The skills shortage isn’t new, but the response needs to be. In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson speaks with John Cartwright, Head of Business Growth and Skills at Hartlepool College, about why construction is still struggling to retain young people and what must change.

John shares his journey from “falling into construction” to leading one of the country’s most progressive FE colleges. He talks about:

• The real reasons apprentices leave the industry within their first year

• What Tier 1 contractors get wrong about engagement

• Why competitions like “The Golden Hammer” boost confidence and visibility

• How safeguarding and site culture impact retention more than people think

• The importance of emotional intelligence in trade education

This is a candid, hopeful conversation about building a better pipeline, from classroom to construction site.

About the GuestJohn Cartwright is Head of Business Growth and Skills at Hartlepool College. He works across FE and industry to connect employers with skilled young professionals.

Find John on LinkedIn
John Cartwright

Mentioned in this episode

• The Golden Hammer skills competition

• Hartlepool College employer partnerships

• CITB apprenticeship data

• Colin Tomlinson’s Site Clarity model

Resources

What does it take to deliver defect‑free projects, lead a national quality culture and coach construction teams to success across Australia and beyond?

In this episode of Site Story, host Colin Tomlinson speaks with Peter Billimoria, Group Quality Assurance Manager at Icon Group. Joining us from Melbourne, Peter shares insights from more than two decades in the industry...starting from project management roles to shaping culture at a group level.

You’ll hear:

• How Peter discovered his passion for construction, the teaming, complexity and physical achievement that drew him in

• The story of stepping into a quality assurance role and evolving into strategic leadership, plus why his master’s thesis on QA matters now

• What “defect‑free at completion” really means and how his team achieved it on a high‑stakes defence/infrastructure project

• How setting clear KPIs, engaging subcontractors early and building trust between trades lead to smoother programs and better outcomes

• The coaching mindset: how Peter empowers teams through questions, active listening and shared ownership, rather than top‑down management

• His view on the future of construction: design‑upfront, prefabrication, education and industry modernisation.

“Safety and quality aren’t just systems to follow—they’re cultures to live.” — Peter Billimoria

About the Guest:Peter Billimoria is Group Quality Assurance Manager for ICON Group (which includes brands such as ICON, BAPA and MINICON) operating across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. With more than 20 years in construction, his background spans project coordination, project management and now quality leadership and coaching.

Connect with Peter:LinkedIn Construction Quality Australia

Mentioned Resources & Tools:

• ISO 9001 & Quality Management Systems

• Project charters, quality plans and defect‑free delivery

• Coaching workshops and active listening for leaders

• Industry themes: design‑upfront, prefabrication and technical education

What does it take to break into construction, and thrive, in a field often defined by tradition, pressure and fast-paced change?

In this episode of Site Story, we sit down with Rohit Malhotra, a young project management professional at AtkinsRéalis, whose journey from Dubai to the UK, from construction sites to boardrooms, is nothing short of inspiring.

We explore:

• What drew Rohit to construction from a young age, and how his father's career shaped his own

• Early roles across consultancy and contracting, and what he learned from both sides of the table

• Why communication, adaptability and leadership are the true drivers of project success

• Stories from his time managing major infrastructure work and public consultations

• His passion for mentoring, guest lecturing and championing diversity in the industry

• How volunteering and public speaking built his confidence and his ability to lead

If you're starting out in construction, mentoring new talent, or rethinking how to build better teams, this episode is packed with practical, human insight from someone living it right now.

About the Guest
Rohit Malhotra is a Chartered Construction Project Management professional at AtkinsRéalis, currently seconded to HS2. He’s also a CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders Champion, mentor, speaker and ED&I advocate working across industry and education.

Connect with Rohit
LinkedIn – Rohit Malhotra

Resources Mentioned

• CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders

• NEC Contracts

• Diversity & Inclusion in Construction

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