Own The Build

In today’s episode, Paul is joined by Stephen Harpur, Managing Director at Sharpur Consultancy – a Chartered Construction Manager with more than 25 years in the industry. Stephen’s journey is anything but typical: he started as a labourer, worked every trade you can think of, and went on to lead some of the most complex, multimillion-pound construction projects in Northern Ireland.

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

This episode is all about what world-class construction management really looks like, and how project leaders, QSs, and PMs can raise the bar—together.

We talk about:

• What Stephen learned going from hands-on trades to boardroom leadership
  
  
• How to plan and manage a project from inception to “cutting the ribbon”
  
  
• Why every QS needs to spend more time on site
  
  
• Building alignment between commercial and delivery teams
  
  
• Lessons from subcontracting, consulting, and working on the largest live building project in NI

If you’ve ever felt that QSs and PMs should work more collaboratively, or you want to lead construction projects more effectively—this is one for you.

📩 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 Fan Mail

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 studio today, Paul is joined by Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy, Chair of the RICS Residential Professional Group Panel, and a lifelong innovator in residential development. From leading housing associations to helping an entire village go 100% off oil, Emma is redefining what a modern home should be.

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 episode, Emma and I dive into the rise of zero-bill homes – what they are, how they work, and why they’re no longer a pipe dream. We talk about solar, battery, heat pumps, AI, and homes as energy assets, not just consumers.

We explore:

• The Swaffham Prior story – how a village went off-grid
  
  
• Why retrofit might scale faster than new build
  
  
• How housebuilders, surveyors and contractors must rethink viability and design
  
  
• Why zero bills is becoming the global standard, and how the UK can catch up

Whether you’re a developer, QS, contractor or housing association—this conversation will make you think differently about how homes are designed, valued, and delivered in the future.

📩 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 Fan Mail

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 return to tackle your commercial, contractual, and career questions—this time covering subcontracting from both sides of the fence, AI’s impact on QS, and how the industry needs to rethink risk allocation.

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

📅 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:

🧱 From Main Contractor to Subcontractor – The Big Shift
 Contracts Manager Lewis asks for a “subcontracting for dummies” guide. As his business steps into a subcontractor role for the first time, we talk risk strategy, the dangers of programme inclusion, how to handle payless notices, and which contract terms you really want to negotiate.

📘 Named Contractors, CDP & Design Risk
 Kevin Anns shares insight for PMs working with JCT forms—especially around CDP and design responsibility for named subcontractors. We unpack why this risk can trip up even seasoned teams.

📐 Can AI Predict the Future of QS?
 A tongue-in-cheek but serious question: will quantum computing and generative AI replace Quantity Surveyors—or transform them? We discuss what will actually change in 5–10 years, and what won’t.

⚖️ RICS and the Risk Narrative
 A bold challenge: should RICS update the NRM series to include a formal approach to risk allocation and pricing? We discuss how formalising risk in procurement could transform how we tender—and whether subcontractors uniting is a real solution or just a fantasy.

📩 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 Fan Mail

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 Mike Ashcroft, Estimator, Co-Founder of EstimateOne, and now Merger Partner at C-Link.

This episode is a conversation years in the making — one driven by too many busted Excel sheets, missing elevations, and the gap between Estimators and QSs. Mike and I talk through how two different companies, built on opposite sides of the world, came together with a shared vision: connecting pre- and post-award teams on one integrated platform.

We discuss:

• What Estimating and Quantity Surveying looks like in Australia (yes, they really do things differently down there).
  
  
• Why so many UK QSs are heading to Aus — and what both countries can learn from each other.
  
  
• The real handover issues between Estimators and QSs — and where the friction lies.
  
  
• The story of how EstimateOne and C-Link met, merged, and are building the future of procurement.
  
  
• Why our shared goal is simple: to help construction teams win better work and deliver it more profitably.

You’ll also hear war stories about coffee machines that cost £40k more than expected, pricing off verbal quotes, and why sales skills are underestimated in construction.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in estimating, QSing, or commercial management — and especially for those frustrated with how disconnected the tendering and delivery phases of construction can be.

🎧 For the full C-Link x E1 backstory with all four co-founders, check out the Merger Special in the feed.

📩 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 Fan Mail

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.

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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.