Build Up from the Basement

How can the construction industry attract more people, develop new skills and give small building firms the workforce they need? In this episode of Build Up From the Basement, Iona Stewart-Richardson is joined by Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, to discuss apprenticeships, the skills shortage and the barriers facing smaller builders.

From making apprenticeships easier for SMEs to access, to improving retention and bringing more people from underrepresented groups into construction, Steve shares his experience of working in the industry and in politics. The conversation also explores how better local skills planning could support housing delivery and major infrastructure projects.

• Why construction needs to attract a more diverse workforce
• What makes it difficult for small firms to take on and retain apprentices
• How cutting bureaucracy could make workforce development easier for SMEs
• Why local skills planning matters for housing and infrastructure delivery

Iona Stewart-Richardson

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

Find out more about the issues discussed in this episode: Construction apprenticeships: how SME builders can build the skilled workforce they need | FMB, Federation of Master Builders

How can the UK build more homes while creating the conditions for SME builders to grow? In this episode of Build Up From the Basement, Iona Stewart-Richardson is joined by Baroness Rachel Maclean to discuss planning reform, housing policy and the challenges facing smaller building firms.

Drawing on her experience in government, Rachel explores the policies affecting builders and housebuilding, from planning and housing targets to skills, apprenticeships and licensing. The conversation looks at what needs to change to support SME builders and increase housing delivery.

• What planning reform could mean for SME builders and housing delivery
• Why economic confidence and business conditions matter for housebuilding
• How skills, apprenticeships and licensing fit into the wider policy debate
• What government can do to create better conditions for smaller building firms

Iona Stewart-Richardson

Baroness Rachel Maclean

Find out more about the issues discussed in this episode: Planning reform: how to unlock more homes and support SME builders | FMB, Federation of Master Builders

What happens when rogue builders damage consumer confidence and leave homeowners with nowhere to turn? In this episode of Build Up From the Basement, Iona Stewart-Richardson is joined by Tom Gordon MP to explore why licensing is back on the political agenda and what meaningful reform could look like.

From rogue builders and spray foam insulation to skills shortages, local planning and the future of SME house builders, this conversation looks at the policy decisions shaping construction today. Whether you work in the industry or influence housing policy, you'll hear practical insights into the challenges facing builders, consumers and government.

• Why many argue the current system fails homeowners when building work goes wrong
• How a licensing scheme could work without creating unnecessary barriers for builders
• Why supporting SME builders is essential to delivering new homes and local growth
• How skills shortages, planning and regulation are shaping the future of construction

Host: Iona Stewart-Richardson

Tom Gordon MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough

Find out more about the issues discussed in this episode: [Insert link here]

Planning reform is high on the political agenda, but what does it mean for SME builders? In this episode of Build Up from the Basement, Iona speaks to Gideon Amos MP about the barriers holding small builders back, from slow planning decisions to skills shortages and access to land.

Together, they explore practical ideas to help smaller building firms deliver more homes, including proposals to simplify planning for small developments, improve apprenticeships and raise standards across the industry. If you want to understand how policy decisions could affect your business, this episode is worth a listen.

• Why planning reform matters for SME builders
• How simplifying planning could unlock more small-scale housing
• What changes could help tackle the construction skills shortage
• Why builder licensing is back in the political conversation

Iona Stewart Richardson

Gideon Amos MP, Liberal Democrat housing and communities spokesperson and MP for Taunton and Wellington

Read more and watch the full episode on the FMB website: https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/planning-reform-for-small-builders-how-to-build-more-homes-with-less-delay.html

SME house builders: planning reform, skills and growth in UK construction. Sarah Edwards MP and the FMB explore how planning delays, skills shortages and rogue builders are affecting SME construction businesses and what needs to change.

In this episode of Build Up From the Basement, we’re joined by Sarah Edwards MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for SME Housebuilders and MP for Tamworth.

We discuss why SME house builders are critical to solving the housing crisis, the barriers stopping them from growing, and what Government, industry and educators need to do to unlock more homes and support the next generation of construction professionals.

Housing policy and small builders: Sir James Cleverly MP explains what needs to change. The FMB explores how tax, planning and employment costs could affect SME builders' growth, recruitment and future opportunities.

In this episode of Build Up From The Basement, we sit down with the Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to discuss the policies shaping the future of the built environment.

From stamp duty reform and housing targets to apprenticeships, planning and the pressures facing small and medium-sized (SME) building firms, this conversation explores what politicians can do to help the businesses that keep Britain building.

In this episode of Build Up: From the Basement, Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice joins FMB CEO Brian Berry and host Iona Stewart-Richardson to discuss the future of UK housebuilding and small construction businesses. Tice shares his backing for the FMB’s Licence to Build campaign, his concerns about missed housing targets, and why he believes smart, simple regulation is key to tackling rogue builders. The conversation covers everything from energy costs and net zero challenges to apprenticeships, tax incentives, and unlocking brownfield sites. If you care about housing policy, small builders, and the big ideas shaping construction, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

What does it really take to hit the UK’s ambitious housing targets, and why does design matter just as much as quantity? In this episode of Build Up: From the Basement, Iona sits down with Kit Malthouse MP, former Housing Minister, to explore the big lessons from his time in government and his candid predictions for the future of construction. From the challenges of meeting the 300,000 homes target to the practical constraints of bricks, skills, and planning, Kit shares what he learned about turning policy into real homes and why his mantra was “more, better, faster.”

The conversation also dives into the “conspiracy of crap” in housing design, the vital role of small builders, and how to make construction an aspirational career for the next generation. Kit offers his views on apprenticeships, progression, and whether licensing builders would help or hinder the industry – with stories from his time in Government, and his own experience hiring builders. Packed with insights and straight-talking advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about housing, design, and the future of UK construction.

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Reader MP for Northampton South - a former civil engineer turned Construction Champion for the UK Government - to explore the future of UK construction, infrastructure, and housing policy. With nearly 20 years in the industry at firms like Mace and Pick Everard, Mike brings real-world insight into the challenges and opportunities shaping the built environment today.

We talk about:

UK government housebuilding targets and why they’re so hard to hit

How SMEs and builders can stay resilient amid regulations and market shifts

The debate on mandatory builder licensing and raising construction standards

Mike’s priorities as Chair of the APPG on Infrastructure

Why skills, training, and apprenticeships are vital for the next generation

If you’re passionate about UK housing policy, infrastructure investment, construction careers, or the future of building standards, this is a must-watch!

Recognising our best and brightest young builders, solving the housing crisis, and professionalising the construction industry are all on the agenda as MP for South Holland and the Deepings, and former Government Minister, Sir John Hayes joins us in the basement. We also take a dive into the question, "Why was Jesus a carpenter, and what does it tell us?", and Sir John makes a "very very very good point". Check out the full interview now