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

👉 Want more leadership content for the industry?
Visit 150cld.co.uk for articles, guides and the Hard Hat Leader newsletter.

How do you build a subcontracting business with no litigation in 40 years, and still keep growing?

Colin Tomlinson speaks with Len Nugent, founder of Lenmark and seasoned subcontractor, about building a values-led construction business rooted in loyalty, long-term thinking and common sense.

From working cash-in-hand with a wheelbarrow to running a nationwide operation from Florida, Len’s story is one of grit, vision and staying ahead of the game with technology and relationships.

You’ll hear:

• Why Len avoids tenders and fixed-price commercial work

• How he secured and kept long-term clients like Rydon and Cala Homes

• The systems he uses to run UK sites remotely

• Why he adopted AI and digital QA tools long before it was mainstream

• What he really thinks about health & safety culture today

• The recruitment and training system he uses to tackle the skills shortage

“I don’t believe in micromanagement. If you’ve picked the right people, let them get on with it.”

About the Guest:
Len Nugent is the founder of Lenmark, a UK-based groundworks and civil engineering subcontractor. With a hands-on legacy and a forward-thinking approach, Len blends old-school values with cutting-edge tools to lead a business built on trust and results.

Mentioned Tools & Topics:
🛠️ FieldView for QA tracking🤖 AI for interpreting soil reports and site optimisation🏗️ Next Gen talent development programme📈 Profit-related pay (PRP) model for site teams

What if the biggest safety risk on site isn’t what you do, but what you don’t say?

In this powerful episode of Site Story, host Colin Tomlinson sits down with psychologist and leadership coach Lucy Airs to dig into the concept of psychological safety and why it might be the missing link between training, team trust and project success.

Together, they explore why even the best-trained teams still fall short, and how the fear of speaking up is quietly costing the industry time, money and sometimes, lives.

You’ll hear:

• What psychological safety actually means (and what it doesn't)

• How leaders unintentionally shut down honesty on site

• Real examples from high-risk industries, including healthcare and construction

• Why small mistakes are the key to avoiding big disasters

• Simple steps leaders can take to build trust: without micromanaging

• How to talk about errors in a way that builds confidence, not blame

🔑 “If you’re not hearing about mistakes… it doesn’t mean they’re not happening.”

About the Guest:
Lucy Airs MAPP PCC is a psychologist, leadership coach and doctoral researcher focused on the real-world development of psychological safety in teams. She brings decades of experience working with leaders across sectors to help them create the conditions for real change and safe performance.

Mentioned Resources:
📖 The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson
📖 The Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson
📘 Defy by Sunita Sah
💡 Concepts: Appreciative Inquiry, Team Psychological Safety, Constructive Error Reporting

In this episode, Colin interviews Keith Hampson, a seasoned professional in the construction and civil engineering industry.

They discuss Keith's journey into the field, his experiences on construction sites, the importance of international exposure and the cultural nuances of working globally.

Keith shares:

• Valuable insights on mentorship
• The evolution of the industry, and
• The challenges faced by new professionals today.

He emphasises the need for curiosity, site presence and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment driven by technology and new challenges.

Keith's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-hampson-9380287/

In this conversation, Colin Tomlinson discusses the challenges of leadership in the construction industry, emphasising the need for clarity, psychological safety, and effective training methods.

He introduces the Site Clarity Framework, which consists of five key questions to guide project leaders in achieving success while fostering a collaborative environment.

The discussion highlights the importance of understanding different perspectives on success and the role of accountability in leadership.

To connect with Colin, connect with him on LinkedIn or email him at colin.tomlinson@150cld.co.uk.

For more resources, head over to https://150cld.co.uk

What if the most overlooked factor in site performance isn't cost, quality or time — but emotion?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson chats with Phil Willcox, founder of Emotion at Work, about the unspoken emotional dynamics that shape how teams operate—especially in high-pressure environments like construction. From how emotion affects decision-making on-site to why some feelings are “allowed” and others are ignored, this conversation will challenge the way senior leaders view what really drives success.

We explore:

• Why emotions are always present—even if unspoken—on construction sites
• The real meaning of emotional intelligence in a project setting
• What changes when leaders create emotional “space” for their teams
• How pressure, programme, and hierarchy suppress honest communication
• Practical ways to improve emotional awareness across all roles—from QSs to PMs
• Why journaling, curiosity, and permission are powerful leadership tools

A refreshing and grounded look at the power of emotions to build (or break) site culture.

About the Guest: Phil Willcox is the founder of Emotion at Work, helping organisations make emotions a strategic advantage rather than a silent blocker. With a background in psychology and real-world experience across infrastructure and construction, Phil works at the intersection of culture, leadership and emotional intelligence.

Guest Links:

Website: emotionatwork.co.uk

LinkedIn: Phil Willcox on LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned:

• Emotion at Work Podcast
• Emotions Revealed by Paul Ekman
• How to Disagree by Ian Leslie
• High Performing Teams Blueprint – Download Here
  

🎧 Want more? Visit 150CLD.co.uk to explore upcoming episodes and learn more about training and facilitation for forward-thinking construction leaders.