Today, Paul’s guest is Dave Stitt, a Chartered Civil Engineer, Fellow of the CIOB, and one of the UK’s most respected leadership coaches in construction. With nearly five decades in the industry, Dave has worked with some of the country’s biggest firms, leading transformation programmes and coaching leadership teams at the highest level.

In this episode, we talk about:

🎯 Leadership training in construction – Why we don’t do it well, and how that’s holding teams (and margins) back.

📈 How to build high-performing teams – Dave breaks down his 90-day team process and shares lessons from his time at Wates and Taylor Woodrow.

🧠 Advanced Influencing Skills for Leaders – Why “character and backbone” matter more than technical skill when it comes to real leadership.

⏳ The secret to time management? Delegation. Dave unpacks his 'Delegate4Results' method and explains why most construction managers get delegation wrong.

⚠️ Fixing dysfunctional project leadership – “The fish rots from the head down.” Dave explains how poor leadership habits at the top ripple through entire project teams.

Whether you’re a QS, PM, or Commercial Director, this one is packed with practical ideas on becoming a better leader and getting the best out of your team.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

📩 If you'd like to read the two Own the Build eBooks based on 200+ episodes — Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying and The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying — head to the show notes to download your free copy.

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Today, Paul’s guest is Dan Bradley, Managing Director at BPM Project Management in New Zealand and Founding Director at ConTech Solutions, a business focused on streamlining construction through digital transformation across Australia and New Zealand.

In this episode, Paul and Dan explore a bold and under-discussed topic in construction: mental toughness—what it means, how to develop it, and why it’s one of the most important skills for professionals navigating high-stakes contracts, disputes, and leadership challenges.

Dan shares his unique philosophy on mental toughness vs. mental health, blending stoic thinking with real-world leadership strategies. He explains how mastering your mindset can help you face hard conversations, handle stress, and come out on top in difficult commercial negotiations.

We also dive into how digital tools can play a surprising role in improving wellbeing across construction teams—by reducing friction in contract management, streamlining payments, and transforming how businesses collaborate.

🧠 If you’ve ever faced a brutal email, an impossible deadline, or a hostile final account meeting, this episode is packed with tools to help you build strength from the inside out.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

In our latest listener-driven Question Time episode, Paul Heming and Chris Barber dive into your pressing Quantity Surveying and construction challenges. From late payments to navigating design disputes, this episode is packed with actionable advice for industry professionals.

📅 Reminder: We’ll be hosting this Q&A episode once a month – send your questions to [email protected] to have them featured!

In this episode, we discuss:

🧱 Developer-side moves – Is jumping from Main Contractor/Subbie to a Developer a smart career move for a QS? We share our take — and stories of QSs we know who’ve made the move.

😬 Mistakes we’ve made – A listener calls us out for answering as if the world is perfect. Fair enough. So, we share some honest regrets, including “Charm School” moments and squeezing the supply chain too hard.

📐 CDP Curveball – Director Kevin Anns throws us a contract scenario involving JCT, CDP and a named specialist. We break down how we’d approach it commercially.

💬 What does a QS actually do? – A great question from Aleko. We share our two-line “QS pitch” for dinner parties (and yes, mugs may be coming for top questions 👀).

📊 Building fair rates – Samuel asks how to create fair rates in a BOQ that protect the client and respect the contractor. A brilliant balance we unpack with tips.

🏗️ Construction’s PR problem – Finally, we take on a big one: does domestic construction’s messy image hurt recruitment? We explore the difference between domestic vs. commercial, and how we’d fix the industry’s branding issues.

📩 If you'd like to read the two Own the Build eBooks based on 200+ episodes — Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying and The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying — head to the show notes to download your free copy.

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send your Questions

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Today, Paul is joined for the third time by Ray Mellor-Pike, a QS and Managing Director at RMP Consulting. Last time, Ray shared how FBI hostage negotiation tactics inform his approach to final account meetings. This time, he returns with another big idea: The Project Manager is the head of the project, but the Quantity Surveyor is the neck.

Together, Paul and Ray break down the real influence of a great QS — not just as a cost controller, but as the immune system of the project, constantly scanning for risk, protecting margin, and steering the team away from trouble.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the best QSs are proactive, forward-thinking, and commercially strategic.
  
  
• How to influence decisions and avoid margin erosion before problems grow.
  
  
• Communication tactics to build trust, manage egos, and avoid friction on site.
  
  
• What it means to be an interdepartmental glue on a project — and why it matters.
  
  
• How small decisions and subtle influence can win final account battles.
  
  

Ray also shares a personal story about the first mistake that changed his whole approach to risk, and how he now positions himself as a commercial leader in final account negotiations.

📩 If you'd like to read the two Own the Build eBooks based on 200+ episodes — Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying and The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying — head to the show notes to download your free copy.

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send your Questions

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Today, Paul’s guest is Jamie Mills, Managing Director at Signature Build, to explore the often overlooked but crucial human side of contract management in construction.

With a career that began in IT before transitioning into infrastructure project management and construction leadership, Jamie brings a unique perspective on how emotional intelligence, relationship management, and communication shape successful outcomes—both contractually and commercially.

🔹 The Reality of Goodwill in Construction: Jamie discusses the "bank of goodwill" myth and why assuming favours will be returned can be risky in contractual relationships.

🔹 Balancing Relationships and Contracts: How to strike the right balance between being contractually correct and maintaining positive, long-term client relationships.

🔹 Red Flags and Emotional Intelligence: Jamie explains how recognising early warning signs, managing stress, and adapting communication styles can defuse conflicts before they escalate.

🔹 Practical Strategies: From setting expectations early to managing final accounts with empathy, Jamie shares actionable tactics to help contractors, QSs, and PMs build trust and safeguard their businesses.

🔹 Post-Project Relationships: Jamie reflects on the importance of maintaining reputation and relationships long after the final payment is made.

🎙️ Don’t miss this insightful conversation that blends practical experience with emotional intelligence—essential listening for anyone working with clients, contracts, and construction teams.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Today, Paul’s guest is Frans Taljaard, FIDIC Contracts Manager at Gleeds in Lisbon and founder of Clause 20, a consultancy focused on FIDIC training and contract management. Frans has extensive experience managing FIDIC contracts across Europe and the Middle East, supporting contractors in claims, payments, and disputes.

🔹 Understanding FIDIC Contracts: Learn where FIDIC is most commonly used and how it differs from JCT & NEC contracts.

🔹 Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Discover the biggest mistakes contractors make under FIDIC and how to protect your interests in tender negotiations.

🔹 Managing Claims & Payments: Get expert advice on handling claims, variations, and payment mechanisms under FIDIC.

🔹 Dispute Resolution in FIDIC: Explore how the Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Board (DAAB) works compared to UK adjudication.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Practical Completion (PC) is one of the most critical and contentious milestones in any construction project. But what happens when a client refuses to grant it? In this episode, Bill Barton, Director at Barton Legal, joins Paul to discuss real-world disputes over PC and how contractors can protect themselves.

🔹 Understanding Practical Completion: How is PC defined, and why does ambiguity create major issues?

🔹 When Clients Withhold PC: What are the commercial and legal implications for contractors?

🔹 The Opposite Problem – Partial Possession: What happens when a client wants to occupy a building early, but the contract doesn’t allow it?

🔹 Strategies for Contractors: Key contract negotiation tactics, documentation best practices, and lessons from case law to avoid PC disputes.

🎙️ Don’t miss this expert discussion on navigating one of construction’s most frustrating challenges.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

🎙️ Welcome to Episode 212.1 of Own the Build — our fourth Question Time Special, where Paul and Chris answer listener-submitted questions on commercial, contractual, and career-related issues in the construction industry.

These episodes drop once a month on a Thursday — and as ever, if you've got a question, email [email protected] or message Paul on LinkedIn and it could feature in the next one.

In this month’s Q&A, Paul tackles these brilliant listener questions, including real-world dilemmas and technical challenges faced by Quantity Surveyors and construction professionals:

🧠 1. Subcontracting Pressure & Risky Contracts:
What should small subcontractors do when they’re pressured to sign unfair contracts with no room for negotiation?

💼 2. How to Earn More as a QS:
One QS asks whether getting chartered, shifting sectors, or building pre-contract experience is the right way forward. Paul gives honest, strategic advice.

🔀 3. Struggling to Find Your QS Path – Contract or Cost?
If you lean more toward contract management and less toward number crunching, which route is right for you? Consultancy vs Contractor explored.

🧱 4. Scope Gaps and Interface Risks:
What are the common scope gaps in trades like brickwork, plastering, and architectural features? And how do you avoid getting caught out?

📐 5. Design Comments vs Design Change – Where’s the Line?
We break down Schedule 1, Clause 2 of JCT D&B — and explain how to respond when architects request design changes that aren’t really contractually justified.

🔥 Whether you're new to QS or 20 years deep, this is a value-packed episode full of practical insights you can use straight away.

📩 Want your question answered next month? Email [email protected] or message on LinkedIn!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

🎙️ Today’s guest is Chris Barber, a returning favourite on the show and someone who needs no introduction for many of our listeners. Chris is a former top-level QS with a sharp eye for practical improvements in construction project delivery and contract management.

Contract Audits Made Simple:
Paul and Chris dive into a tool that’s been quietly circulating among the Own the Build community—Paul’s Contract Audit Document. Designed to distil a 1,000-page contract into 3–4 actionable pages, this episode is all about how to make contract documents accessible and usable for your entire team.

Key Talking Points:

• The Power of the Contract Audit: Learn how simplifying your contract into a 3-page operational guide could prevent major site-level issues.
• Real-World Lessons: Chris and Paul share stories from major projects like Battersea and Putney, reflecting on the cost of poor contract understanding.
• Boosting Commercial Awareness: How to build commercially-minded site teams and embed contract knowledge across your project team.
• EOTs, Payments & Scope: Deep-dive into the most common causes of contractual disputes—and how to get them right from day one.

💡 Whether you’re a QS, PM, or delivery manager, this episode gives you practical tactics to upskill your team and avoid costly contract pitfalls.

📩 Want the free Contract Audit Document? Email [email protected] or message him on LinkedIn and he’ll send it over!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Today, Paul’s guest is David Moreland, a Chartered Civil Engineer, Accredited NEC Project Manager, and Expert Consulting Engineer at MoreConsult Limited. David specialises in project planning, delay analysis, and expert witness work, helping construction professionals navigate complex claims and project delivery challenges.

🔹 Project Planning Fundamentals: Learn the critical elements of a successful project program and why getting the basics right can prevent costly delays.

🔹 Understanding the Critical Path & Delay Analysis: Discover how to properly establish the critical path and when to use retrospective vs. time impact analysis.

🔹 Prolongation Costs & EOT Claims: Gain expert insights into calculating prolongation costs, preparing strong Extension of Time (EOT) claims, and avoiding common pitfalls.

🔹 The Planner-QS Relationship: Explore why collaboration between planners and QSs is key to successfully quantifying and defending delay claims.

📩 Have a question for Paul? Email [email protected] to have it answered in an upcoming episode!

🎁 Exclusive Giveaway: Download your free eBooks:

• Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying
• The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

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.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Main Contractors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.