!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!!

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This week on Own the Build, Paul is joined by Dave Stitt, a leadership team coach with 25+ years of experience working with boards and senior project teams across the UK construction industry.

In this episode, Paul and Dave deep-dive into a subject that every QS, PM, and Director talks about—but few know how to actively build: Trust.

Together, they unpack:

🔍 Why trust is so often missing in project teams
📉 The cost of lip-service collaboration with subcontractors
📈 How QSs and leaders can actually build trustworthy relationships—on-site, in business, and beyond

Dave also shares a practical tool you can use with your team immediately:
👉 Download the Trustworthy Tracker

And if you want to explore Dave’s wider philosophy on leadership and performance, check out his book:
 👉 Deep and Deliberate Delegation on Amazon

This is a punchy and thoughtful episode—packed with real-world leadership insights that will resonate whether you're managing a project team or trying to move up the commercial ladder.

📩 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.

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

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

!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!!

-----------------------------------

In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined by James Filus, Director at both the National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) and the Institute of Carpenters (IOC), to unpack what competence really means in the context of construction today.

James shares the view from the front line of trade associations helping their members navigate the aftermath of Grenfell, the implications of the Building Safety Act, and the critical role of competency frameworks for subcontractors and individuals alike.

Together, they explore:

• What has changed legally – and culturally – post-Grenfell
• The hidden cost of proving competence across your supply chain
• How subcontractors can prepare to prove they’re competent (even without a formal definition)
• The commercial burden on QSs and buyers who now must assess more than just price and programme
• How to balance experience, qualification, and behavioural competence in procurement decisions

If you’ve ever asked, “What’s my responsibility here?” — this episode gives clarity, structure, and a forward-looking approach to Building Safety Act compliance.

📩 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.

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

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

In this lively episode, Chris joins Paul again to tackle YOUR questions in the return of Question Time. From the realities of AI in construction to the headaches of back-to-back contracts, we dive into the heart of what QSs are really facing on site.

Highlights include:

• How AI is transforming tender analysis and improving subcontractor engagement.
• NEC vs JCT – which contract is most improperly administered?
• Back-to-back contracts: Are they practical or just punishment?
• The most misunderstood part of the QS role.
• And… what happens when a QS, a planner, and an architect get stuck in a lift?

Packed with practical insights, personal stories, and a touch of sarcasm, this episode is a must-listen for QSs, estimators, and project leaders.

📩 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.

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

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

In this episode, Paul is joined by Andrea White, Independent Fire Engineer, Chartered Safety Professional, and one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction (2023). Andrea is also the founder of Women Talking Fire and a leading voice on fire safety strategy in a post-Grenfell landscape.

Together, Paul and Andrea unpack the critical implications of the Building Safety Act for quantity surveyors and procurement professionals.

💥 What do QSs need to do differently?
💡 Why is procurement now inseparable from safety strategy?
🔍 What is the role of the fire engineer — and why do QSs often overlook it?

This episode breaks down myths, reframes responsibilities, and offers practical advice on how commercial teams can support safety and compliance from Day One of a project.

Whether you’re a main contractor or a PQS, this is an essential listen.

📩 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.

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

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

In this episode, Paul is joined by Kelvin Maye, Group Commercial Director at Guildmore Ltd, a £100m+ main contractor with an impressive growth trajectory.

Kelvin shares the story of his journey from graduate QS to group leadership and how Guildmore is actively reshaping its commercial and procurement strategies. They explore how Kelvin’s team is unlocking QS productivity, improving tender and contract governance, and critically, rebuilding trust in subcontractor relationships.

At the heart of this discussion is Guildmore’s recent Meet the Buyer Day—an open and honest initiative designed to reset how main contractors engage with their supply chain. Kelvin talks candidly about:

• Time pressures and antiquated procurement methods
• Risk management from tender stage onwards
• The cultural shift needed to treat subcontractors as partners
• The business case for investing in digital tools like C-Link
• Practical steps taken to make subcontractors feel heard

Whether you’re a QS, Commercial Director, or a subcontractor navigating the modern construction supply chain, this episode is packed with real talk, honest leadership, and practical advice.

🎧 Listen in to hear how Guildmore is leading by example—and why a little empathy goes a long way.

📩 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.

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

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

In episode 233, Paul welcomes Alice Graham, a chartered Quantity Surveyor turned Solution Specialist at Procore Technologies. Together, they unpack Alice’s career journey — from studying QS at Heriot-Watt University to working in consultancy, and eventually pivoting into construction technology.

Alice shares how her “skills inventory” helped her redefine her path, the case for becoming a visible role model in construction, and why QSs have more career options than they might realise — including tech, entrepreneurship, and even writing books. The conversation also covers:

• PQS vs. Main Contractor career paths
• Mid-career pivots for chartered surveyors
• The growing demand for domain expertise in ConTech
• How visibility, creativity, and content can shape your influence
• What the industry must change to retain top talent

This is a must-listen for anyone in Quantity Surveying who is questioning their next step — whether you're climbing the ladder or building a new one.

📩 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.

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

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

Question Time is back — and it’s better than ever. After a brief baby-related break (sorry about skipping 224.1 and 228.1), Paul and Chris are back to answer your burning questions about quantity surveying, procurement, contracts, and even… sport.

In this episode, we cover:

• 🧠 How to build a standout QS career — including which contract type to master and why
• 🤖 What skills QSs need in an AI-driven world (spoiler: it’s not just tech knowledge)
• 💸 Whether main contractors can mandate portals like PayApps — and if freezing access is legal or just cheeky
• 🏉 What sport best represents the QS profession (Test cricket? Heptathlon? Rugby?)
• 🏆 Which sports personality would make the best QS (yes, Roy Keane gets a shout)

Plus, advice for QSs returning to the UK job market and how to unlock freelance roles with developers, SMEs, and beyond.

This is QS advice from the trenches — funny, honest, and straight-talking. Question Time is officially back, every 4 episodes.

📩 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.

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

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

In this special episode of Own the Build, Paul is a guest on Ross Griffin's Inventing Construction podcast.

The conversation dives deep into Paul’s journey from subcontractor QS to co-founder of C-Link, a software platform built to overhaul procurement and supply chain management in construction. Paul shares raw and honest reflections on why QSs are drowning in admin, how traditional tender processes fail everyone, and what needs to change to give commercial teams the tools and time to lead projects more effectively.

Topics include:

• The inefficiencies baked into modern QS workflows
• The real problem with Excel and “invisible” audit trails
• How SMEs and subcontractors can lead the digital charge
• Why BOQs should make a comeback – and who should own them
• Advice for young QSs entering a fast-evolving profession

This is a practical, no-fluff episode for any QS frustrated by inefficiencies and curious about how tech can actually make life easier.

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.

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

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

In the final part of the Contract Clarity Series, Paul is joined once again by the brilliantly practical contract expert Sarah Fox to explore the future of contracting in construction.

They dive into the rise of AI, what it means for lawyers and quantity surveyors, and how contracting must evolve in a digitised world. From empowering junior QSs to building smarter scopes of work, the discussion unpacks the risk and opportunity of emerging legal tech — and why simplification, not just automation, is the path forward.

You’ll also hear:

• Why contract scopes are the secret weapon for managing liability
• How Gen AI tools can help (and hinder) contract review
• Whether clients and funders might embrace simpler, fairer contracts
• Why Sarah believes better contracting starts with the outer edges of the supply chain

This is an optimistic and eye-opening wrap-up to the series — packed with practical advice, lightbulb moments, and a vision for more balanced, efficient contracting in the years ahead.

📩 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.

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

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

In this episode, titled Subcontracting Simplified, Paul and Sarah Fox go deep into what’s really broken in subcontracting — and what can be done to fix it. From clause-dumping and risk overload to overlooked meeting minutes and unreadable contracts, this is a frank conversation about the challenges subcontractors face and the behaviours that hold the industry back.

We discuss:

• ❌ Why many subcontractors are set up to fail before they’re even on site
• 🧾 The madness of passing down entire main contracts (and what should actually flow)
• 🤝 The power of better communication and properly structured pre-let minutes
• 💡 Sarah’s three-part strategy to improve subcontracting: Simplify, Optimise, Digitise
• 🧠 How smarter procurement leads to stronger relationships, better pricing, and successful delivery

🔗 Sarah also shares real-world stories and offers tangible advice for both main contractors and subcontractors who want to build better, fairer, and more effective projects.

📩 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.

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

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