Construction Disrupted Episode 124 - Constructions Guilty Pleasure (15.07.26) in partnership with Adobe Acrobat Studio. Check them out and show them some love.

In this episode, we're discussing calls for stronger safety reforms, the use of robotics on building sites, and what’s really playing in the vans of Britain’s tradespeople. Let's go!

Hackitt-led group calls for ‘firmer approach’ to industry

A recent report from the Industry Safety Steering Group, chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt, highlights that the construction sector has not changed enough in response to post-Grenfell safety recommendations.

While some industry bodies have engaged with government and regulators, the group is concerned that many companies have not acknowledged underlying problems or taken ownership for meaningful change. The report stresses the need for the industry to work together to create a future focused on high building safety standards. It criticises clients for prioritising cost over quality and perpetuating mistrust through practices like retentions, which undermine safety and quality.

The group urges the government to lead by example in procurement and contracting, and to accelerate overdue reforms in construction product testing and regulation, emphasising that both incentives and sanctions are needed to drive real progress.

Annual Report February 2026: the construction industry.

McLaren employs robot army for site quality checks

McLaren Construction has partnered with FieldAI to introduce autonomous quadruped robots to its UK sites. These robots are being used to capture 360-degree site imagery and generate data that supports safety compliance and quality assurance.

The robots conduct regular automated scans, creating a detailed visual and spatial record of ongoing work. AI-driven analysis compares this data against design models, allowing for quicker identification of quality issues. Unlike previous generations of robots, these machines can navigate complex, changing environments without relying on pre-mapped routes, adapting as the site evolves.

This deployment marks a significant step in McLaren’s five-year digital transformation strategy, with plans to expand the robots’ roles from monitoring to logistics and multi-robot coordination, all while working alongside human teams to enhance productivity, safety, and quality.

Radio still dominates van listening – and today’s tradies are Swifties

According to new research from InstallerSHOW, traditional radio remains the top choice for UK tradespeople while driving or working, with nearly three-quarters preferring it over other audio options.

Only a small percentage regularly listen to podcasts, while personal playlists are the second most popular choice. When it comes to music tastes, nostalgic acts like Oasis, Queen, Taylor Swift, and ABBA are the most common “guilty pleasures,” though some newer artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Coldplay also make the list.

The findings suggest that, despite the rise of podcasts in the wider market, radio still holds a strong place in the daily routines of tradespeople. The InstallerSHOW 2026 and National Heat Pump Week are also highlighted as key upcoming events for the sector.

Bios

Ryan Jones - SLG Agency

For almost 20 years, Ryan’s focus has been on helping brands in the construction and manufacturing sectors tell their story.

His career began in PR, working for global businesses across a variety of sectors, before opting to focus on construction and the built environment.

In his role as Managing Director, Ryan works to ensure that SLG Agency continues to be one of the construction industry's leading specialist strategic and creative agencies, having seen its work recognised by the likes of Campaign, Marketing Week and The Drum in recent years.

Ryan is regularly asked to speak at trade shows and events, and to contribute thought leadership pieces to trade media. He is also a member of several industry advisory boards, including Constructing Excellence and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

His passion for the construction sector has seen him work with clients on CSR campaigns that tackle the sector’s public perception, culminating in him recently launching a not-for-profit called Deconstruction.

Peter Sumpton - buildDifferent

Peter is a construction–marketing strategist and co-host of Construction Disrupted. With two decades’ experience spanning manufacturers, contractors and agencies, he helps organisations swap scattergun activity for clear strategy, joined-up planning and measurable outcomes.

His approach is practical and plain-spoken: cut the noise, focus on what moves the numbers, and build repeatable systems that teams can actually use.

Having seen first-hand how unfocused tactics waste time and budget, Peter works with leaders to align commercial goals, customer insight and content so marketing supports delivery rather than distracting from it.

Peter's passion lies in diagnosing organisations' marketing functions' capabilities and existing market, assembling what’s required to create a functional strategy, fit for purpose and scalable.

Marketing should create value, not just cost, and Peter’s work is about making that the norm.