How do you move from running a business to shaping an industry?
In the first episode of the new year, Sam La Roche sits down with Garry Staines to reflect on the progress made since his last appearance on The Hodcast and how new initiatives have reshaped his approach to leadership, training and influence.
Garry shares insight into
• Building Site Ready Solutions and new training pathways
• The importance of mentoring and long term thinking• What it means to become a person of influence• How leadership evolves as responsibility grows• Why real change requires action, not opinion
This conversation sets the tone for the year ahead. Practical, reflective and focused on creating lasting impact.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #GarryStaines #ConstructionLeadership #Training #Mentoring #Influence #TogetherWeCan
This special episode of The Hodcast brings together some of the most powerful moments from conversations recorded throughout 2025.
Hosted by Sam La Roche, this highlights episode features clips from
• Charlie Collison• Cllr Jessica Power• Lee Marley• Richard "Greeny" Green• Bob Noseda
Together, these voices reflect the themes that shaped the year. Training, leadership, skills, regeneration, resilience and the future of construction.
Whether you are listening for the first time or returning to revisit the moments that stood out, this episode captures why honest conversation still matters.
A reflection on a year of conversations worth having.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #ConstructionPodcast #Leadership #Training #SkillsGap #TogetherWeCan
What actually keeps young people engaged in training and work, and why do so many systems fail them?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Martyn Price MBE shares his experience of building employability and training models that focus on people first, not just outcomes.
We talk about
• Why dropout rates remain high• The role of relationships in employability• What makes pre employment programmes effective• How industry and training providers can work together• What leaders need to change if they want better results
A grounded and insightful conversation about creating pathways that work for young people and the industries that need them.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #MartynPriceMBE #Employability #SkillsGap #ConstructionCareers #YouthDevelopment #TogetherWeCan
Rupert Bates joins Sam La Roche to discuss the future of house building in the UK, what leaders are really talking about, and how media, industry and education must align to inspire the next generation.Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TogetherWeCanShow House Media - https://www.showhouse.co.uk/
WhatHouse? Awards - https://www.whathouse.com/awards/
BBQ Magazine - https://www.thebbqmag.com/
Why is construction struggling to attract young people, and what do we need to change to fix it?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Dan Edwards, Founder of Constructed Pathways, shares what he has learned from working directly with young people, schools and industry leaders.
We discuss
📉 Why many young people do not see construction as a real opportunity
🎓 How education and industry have lost connection
👷 What employers can do to attract and retain new talent
🧱 How Constructed Pathways is helping rebuild the talent pipeline
🌍 What it will take to close the skills gap for good
A practical and honest conversation for educators, employers and anyone invested in the future of the construction sector.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #DanEdwards #ConstructedPathways #SkillsGap #Education #ConstructionCareers #Apprenticeships #TogetherWeCan
How do you attract people who are not ready to buy, commit or make a decision?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Jill Willis, Founder of Attract & Engage, explains why the answer lies in stronger storytelling, better communication and a clearer understanding of the 95 percent who are not yet ready to take action.
We talk about:
📰 The influence of her journalism background
🏗️ What construction can learn from consumer brands
🎓 The value of connecting businesses, schools and communities
📣 How to market construction to the next generation
👷 What needs to change to close the skills gap
A thought provoking conversation for leaders, educators and anyone shaping the future of the industry.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #JillWillis #ConstructionMarketing #Storytelling #SkillsGap #FutureWorkforce #TogetherWeCan
What happens when someone hits rock bottom and chooses to climb their way back up?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Logan Price, Degree Apprentice, Mental Health Ambassador and advocate for innovation and sustainability in construction, opens up about his journey through mental health struggles and recovery.
We explore:
A powerful conversation about resilience, hope and finding purpose through pain.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #LoganPrice #MentalHealth #SuicideAwareness #Construction #Inspiration #TogetherWeCan
This week Sam La Roche talks with Mark Imray about the real state of UK construction. Mark started as an apprentice and worked his way up to construction director and beyond, giving him a lifetime of insight into how the industry works. They explore what the sector needs in 2025, why mentoring matters, what apprentices are facing on site and how strong leaders can shape the future.
#TogetherWeCan
Why is the construction industry struggling to attract and keep people, and what can we do to fix it?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Andy Stevens, founder of The Build Network UK, talks openly about the challenges that are stopping people from joining the industry and what needs to change.
We cover:
👷 The barriers to bringing new people into construction💬 When and how recruitment should really begin
📉 The lack of oversight and accountability in the sector
🏗️ Why collaboration and communication are key to real change
This is an honest conversation about the future of construction and the people trying to make it better.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #AndyStevens #BuildNetworkUK #Construction #Recruitment #SkillsGap #Leadership #TogetherWeCan
Can failure be the foundation for future success?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Nick Brasier, Construction Director at Stonebond, shares how the lessons learned through failure have shaped his leadership and approach to building teams in construction.
We talk about:
👷 How challenges and setbacks became turning points💬 Why good leaders learn more from mistakes than victories🏗️ How experience and reflection create better outcomes on site🌍 Why resilience and humility are key to long-term success
A powerful and honest conversation about leadership, learning and the value of failure in building better people and projects.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #NickBrasier #Stonebond #Construction #Leadership #Failure #Success #TogetherWeCan
What does true regeneration look like beyond the headlines?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Darren Rodwell, former Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, shares his perspective on leadership, housing, and creating opportunity in one of London’s most ambitious boroughs.
We talk about:🏙️ The real challenges of regeneration and renewal💬 Balancing housing growth with community needs👷 Why construction and councils must work together🌍 What it takes to deliver lasting change for local people
An honest and inspiring look at leadership, regeneration and the future of local communities.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #DarrenRodwell #BarkingAndDagenham #Leadership #Regeneration #Housing #TogetherWeCan
What does the construction industry really need to attract more people?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Christian Hatherall-Good of The Lee Marley Group shares his insight on the power of training, what draws people into the trade, and why investment is the key to solving the skills gap.
We talk about:
👷 The role of training in shaping the workforce💬 What motivates people to join construction📈 Why investment is the missing piece in the puzzle🌍 How the industry can build a more sustainable future
A grounded and forward-thinking conversation about people, opportunity and progress.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #ChristianHatherallGood #Construction #Training #Investment #SkillsGap #TogetherWeCan
What’s it like starting out as a young woman in one of the most male-dominated industries in the world?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Tegan Pryor, NVQ Level 2 Bricklayer at GSQ Brickwork Ltd, shares her journey from apprentice to fully qualified bricklayer.
We explore:
👷 Her experiences on site as a woman in construction🧱 The importance of training, mentorship and support💬 The influence of social media and representation📈 What it means to earn respect through skill and attitude
A raw and honest conversation about training, resilience and challenging perceptions in construction.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #TeganPryor #WomenInConstruction #Bricklaying #Apprenticeships #Training #TogetherWeCan
When a life-changing accident forces you to stop, you see the industry differently.
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Justin Manley talks about his journey in construction, the accident that changed everything, and how it shaped his views on training, mentorship and the skills gap.
We talk about:
👷 Lessons learned from recovery and resilience💬 The culture of safety and care on construction sites🏗️ How training and mentoring can prevent future accidents📉 Why the skills gap is a people problem before it is a numbers one
An honest, grounded conversation about growth, purpose and what it means to truly build people.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #JustinManley #Construction #SkillsGap #Resilience #Training #TogetherWeCan
How do we give apprentices the tools, patience and guidance they need to succeed in construction?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Bill Guiver, Training Manager at GSQ Brickwork Ltd and an integral part of Site Ready Solutions, shares his journey from apprentice to trainer and what he has learned across three decades in the trade.
Bill talks about:
🧱 His earliest memories of bricklaying
👷 The changes in training from the 1980s to today📉 The construction skills gap and how to bridge it💬 Why apprentices need patience and understanding to grow into value
This is a grounded, practical conversation about what training really looks like on the ground.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #BillGuiver #Bricklaying #ConstructionTraining #Apprenticeships #SkillsGap #TogetherWeCan
Apprenticeships are the foundation of construction, but are we giving them the respect and support they deserve?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Dan Carey, Director of Core4 and host of Hard Hat Chat, shares his insights on:
👷 Why apprentices matter now more than ever🧱 The culture of construction and life on site📉 The impact of the skills shortage on the industry🏗️ What construction needs to do to secure its future
Packed with straight-talking insights from one of the industry’s most passionate voices, this conversation is for anyone who cares about the future of construction.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
Powered by Garry Staines
#TheHodcast #DanCarey #Core4 #HardHatChat #Construction #Apprenticeships #SkillsGap #TogetherWeCan
What does social value mean beyond the paperwork?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Helen Clements, Social Value Lead at Morgan Sindall, talks about what it looks like in practice on building sites.
We cover:
👷 The reality that 85% of construction is still men
💬 Why diversity matters for stronger teams and communities
🏗️ How to deliver social value that makes a lasting difference
🌍 What the future of construction could look like with greater inclusion
This is about people, purpose and building an industry that serves everyone.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #HelenClements #Construction #SocialValue #DiversityInConstruction #TogetherWeCan
What can industry and education learn from each other?
In Part 2 of The Hodcast with Jack Dawson, Co-Founder of SuperTrowel and Programme Manager at Hertford Regional College, host Sam La Roche dives into his story.
Jack shares his journey into bricklaying, why he chose to teach, and his thoughts on how to bring colleges and the construction industry closer together.
This is about building skills, passing on knowledge, and giving apprentices the best possible start in the trade.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #JackDawson #Construction #Education #SkillsGap #TogetherWeCan
The SuperTrowel 2025 final caused more noise than any competition before it. Now, Jack Dawson, Co-Founder of SuperTrowel, joins The Hodcast with host Sam La Roche to share his side of the story.
In this conversation we cover:🔥 How SuperTrowel became the most talked-about competition in the trade💬 The truth about the 2025 final and the controversy surrounding it👷 What comes next for bricklaying competitions and apprentices in the UK
If you have seen the headlines or the comments online, this is the full story behind them.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #SuperTrowel #JackDawson #Bricklaying #Construction #TogetherWeCan
When it comes to regeneration, who should take the lead in building Basildon?
In this episode of The Hodcast, hosted by Sam La Roche, Cllr Jessica Power, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Jobs and Skills and Social Value Manager for Skanska, talks about her belief that regeneration must start with the community itself.
She shares what “Basildon, building Basildon” really means, why social value matters, and how change can be lasting when local people are the ones building it.
This is a story of service, community, and leadership rooted in place.
Sponsored by Site Ready Solutions and Grayson GB Ltd
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#TheHodcast #JessicaPower #Basildon #Community #Regeneration #TogetherWeCan