!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!!

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In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined once again by his co-founder and sidekick, Chris Barber, for another round of Question Time. This time, the duo dives deep into one of the most shocking industry stats of 2025: the QS workforce has dropped by over 30% in just 12 months.

Together, they unpack why so many quantity surveyors are leaving the industry and discuss the knock-on effects on teams, projects, and future recruitment. From Reddit threads to anecdotes about early careers, to the pressures of poor tech and endless conflict – this is a raw and honest look at the current commercial landscape.

They also answer a range of listener questions including:

• Should QSs be getting bonuses for value engineering?
• Does a WhatsApp chat really count as a legally binding contract?
• How to think about early career progression and finding the right company fit.

This is an essential listen for QSs of all levels looking to make sense of today's challenges and get ahead in a changing market.

🔗 Check the link below to download Paul’s free ebook:

Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success

For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at paul@c-link.com or through, C-Link.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!!

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In this episode, Paul is joined by Rob Munns, Head of Sales at BFT Mast Climbing Ltd — the UK’s leading provider of mast climbers.

You might think access equipment isn’t the most exciting topic in the world, but this conversation is a wake-up call for QSs, PMs, and operational teams. Paul and Rob unpack why the UK construction industry still defaults to scaffold — despite the cost, time, social impact, and program risks — and explore the commercial and operational business case for mast climbers.

Paul also reflects on his early career procuring scaffold on remediation jobs — and how little consideration was given to alternatives. With scaffold often the default spec, is the industry missing a massive value engineering opportunity?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why scaffold is the "comfort blanket" of the industry — and at what cost
• The major savings (cost, time, social impact) of mast climbers
• Why mast climbers aren’t used more — and how to challenge myths
• How QSs can build a business case for alternative access strategies
• What Rob learned from interviewing residents about life behind scaffold
• How curiosity and early engagement can unlock better decisions

🔗 Check the link below to download Paul’s free ebook:

Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success

For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at paul@c-link.com or through, C-Link.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.

!!!Get your free OTB Live Tickets here - Own The Build Live, October 23rd!!!

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This week on Own the Build, Paul is joined by Dave Stitt, a leadership team coach with 25+ years of experience working with boards and senior project teams across the UK construction industry.

In this episode, Paul and Dave deep-dive into a subject that every QS, PM, and Director talks about—but few know how to actively build: Trust.

Together, they unpack:

🔍 Why trust is so often missing in project teams
📉 The cost of lip-service collaboration with subcontractors
📈 How QSs and leaders can actually build trustworthy relationships—on-site, in business, and beyond

Dave also shares a practical tool you can use with your team immediately:
👉 Download the Trustworthy Tracker

And if you want to explore Dave’s wider philosophy on leadership and performance, check out his book:
👉 Deep and Deliberate Delegation on Amazon

This is a punchy and thoughtful episode—packed with real-world leadership insights that will resonate whether you're managing a project team or trying to move up the commercial ladder.

📩 If you'd like to read the two Own the Build eBooks based on 200+ episodes — Mastering Your Career in Quantity Surveying and The AI Revolution in Quantity Surveying — head to the show notes to download your free copy.

Download them here - Free eBook Downloads.

Send us a text

Want to connect with Paul?

Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at paul@c-link.com or through, C-Link.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.