Southside Stories

Colin Veitch, founder and director of GRID Architects, joins Matt Whittingham on Southside Stories to talk about the reality behind London's housing crisis — and what it actually takes to get homes built. From a 100% women-only social housing project in Ealing to 738-home build-to-rent towers in Canary Wharf, Colin unpacks the full spectrum of residential architecture: masterplans that span decades, the policy bottlenecks stalling 1.5 million new homes, and how a 50-person practice consistently punches above its weight alongside the biggest developers in the city.

Matt Chamberlain knows the "squeezed middle" better than most. His architecture practice grew to 50 staff in 2019, then the pandemic hit, projects stalled, and they had to think differently.

Now running a leaner team of 30 with a network of subcontractors and overseas drafting support, Matt's found agility in the chaos — and he's using AI to win more bids while staying competitive. In this episode we cover:

→ Why the 25–40 person architecture practice is the hardest space to exist in

→ How Matt's team uses Claude AI to analyse client briefs, surface pain points, and sharpen pitch responses

→ The Tamworth projec, turning a derelict department store into a further education college at the heart of a market town

→ The 10-year Haringey housing project: when your contractor goes into receivership mid-build

→ Whether the era of the "starchitect" died with Frank Gehry — and what replaces it

Based in Basingstoke with a satellite office in Fitzrovia, they specialise in education and residential projects across the UK.

🎧 This is Southside Stories — real London business conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Subscribe for new episodes every fortnight. #Architecture #BusinessLeadership #AIinArchitecture

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Most entrepreneurs face a defining moment when chaos turns into opportunity.

Mark from Event Concept shares how a redundancy sparked his 30-year journey, scaling his London event agency to work with Vogue, Dior, and beyond—and then expanding into the US via strategic acquisition.

His story reveals how resilience, smart vertical integration, and deliberate leadership choices can turn crises into growth, how Mark transformed early setbacks like the Gulf War and the 2008 financial crisis into lessons on control, innovation, and agility.

You'll learn the key decisions that allowed him to bring production entirely in-house, gain more control over projects, and eliminate costly dependencies on external contractors—vital strategies for any ambitious business. Mark also shares how embracing technological complexity and high-end content has driven his company's evolution and client engagement.We break down the power of integrating creative and technical expertise, the importance of self-awareness in leadership, and why long-term relationships matter more than quick wins in event standout.

From managing a 30-event weekly operation to navigating post-COVID recovery, Mark highlights the importance of strategic delegation and balancing operational excellence with visionary growth. Plus, hear why acquiring a US agency was a deliberate move for scale—embracing partnerships to accelerate global reach rather than exhausting internal resources.This episode is essential listening for founders seeking resilience, operational mastery, and smart expansion.

Perfect for leaders looking to future-proof their agencies, or anyone curious about turning industry upheavals into unstoppable momentum—Mark's insights will forever reshape how you see growth amid chaos.

Most entrepreneurs hit rock bottom at some point — Ed Hill’s story takes resilience to a whole new level. After losing his lucrative Russian client base overnight due to geopolitical upheaval, he faced the reality of being nearly broke and starting from zero.

Yet, his unwavering tenacity transformed that crushing moment into a new opportunity that would redefine his entire career.From elite Marine commando training to navigating the shadowy world of private security, Ed shares how his military background forged a mindset of relentless perseverance.

His journey highlights the power of adaptability, cultural intelligence, and a refusal to be beaten by circumstance. Whether it was navigating piracy in the Gulf of Aden or rebuilding his business after a dramatic market shift, Ed proves that resilience isn’t just about persistence — it’s about strategic resilience: the ability to innovate in the face of crisis.

You’ll discover insights on building trust in high-stakes environments, the importance of cultural immersion for client relationships, and how to leverage adversity as a catalyst for growth. Ed breaks down pivotal moments, including his sharp pivot during the Somali piracy boom, how to maintain sanity and focus during downturns, and the mindset shift required to turn near ruin into success.

This is crucial listening for anyone facing setbacks, entrepreneurs who need a boost to keep fighting, or professionals looking to understand how high-pressure resilience can fuel long-term success. Ed’s story is a masterclass in refusing to give up, learning from failure, and turning obstacles into opportunities — all rooted in a lifelong discipline of tenacity and action.

Perfect for business owners, military veterans, or anyone inspired by real grit, this episode equips you with the mindset to keep moving forward, no matter how tough the terrain gets. Because when it looks like there’s nowhere to go, that’s often where the real opportunity starts.