Kevin Bennison, the founder of InspHigher and a respected voice in the lifting industry joins us to talk about what’s gone wrong with construction training and how to fix it. As he draws on his experience from the military to the crane cab, Kevin shares with our host Jimmy Webb from UK Construction Blog on how competence, repetition, and leadership can transform the industry from a “tick-box” culture into one built on real skill and accountability. 🔹 Why current training standards fal...

Jimmy Webb from the UK Construction Blog sits down with Chris Scriven, Director of Education at The Restore Trust, to explore how construction is helping people with complex backgrounds — including those with criminal records — find purpose and meaningful work. From prison education programmes to hands-on training and mental health support, The Restore Trust is opening doors for people to rebuild their lives while helping the construction industry tackle its growing skills gap. Here’s what yo...

Retentions have been used in UK construction since the 1840s. Yet today, many in the industry are questioning whether they still offer the security they once promised. Originally introduced during the railway boom, retentions were meant to protect projects. Today, they’re locking up billions in unpaid funds and pushing contractors closer to insolvency. In fact, it’s estimated that £3 to £5 billion is held in retentions across the UK construction sector each year, with much of it never recove...

How do you keep construction sites safer, smarter, and more efficient using video? In this episode of the UK Construction Podcast, we’re excited to introduce our new host, Jimmy Webb. Having years of experience as a construction industry expert and as the voice behind The Construction Cogs Podcast, Jimmy brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the show. Jimmy sits down with Paul “Indy” Newman, UK founder of Luma1, to explore how interactive video technology is changing the way the constr...

How did Manchester go from a struggling industrial city filled with abandoned mills and a thriving rave scene to a forward-thinking hub for business, technology, and innovation? For PushON, a leading digital agency based in Manchester’s Ancoats, this transformation isn’t just a story from the sidelines. It’s something they’re a part of every day. In this episode, we sit down with PushON’s Strategist and Managing Director, Simon Wharton, to explore a range of topics — from Manchester’s remarka...

What do 862 million plastic straws have to do with driveways? When Johnny Pearce saw plastic waste building up along the beaches near his home, he couldn’t shake the feeling—especially as a dad—of wanting to set a better example. He already had a successful business. But what if that business could be part of the solution? In this episode, we talk to Johnny, co-founder of Oltco, the company behind Recycle Bound—the world’s first driveway solution made using recycled plastic waste. What starte...

Welcome to the UK Construction Podcast hosted by the team from the UK Construction Blog! Ever wondered where your construction skills could take you beyond the job site? In this episode, we talk to John Ryan, a skilled bricklayer who took his on-site experience to the classroom as a trainer in Further Education. He shares his inspiring journey, challenges faced and why he believes it’s important to train the next wave of tradespeople, now more than ever. If you’ve...

Welcome to the very first episode of UK Construction Podcast hosted by the team from the UK Construction Blog! In this episode we talk with Tom Redfern, Senior Sustainability Manager at Aggregate Industries, to uncover the ground-breaking ways the construction industry is going green. From turning quarries into forests to recycling asphalt infinitely, Tom breaks down how sustainability is changing the game in construction and how Aggregate Industries is contributing to this mission.&n...

The UK Construction Podcast: Your weekly insight into British construction innovation. Join industry leaders, architects, and engineers as they share expert knowledge on projects, trends, and emerging technologies. Featuring: Expert interviewsMarket analysisProject insightsProfessional guidanceSubscribe now to stay informed on Britain's evolving construction landscape. Hosted by The UK Construction Blog.