I'm The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people, offering insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint unprecedented success in the dynamic world of construction. Whether you are still ‘on the tools’, just getting started, a seasoned site manager focused on large-scale project management, or a fast-growth building industry entrepreneur/developer this podcast is for you.
Gavin's guests, ranging from influential thought leaders to boots-on-the-ground practitioners, share their stories, successes and failures, and offer invaluable lessons and tips, allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the construction landscape. This podcast is a must have shared learning space for any person looking to achieve success in the building industry.
As a construction person, this podcast is your go-to source for navigating the complexities of the construction industry where success is not just built; it's crafted with precision, passion, and the right knowledge.
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Falls From Height: The No. 1 Killer on Site, And What Actually Works - Peter Bennett OBE (No Falls Foundation)
Saison 1 · Épisode 124
mardi 29 septembre 2026 • Durée 58:10
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer
If you have ever sent a man 200 miles in a van with two ladders on the roof rack and wondered why he didn't "work safely," this episode is about why falls from height are still the number one killer on site, and what 45 years at the sharp end of the access industry says actually fixes it.
Peter Bennett OBE joins Gavin Coyle. Peter is managing director of PASMA, executive director of the Ladder Association, chair of the No Falls Foundation and a past president of IPAF, 45 years in access, from a Glasgow scaffolding yard with Stevens & Carter to writing the standards the industry works to today. Fresh HSE fatality statistics had been released the very morning of the recording, and Peter walks through what they really mean.
You'll learn:
• The numbers: 35 killed in falls last year, 361 in a decade, 44,000 non-fatal falls a year in GB
• Why non-fatal falls are just as serious, life-changing injuries, not just fatalities
• The fatality Peter's carried for decades, and why nobody got counselling
• The two most dangerous people on site: the novice, and the over-55 who's "forgotten" the danger
• Sign up for No Falls Week: https://nofallsweek.org/
About Coyle Group
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
PPE Wasn't Designed For Women? | Jane Middleton (AtkinsRéalis)
Saison 1 · Épisode 123
mardi 15 septembre 2026 • Durée 50:51
If you have ever hopped into a site truck because your trousers were too tight to climb, tucked your glasses under your hard hat to keep them on, or been asked "is that your dad's coat?" this episode is about why that was never good enough, and the new British Standard that says so.
Jane Middleton joins Gavin Coyle. She's a senior asset management consultant at AtkinsRéalis and a chartered geologist, shortlisted for an Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering award in 2023. She started out supervising drilling rigs on the Heathrow expansion project, in PPE that didn't fit, and ended up helping write the new British Standard for inclusive PPE and workwear, launched October 2025 with a parliamentary launch behind it, legislation and European adoption now in progress.
You'll Learn:
What AtkinsRéalis does and how Jane's career led from geology to asset management
How a simple struggle with PPE sparked a mission for change
Why the "average man" became the default design standard for workwear and PPE
How Jane helped transform her company's PPE catalogue with more inclusive options
The impact of properly fitting PPE on safety, confidence, and belonging
Menopause, modesty wear, disability access, and other overlooked workplace needs
The story behind the British Standard for inclusive PPE
Why 82% of female firefighters reported that their gloves don't fit
The business case for inclusive PPE and attracting future talent
How one wheelchair-using project manager challenged manufacturers to think differently
What's next for PPE standards in the UK and Europe
Jane's personal passions, lessons learned, and advice to her younger self
Episode Highlights / Timestamps
00:00 82% of female firefighters said their gloves don't fit
01:02 Meet Jane Middleton
06:41 From geology to asset management
13:40 The PPE problem begins
14:40 The Hilux moment
16:51 The "average man" template
17:37 Transforming the PPE catalogue
Mast Climbers Beat Scaffolding | Rob Munns (BFT Mastclimbing)
Saison 1 · Épisode 122
mardi 8 septembre 2026 • Durée 49:52
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷
If scaffolding is your default solution for working at height, this episode may change your perspective.
Gavin Coyle sits down with Rob Munns, Head of Sales at BFT Mastclimbing, to explore how mast climbing work platforms can improve safety, productivity, and project costs. With a background outside construction, Rob brings a fresh perspective and challenges long-held assumptions about access solutions on site.
You'll learn:
What mast climbers are and how they work
Key safety features and common site mistakes to avoid
The importance of proper training, certification, and inspections
Why "buy cheap, get cheap" can be a costly mistake
The truth about wind limits and other common myths
How mast climbers reduce labor, improve ergonomics, and increase safety
Real-world cost comparisons between scaffolding and mast climbers
The types of projects where mast climbers deliver the biggest benefits
Rob's thoughts on men's mental health and lessons learned throughout his career
🎯 Highlights / Timestamps
00:58 Meet Rob Munns and BFT Mastclimbing
02:13 What is a mast climber?
09:48 The drop-down flap safety story
12:28 Overspeed safety systems explained
17:46 Why quality matters in mast climbing
18:29 IPAF training and accreditation
25:14 Busting the wind myth
28:03 A gang of eight vs a gang of two
32:07 The economics of mast climbers
35:20 Productivity and ergonomic benefits
43:06 The only buildings mast climbers can't handle
46:33 Men's mental health and career advice
Lean Doesn't Mean Less People — It Means Better | Kelley Huss (JE Dunn Construction)
Saison 1 · Épisode 121
mardi 25 août 2026 • Durée 46:25
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷♂️
If you've ever thought of lean as corporate jargon — or a polite word for layoffs — this conversation will change how you look at your crews, meetings, and margins.
In this episode, Kelley Huss, Manager of Lean at JE Dunn Construction, joins Gavin Coyle to unpack what lean really means on a job site. Kelley shares practical lessons from her career in construction and explains how lean can improve efficiency, strengthen relationships, and solve real problems in the field.
You'll learn:
What lean actually means — and why it's not about cutting headcount
Why lean fails when it's treated as just another checklist or tool
How process mapping helped a trade partner get paid within 19 days
How weekly work plans helped turn around a losing project
Why lean managers need relationships and champions, not just expertise
How lean can be applied earlier in design and pre-construction
Why treating subcontractors as trade partners can improve collaboration
Quality Isn't Paperwork — It's Profit | Lorna Hagan on ISO 9001 Done Right
Saison 1 · Épisode 120
mardi 18 août 2026 • Durée 46:09
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer
If you've ever wondered whether ISO 9001 is worth the bureaucracy — or written off quality as box-ticking that lives in a filing cabinet — this conversation will change how you look at your bottom line.
In this episode, Lorna Hagan joins Gavin Coyle to unpack why quality is profit, not paperwork. Lorna is a civil engineer and chartered quality professional with 20+ years on main contractor sites — from Crossrail and nuclear decommissioning to three-bed semis — and the founder of Construct Tuition, where she trains and consults construction businesses to get it right first time. She was previously head of quality for a tier one contractor overseeing £250 million a year of civil engineering projects.
You'll learn:
- The Get It Right Initiative research: 21% of construction turnover is wasted in error — against a 5% tier one margin — and why most of that loss lands on SME subcontractors
- The "spirit of 9001": what a plumbing contractor with five vans should be asking on the drive home every night
- What implementing ISO 9001/14001/45001 actually costs (ballpark ~€20k for the full suite) — and the Local Enterprise Office / Invest NI grants that can offset it
- Why written processes are what let you scale, take a holiday, or sell — "without those, YOU are the risk in the business"
- The "Saturday morning jobs" and Magic Man: the unrecorded process waste quietly eating your margin
- How targeted training cut £5,000-a-time concrete NCRs by 75% — and saved £155,000 in six months
- Post-Grenfell accountability: why "he won't see it from my house" doesn't wash anymore
Episode Highlights / Timestamps
00:54 Welcome: why quality is integral to a successful organization
The Billion Dollar Blindspot Every Construction Leader Has | Hacia Atherton
Saison 1 · Épisode 119
mardi 4 août 2026 • Durée 47:44
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷♂️
If you're a construction business owner wondering whether the next stage of growth is worth what it might cost your culture, this conversation will stop you in your tracks.
In this episode, Hacia Atherton joins Gavin Coyle to discuss what success actually feels like (not just what it looks like on paper), why pushing past $5M in turnover changes your business in ways you can't reverse, and how leaders in male-dominated industries can build cultures where people feel like humans, not tools. Hacia is the founder of Empowered Women in Trades, author of The Billion Dollar Blindspot, and a high-performance culture strategist who rebuilt her own life after a catastrophic riding accident left her learning to stand again.
You'll learn:
- Why defining success as a *feeling* — not a revenue number — changes every decision that follows
- The "pirates to Navy" transition: what really happens to a family culture when you push past $5M
- How to spot consultants and marketing gurus selling one-size-fits-all playbooks (and why they can't work)
- How one trades business unlocked a whole new market by hiring female tradespeople for domestic-violence housing
- Why men in construction "opt out of life" before asking for help — and what leaders can do about it
- Practical niches and recurring-revenue ideas for trades businesses (data centres, med gas, maintenance education)
🎯 Episode Highlights / Timestamps
- 00:00 Coming up
- 01:17 Welcome: leadership, culture and the signs someone is struggling
- 03:00 A fifth-generation plumbing family ("plumbers save more lives than doctors")
- 05:01 The welding lesson: "the metal doesn't know if you're a girl"
How To Own A Construction Business Without Being A Contractor
Saison 1 · Épisode 118
mardi 28 juillet 2026 • Durée 44:34
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷♂️
What if you could own a successful construction business... without ever picking up the tools?
In this episode, Max Emma, CEO & Founder of FranchiseWithMax.com, joins Gavin Coyle to explore why construction franchising is becoming one of the biggest business opportunities today.
From painting and plumbing to electrical, roofing, handyman services, and home improvements, Max explains why skilled trades continue to thrive, why AI won't replace them anytime soon, and how entrepreneurs can build profitable businesses using proven franchise systems.
The conversation also covers one of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing a franchise, why royalties shouldn't be your only consideration, and how the right franchise can provide marketing, lead generation, estimating, dispatching, training, and business systems that dramatically reduce risk.
Whether you're a contractor looking to scale, an entrepreneur considering business ownership, or someone exploring franchising for the first time, this episode offers practical insights into building a business without starting from scratch.
You'll learn:
Why construction franchising is growing rapidly
Why AI won't replace skilled trades anytime soon
How franchise systems reduce business risk
Why you shouldn't compare franchises on royalties alone
What great franchise systems actually provide
How marketing, dispatching and estimating can accelerate growth
Why business owners should avoid "buying themselves a job"
The biggest mindset shift every new franchise owner needs
How diversification creates long-term business growth
The advice Max would give his younger self about entrepreneurship
Episode Highlights / Timestamps
Why construction franchising is booming
Why Great Leaders Reward Mistakes (The Human Business with Glen Bostock)
Saison 1 · Épisode 117
mardi 14 juillet 2026 • Durée 46:21
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷♂️
What if the biggest mistake leaders make is punishing mistakes?
In this episode, Glenn Bostock, Founder of SnapCab and author of The Human Business, joins Gavin Coyle to share how changing the way he treated employees transformed his company culture, improved innovation, and helped build a thriving manufacturing business.
From rewarding employees for identifying mistakes to creating a workplace built on kindness, authenticity, and purpose, Glenn explains why businesses should focus on helping people thrive, not simply maximizing profit.
Whether you're a business owner, construction leader, project manager, entrepreneur, HR professional, or team leader, this conversation offers practical leadership lessons you can apply immediately.
You'll learn:
Why rewarding mistakes creates stronger teams
How fear prevents innovation and continuous improvement
The leadership lesson that changed Glenn's business forever
How one employee mistake saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars
Why people are motivated by purpose more than fear
How to build a workplace where employees actively solve problems
The three core values behind SnapCab's company culture
Why money should be a tool, not the ultimate goal of business
🎯 Episode Highlights / Timestamps
00:00 Rewarding mistakes instead of punishing them
00:47 Introduction to Glenn Bostock & employee engagement
03:18 Learning disabilities and the leadership lesson that shaped SnapCab
12:41 The employee mistake that changed everything
Tender Writing Secrets: What Buyers Really Want (Bid Expert Explains)
Saison 1 · Épisode 116
mardi 7 juillet 2026 • Durée 48:16
Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer 👷♂️
If you're a contractor, construction business owner, project manager, engineer, estimator, consultant, or SME looking to win more government and public sector work, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply to your next tender.
In this episode, Jason Cooney, Director of Tsaks Consulting, joins Gavin Coyle to break down the tender process—from deciding whether to bid, writing stronger responses, pricing competitively, using AI effectively, and understanding what buyers are really looking for.
You'll learn:
How to quickly assess whether a tender is worth pursuing
The biggest mistakes businesses make when bidding for government contracts
Why social value has become a major scoring factor
How to structure stronger, more consistent tender responses
The role of AI in tender writing—and where human expertise still matters
Why buyers don't always choose the cheapest bid
Practical pricing strategies that protect your profit while remaining competitive
How to improve your chances of winning government and public sector contracts
🎯 Episode Highlights / Timestamps
00:00 Check the mandatory criteria first
01:30 Introduction to Jason Cooney
05:26 First steps after receiving a tender
10:37 Tender trends: innovation, AI & whole-of-life costs
13:10 Why social value can make or break your bid
18:06 Building consistent tender responses
21:35 Creating a winning tender response library
25:28 Inside the buyer's mindset
31:19 Why buyers want you to succeed
37:09 Pricing strategies and pricing buffers
Why Architects Are Losing Influence in Construction | Lance Cayko
Saison 1 · Épisode 115
mardi 23 juin 2026 • Durée 45:26
Welcome to a new episode of I’m The Gaffer 👷♂️
If you're a construction business owner, architect, engineer, contractor, project manager, developer, or someone involved in designing and delivering projects, this conversation offers valuable insights into architecture, construction, entrepreneurship, AI, leadership, and the future of the built environment.
In this episode, Lance Cayko joins Gavin Coyle to discuss why architects need to reconnect with the construction industry, how builders and architects can work more effectively together, the impact of AI on professional services, and why understanding construction can make you a better designer and business owner.
You'll learn:
Why architects need stronger relationships with builders, subcontractors, and the people actually delivering projects
How spending time in the field can improve designs, reduce mistakes, and earn respect from trades
Why many architecture firms struggle with business, profitability, and long-term growth
How AI is changing architecture and why practical construction experience is becoming more valuable
Why Lance believes architects should reclaim the role of the master builder and take a bigger role in construction projects
🎯 Episode Highlights / Timestamps
00:00 Why builders earn more than architects
01:12 Introduction to Lance Cayko
02:27 Starting in construction at age 13
08:54 Why entrepreneurship and architecture rarely go together
12:10 The ego problem in architecture
15:08 Why architects don't talk to tradespeople
17:29 How subcontractors improved architectural drawings
21:44 AI and the future of architecture
Podcasts Similaires Basées sur le Contenu
Découvrez des podcasts liées à I'm The Gaffer. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !
The British Standard (launched October 2025) is free to download, send it to your boss
About Coyle Group
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
48:08 How to connect with Rob and BFT Mastclimbing
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
- Her podcast: Rebuild the Construction Mindset (with Jenna Hamilton)
- Book she recommends: Everything I Know About Lean I Learned in First Grade — on Amazon and Audible
About Coyle Group
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
02:28 Getting started: "I wasn't smart enough to be a vet" — Crossrail, nuclear, 20 years with main contractors
05:52 Devil's advocate: do I really need 9001 with 20 guys and a handbook?
11:58 The economics: gap analysis, integrated audits, ~€20k, and grant support
16:34 Scalability: written processes or YOU are the risk in the business
18:15 The Get It Right Initiative: 21% of turnover wasted vs 5% margin
23:33 "You'll not see it from my house" — the sayings that are gone
27:05 Saturday morning jobs: the mistakes that never make a sheet
29:46 Concrete NCRs at £5k each — training that cut them 75%
39:37 Imposter syndrome at the top of Canary Wharf — "don't doubt yourself again"
42:46 A passion for representing women in construction
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
- Instagram: (their team confirms handle at review)
About Coyle Group
Coyle Group is a leading provider of outsourced safety solutions to the construction industry. With over 25 years of experience, a team of 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours delivered, Coyle Group helps construction companies build safer, more successful projects. Learn more at https://www.coyle-group.com
About the Podcast
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people, offering insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint unprecedented success in the dynamic world of construction. Whether you are still 'on the tools', just getting started, a seasoned site manager focused on large-scale project management, or a fast-growth building industry entrepreneur/developer, this podcast is for you.
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on construction, leadership, franchising, entrepreneurship, business growth, engineering, project management, safety, and building successful businesses.
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With over 25 years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and more than 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture.
Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With 25+ years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and over 1 million safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly.
I'm The Gaffer, hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, and project delivery.
Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction.
With 25+ years of experience, 100+ safety professionals, and 1M+ safety hours completed, Coyle Group helps projects run safely and compliantly.
I’m The Gaffer, hosted by construction professional Gavin Coyle, brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share real insights on leadership, growth, safety, engineering, construction, and business success.
Subscribe for more insights for construction business owners, architects, engineers, contractors, project leaders, developers, and industry professionals.
