The Merger Special: Why C-Link and EstimateOne Joined Forces to Change Construction

Register your interest for the Strategy Summit Event at the Churchill War Rooms on June 26th here - https://c-link.com/C-Link-Churchill-War-Rooms-Event

In this special Thursday edition of Own the Build, Paul Heming is joined by all four co-founders from C-Link and E1 to announce something major: C-Link has officially merged with E1.

This isn’t your standard acquisition. It’s a union born from years of lived experience and frustration—estimators and QSs working in silos, disconnected systems, and too much manual work. In this lively roundtable, Paul and Chris Barber (C-Link) sit down with Mike Ashcroft and Andrew Ritchie (E1) to talk about:

• How the merger came to be — including faxes, pubs, and smashed car windows
• Why estimators and QSs need to stop working in isolation
• The real handover issues and how most data is lost after the tender
• The "Golden Thread" of procurement — and how this platform finally delivers it
• Their shared vision: Build better buildings, more profitably, with tools that actually make work (and life) easier

💡 Whether you’re a QS, estimator, commercial leader, or tech-curious project manager — this is a rare look behind the curtain at a construction-tech merger driven by people who’ve lived the pain and decided to do something about it.

🎧 P.S. For Mike’s personal journey from cadet estimator to co-founder of E1, check out Episode 220!

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.

Register your interest for the Strategy Summit Event at the Churchill War Rooms on June 26th here - https://c-link.com/C-Link-Churchill-War-Rooms-Event

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Today, Paul’s guest is Cian Brennan, Founder of Quantum Contract Solutions and now the author of his new book, The Subcontractor's Edge. Cian’s first appearance on the show was a real listener favourite — and today, he’s back with an even bigger mission: helping subcontractors escape what he calls "The Cycle of Doom."

In today’s conversation, Cian explains:

• What the "Cycle of Doom" is and why it traps so many subcontractors.
  
  
• How to negotiate from a position of strength — and have the confidence to say "no" to bad deals.
  
  
• Practical steps subcontractors can take to stabilise cash flow, protect profit margins, and grow sustainably.
  
  
• Real-world success stories from subcontractors who changed their fortunes by applying simple strategies.
  
  
• Why building long-term client relationships is about more than price — and how to shift the conversation.

We wrap up the conversation with key takeaways from The Subcontractor's Edge and advice for subcontractors who want to take back control of their business and build for the long-term.

To join the Waiting List for The Subcontractor’s Edge click hee - https://www.thesubcontractorsedge.com/waitlist. 

If you haven’t already done so, head to the show notes right now — I’ve written two books for you based on 200 episodes of conversation:

📚 Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying: Expert Strategies for Recruitment, Leadership, and Building a Career
 📚 The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying: Practical Insights for the Future of QS

Access your free copies today 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

🎙️ 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.

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.