First Site by Construction News

Construction News editor Colin Marrs is joined by Faye Allen, director at J.S. Held, to talk about her new book exploring how improving the situation of women in the industry can also help men.

Mark Fenton, carbon lead at Sizewell C and Matt Pygott, head of net zero at Speedy, join CN deputy editor Ben Vogel to discuss the PAS 2080 standard for carbon management. Why does it matter, and how can contractors and the supply chain practically align with it?    

In this episode of First Site, we delve into the government's response to the Grenfell Inquiry's final report – and its implications for contractors and the broader construction sector. CN deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by Michael O'Connor, partner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys; Amanda Long, chief executive of the Code for Construction Product Information;  and Professor Stuart Green of the University of Reading's School of Construction Management and Engineering.

What kind of pipelines can contractors expect from a new generation of New Towns? CN features editor Charlotte Banks speaks to Hugh Ellis, policy director at the Town and Country Planning Association, and Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight at the National Federation of Builders  

CN deputy editor Ben Vogel speaks to industry insiders at Speedy Hire's Live Sustainability about what's fuelling the race to net zero on construction sites, and what's on the horizon. He also sits down with an expert panel to discuss what contractors should do to crack down on modern slavery. 

In a special end-of-year episode of First Site, the CN editorial team looks back at the most significant stories that made the headlines in 2024, and takes a look ahead to 2025. CN deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by editor Colin Marrs, news editor Chris Smith and senior reporter Josh Stein.

Are rules requiring contractors to quantify their carbon footprints fit for purpose? CN deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by Geraint Rowland, group environmental director, Costain and James Low, group sustainability director, Mace.

Is the construction industry doing enough to attract, retain and progress women? CN editor Colin Marrs is joined by with Clare Francis, head of recruitment at Willmott Dixon, Angela Hughes, ESG manager at Speedy and Jennifer McNab, people Transformation Business Partner at Speedy Services.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry delivered its final report in early September. Construction News editor Colin Marrs discusses the findings and the potential impact of the inquiry's recommendations on the construction sector with Tom Thurlow, partner at law firm Weightmans and Gill Hancock, head of technical content at the Association for Project Management.  

What can contractors glean about their future pipelines after the Labour government's first month in power? CN editor Colin Marrs is joined by former-Mace-executive-turned-MP Mike Reader MP and Viral Desai, planning, environmental consenting and communities practice director at consultant AtkinsRéalis.

Social value and construction recruitment How can a social value approach to attracting new workers into construction help to deal with the industry's well known labour and skills shortage? To look into this issue, CN deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by Amelia Woodley, ESG director of Speedy Hire, and Emma Grigson and Liz Squire, two experts from the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group.

CN First Site talks to the Mace chief executive and chairman about governance changes at his company, his role at the Construction Leadership Council and what the construction industry needs from government.

In this month's episode of the CN First Site podcast, sponsored by Speedy Hire, deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by two legal experts dive into the new Joint Contracts Tribunal suite, in particular the Design and Build family. What's new about it and how does it help contractors to navigate the various potential issues that can cause project costs to rise? Commenting on these and other aspects of JCT are Charles Pacey, senior associate in Mayer Brown's construction team and Sasha Pirbhai, partner in the construction team at Devonshires.

AI is set to revolutionise the way businesses operate across every global sector - and construction is no exception. But how should the construction sector harness AI? What are the best use cases? To explore these and other aspects of the topic, CN deputy editor Ben Vogel sat down with Lee Daggatt, group IT director Speedy Hire and Richard Potter, chief executive of Peak AI, at the Speedy Expo 2024 in Liverpool.

Has MIPIM shed its testosterone-fuelled image to become more welcoming to women? And has the long-running built environment jamboree successfully recovered after Covid? Venturing to Cannes, First Site discusses these issues with Rachel Bell, director of Women in Property and gets to know Caroline Compton-James, the recently-appointed deputy chief executive of framework provider SCAPE.

In recent years, two-stage tenders have become an increasingly popular choice for contractors and clients in the construction sector. But what are the pros and cons of two-stage tendering, and will it remain popular in the current market environment? CN deputy editor Ben Vogel explores these and other questions with Rob Bradley, a consultant and ex-CEO of Bouygues UK, and Edd Burton, head of advisory services – infrastructure at Aecom

Construction News editor Colin Marrs delves into the skills challenge posed by the decarbonisation agenda with Derek Horrocks, chair of the National Home Decarbonisation Group, Keith Bottomley, chair of London's Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce and Speedy Hire's ESG director Amelia Woodley.

In a special end-of-year episode of First Site, deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by CN news editor Will Ing and reporter Charlotte Banks to look back at the big topics of 2023. Kelly Boorman, national head of construction at RSM UK, then shares her thoughts on the year ahead. 

Deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by Rob Driscoll, director of legal and business at the Electrical Contractors' Association, Iain McIlwee, chief executive of Finishes & Interiors Sector and Roni Savage, managing director at Jomas Associates.

his episode of First Site explores how the plant hire sector is helping the construction industry adapt to the decarbonisation and net zero agenda. Joining CN deputy editor Ben Vogel are Speedy Hire's ESG director Amelia Woodley and the firm's business development director for HS2, Matt Seaman.

Coinciding with our latest annual CN100 index of top-performing UK contractors, the latest episode of First Site focuses on financial and economic issues facing small, medium and large firms. Construction News deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by Max Jones, a director in Lloyds Bank's infrastructure and construction team, and Leighton More, chief financial officer at Sir Robert McAlpine.

On the first episode of the brand new First Site podcast by Construction News, we dive into one of the biggest challenges facing the sector – decarbonising steel and concrete. Together, these materials account for 14% of global carbon emissions, a huge contributor to such a huge challenge for the construction industry. Joining editor of Construction News Colin Marrs for this inaugural episode are Ian Riley, chief executive of the World Cement Association, and Dr. Michael Sansom, sustainability manager at the British Constructional Steel Work Association. First Site is a new podcast by Construction News, in partnership with Speedy Hire. Each month we talk to industry experts about the hot topics in construction. Find out more at constructionnews.co.uk/podcast. Construction News is the leading provider of UK construction industry news, opinion, analysis and events. We bring contractors, suppliers and clients together to share knowledge, best practice and other industry insight. We honour excellence in the industry through our awards events, which are judged by independent panels. Visit constructionnews.co.uk for more.

Introducing the brand new podcast, by Construction News, in Partnership with Speedy Hire. Each month on First Site we'll bring you in-depth discussions with industry experts on the hot topics in construction Join editor of Construction News, Colin Marrs, and his editorial team as they explore the challenges, opportunities, and very best in case studies, standard setting, and innovation. Subscribe now to have each episode delivered straight to your device every month. Find out more at constructionnews.co.uk/podcast.