What happens when a decade away from the workplace becomes your greatest leadership advantage?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson sits down with Rachel Tomkins to explore her journey from the military to motherhood, and then back into the infrastructure industry through one of the UK’s first construction returnship programmes at Tideway.

Rachel shares how transferable skills, curiosity, leadership and resilience helped her rebuild a meaningful career after a 10-year career break — and why the industry is missing out if it overlooks people returning to work.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why returnship programmes can unlock hidden talent in infrastructure and engineering
• How Rachel transitioned from the Royal Engineers into major projects
• The reality of confidence, childcare and commuting after a long career break
• Why soft skills and leadership matter just as much as technical expertise
• The importance of mentoring and supportive workplace cultures
• What employers should look for beyond CVs and qualifications
• Why infrastructure projects offer a strong sense of purpose and fulfilment
• How diverse career experiences can strengthen project teams
• Lessons from Tideway’s pioneering returnship programme
• Why “taking the risk” on people often delivers the best long-term results

A powerful conversation about careers, confidence, leadership and creating opportunities for people who thought their professional chapter had closed.

What really causes billion-pound projects to fail - poor execution or poor leadership?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson sits down with Tim McManus, a global authority on mega project delivery, to explore what truly drives success in the world’s most complex builds.

From nuclear power plants to leading the delivery of the New England Patriots stadium, Tim shares practical insights from decades at the sharp end of construction, and why so many projects are set up to fail before they even begin.

You’ll discover why the planning phase is often rushed (and the cost of that mistake), how treating a project like a business changes decision-making, and why collaboration, not competition, is the real key to delivering results.

Tim also breaks down the four leadership mindsets every project leader must adopt, alongside the growing importance of digital transformation and developing the next generation of leaders in an industry under pressure.

If you’re involved in major projects, or aspiring to step up, this episode offers a clear, honest perspective on what needs to change.

Ever worked on a project where the design keeps evolving, and wondered why there isn’t a clearer plan from the start?This episode brings a more honest perspective to that question.

Colin Tomlinson sits down with Claire Dioszegi to explore what design work actually looks like in practice, especially in complex projects where not everything is known upfront.

Because the reality is, design doesn’t always come fully formed. It develops over time. And the people managing it are often learning, adapting, and making decisions as things unfold.

It's important to remember that’s not a flaw in the system, it is the system.

They talked about:

• Why not all design work starts with a complete plan, and why that’s expected
• How people grow into design management roles through experience
• What “figuring it out as you go” actually looks like in real projects
• The balance between moving forward and refining design at the same time
• Why evolving designs aren’t a sign something’s wrong
• How better understanding this process improves collaboration for everyone

Whether you work alongside design teams or within one, this conversation offers a clearer lens on what’s really happening behind the scenes. It's a practical conversation that normalises the reality of design, and helps teams work with it, not against it.

Resources

About the Guest Claire Dioszegi is a design project management expert with experience across complex infrastructure projects, known for her practical approach to navigating evolving designs and real-world delivery challenges. Connect with her on LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/claire-dioszegi-mba-ceng-fice-2069b425

Are you about to invest in new software… but not 100% clear on the problem you're solving?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson sits down with James Dixon to unpack a common (and costly) mistake across construction and project delivery: buying technology before truly understanding the need.

With over a decade of experience across tier one contractors, SMEs, and client-side roles, James shares why even the best platforms fail... and what leaders should be doing first. More importantly than tools, this conversation is about clarity, culture, and making better decisions before the investment is made.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why most software fails before it’s even implemented
• What a “tech stack” actually means (without the jargon)
• The hidden cost of duplication and rekeying data across systems
• Why “show, don’t tell” should guide every software decision
• How unclear processes lead to poor tech outcomes
• The role of leadership in driving successful adoption
• Why fear of failure and culture matter more than the platform itself
• How to bring visibility and structure into the design phase
• Practical ways project managers can challenge and improve systems
• Why starting with the problem—not the software—is the only way to succeed

If you’re considering new tools, platforms, or digital solutions, this episode will help you avoid expensive mistakes and make smarter decisions from the start. Because the wrong question isn’t “what software should we buy?”, it’s “what problem are we solving?”

🔗 About The Guest:

James Dixon is a construction technology and process improvement specialist with experience across design, delivery, and client-side environments. He works with organisations to connect their systems, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure technology genuinely supports project delivery.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dixon-mciob-63a22023/

Resources Mentioned

– Common Data Environments (CDEs)

– Workflow mapping and process design

– Digital construction tools and system integration

Want to make better decisions before your next tech investment? 👉 Discover how we help leaders and project teams improve performance at 150CLD—explore our training and resources today.

What do you do when the ground beneath your project is uncertain, the programme is tight, and everyone is relying on your decision?

In this episode, host Colin Tomlinson sits down with civil engineer Richard Croft to explore how professionals develop judgement in environments where perfect data simply doesn’t exist. From soil and groundwater engineering to leading teams in the Army and managing environmental remediation in Iraq, Richard shares lessons from a career built on navigating complexity.

This conversation explores how technical expertise, leadership, and self-awareness come together when real-world decisions have real consequences.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why engineering decisions often rely on judgement as much as calculations

• How military leadership training shaped Richard’s approach to decision-making and responsibility

• The fundamental differences between consulting and contracting business models

• Why projects fail when teams rely on assumptions instead of information

• The importance of investing in ground investigation early to avoid costly surprises later

• Lessons from managing environmental remediation on oil fields in Iraq

• How listening, coaching, and chaplaincy shaped Richard’s approach to leadership

• Why authentic careers are built around relationships, purpose, and curiosity

Ultimately, this episode is about learning to think clearly under uncertainty, and why the best professionals combine technical skill with wisdom gained through experience.

Why do so many construction projects still run late and over budget—even with more technology than ever before?

In this episode, Colin Tomlinson sits down with technology and construction productivity expert Harsh Singh to explore the real reasons productivity struggles on construction sites.

Harsh shares lessons from his work across consulting, software engineering, and construction technology startups, explaining why the biggest problems aren’t always technical—they’re often about planning, communication, and fragmented information across teams.

They also dive into the growing role of AI in construction. Where can it genuinely improve productivity? Where does it create risk? And how can project managers use it without losing the human judgement that keeps projects safe and buildable?

You’ll learn:

• Why small planning habits can dramatically improve site productivity • The hidden waste caused by poor coordination and design fragmentation • How AI could give top performers “superpowers” on construction projects • Why technology alone won’t fix construction without better leadership • Practical ways teams can start using AI today

If you want to plan better, build smarter, and reduce project chaos, this episode is packed with insights you can apply immediately.

Listen now.

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