellbeing while improving performance and retention.

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Zero Bills homes are moving from headline to delivery reality, but what does it actually take to make them work?

In this episode of Around the Table, Rachel Colgan is joined by Hannah McCarthy (Octopus Energy), Leon Beale (Thakeham) and Oliver Luard (Greencore Homes) to unpack how Zero Bills living works in practice - from solar, heat pumps and batteries through to fair use allowances, commissioning and customer handover 

We explore what housebuilders need to get right from the outset, the lessons learned from early adopters, and why performance-led developers are now building Zero Bills into their standard house types 

If the housing sector is serious about decarbonising at pace while offering greater certainty on running costs, this conversation makes one thing clear: joined-up delivery models are fast becoming the direction of travel.

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Britain’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes is under serious threat from a growing skills shortage. In this episode of Around the Table, host Rachel Colgan, of Building Relations PR is joined by William Walsh of Barratt David Wilson Kent and Roger Morton from NHBC to explore how the sector can rebuild its workforce.

Together, they discuss apprenticeships, training hubs, new career pathways, digital skills and the policy interventions needed to attract, train and retain the next generation - turning “build, baby, build” into “skill, baby, skill.”

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The UK Government’s 'New Towns Strategy' sets out the boldest housing ambition in a generation - but can we really build at scale and create great places to live?

In this episode of Around the Table, host Helen Tinlin from Building Relations is joined by:
• Paul Silver, CEO, Dorchester Living(developers behind Heyford Park, recently announced as one of the Government’s new towns)
• Andrew Matthews, Co-founder, Proctor & Matthews Architects
• Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation

Together they explore what it really takes to plan and deliver modern new towns - from design, placemaking and sustainability to funding, political commitment and community trust. Drawing on lessons from Heyford Park and decades of planning history, our guests ask whether new towns can become the generational legacy Britain needs.

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With more architects involved in designing new homes, the results can be better for everyone - from developers to communities. Host Natalie Daniels is joined by Keith Bradley (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) and Simon Vernon-Harcourt (City & Country) to explore how design can shape thriving neighbourhoods, balance local character with innovation, and meet modern expectations around sustainability, wellbeing, and accessibility. 

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Passivhaus is often called the gold standard for low-energy homes - but why has it been slow to take off in London? Host Kathryn Reucroft is joined by Attzaz Rashid (Barratt London), Dr Joel Callow (Beyond Carbon), and Sarah Lewis (UK Passivhaus Trust) to explore the challenges, misconceptions, and opportunities of scaling Passivhaus in the capital, and what Barratt’s landmark rollout could mean for the future of sustainable housing. 

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 Is downsizing the key to solving the UK’s housing crisis? With £2.9 trillion of property wealth tied up in under-occupied homes, host Laura Hellon-Hughes talks to Lucian Cook (Savills) and Steve Bangs (Pegasus Homes) about breaking barriers, reshaping perceptions, and why “rightsizing” could unlock homes and transform later living. 

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 In this powerful and timely episode of Around the Table, we ask not just how many homes the UK should build – but how we build, and how we want to live.

As the government announces a landmark £39bn housing boost, our panel explores the bold ideas behind Human Nature’s new “How Shall We Live” report – a radical yet practical vision to tackle climate breakdown, housing unaffordability, social isolation, and economic fragility, all through how and where we build.

Host Rachel Colgan, Founding Director of Building Relations PR, is joined by:

• Joanna Yarrow - Chief Impact Officer, Human Nature
• Brogan MacDonald - Head of Sustainability, Ramboll UK (Buildings)
• Jon DiStefano - CEO, Greencore Homes

Together, they explore:

• Why we need to move from building units to building communities
• How nature-based materials can remove carbon at scale
• What radical affordability really means – beyond house prices
• The role of place in supporting health, connection, and belonging
• Real delivery models proving that better is not only possible – it’s already happening

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In this insightful episode, we explore the dramatic rise of Single Family Housing (SFH) as one of the UK’s fastest-growing residential sectors – and ask what it means for renters, investors, housebuilders, and communities.

Host Rachel Colgan from Building Relations PR is joined by:

• Piers de Winton (Savills) – lead author of the latest SFH report and a key voice on UK residential investment strategy
• Lottie Outen (Kennedy Wilson) – sharing a global investor’s perspective on the scale, ESG demands, and opportunity ahead
• Simon Pendlebury (Dandara) – offering boots-on-the-ground insight into delivering 200+ purpose-built homes at Linmere

Together, they unpack the trends reshaping the Build-to-Rent landscape and why institutional investors are betting big on houses, not just apartments.

Topics include:

• Why SFH now makes up over 50% of Build-to-Rent investment
• What renters really want – and how housebuilders are adapting
• How institutional capital is driving better ESG standards
• The future of design, delivery, and operational models
• Practical lessons from delivering sustainable homes at scale

A must-listen for developers, investors, planners, or anyone curious about how SFH is redefining suburban renting – and the long-term shape of the UK housing market.

Music credit: Uppbeat 
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Music credit: Uppbeat
 OAKTY4TYK7ENPSSW