Site Story – Details, episodes & analysis

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Site Story

Colin Tomlinson

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/27d. Total Eps: 17

The People, Skills and Strategies that Bring Projects to Life. Site Story is where construction meets conversation. This podcast takes you beyond the technical plans and into the minds of the people behind them. Each episode dives into the diverse roles and relationships that make projects succeed—unpacking the blueprints of leadership, collaboration and craftsmanship that shape the industry. We explore the essential contributions of every role on a construction project and bridge the gap between the technical and the human side of construction.

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Data updated on 23/10/2026

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Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyairs-pp/
1 share
https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-hampson-9380287/
1 share
https://www.linkedin.com/in/philwillcox/
1 share

https://150cld.co.uk
4 shares

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 68%

Publication history

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Stop Telling Men To Talk About Mental Health

Season 3 · Episode 7

Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Duration 39:28

What if the reason many men struggle to open up about mental health is because we're asking them in the wrong way?

In this episode, host Colin Tomlinson speaks with Anthony Hutton, founder of the Never Throw In The Towel project, former Big Brother winner, barber, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate. Anthony shares how his own experiences with fame, adversity, and personal challenges inspired him to create practical, male-focused approaches to mental wellbeing.

In this episode:

Why traditional mental health campaigns often fail to engage men
How a barber chair can become a safe space for life-changing conversations
The power of storytelling in creating trust and connection
Simple breathwork techniques to manage stress and anxiety
Why walking side-by-side often leads to deeper conversations
The importance of environment, community, and daily habits for mental wellbeing
Practical advice for leaders wanting to support mental health within their teams
The story behind the Never Throw In The Towel movement and its growing impact

A powerful conversation about resilience, vulnerability, leadership, and creating spaces where people feel safe enough to ask for help.

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Returning to Work After Maternity

Season 3 · Episode 6

Thursday, May 21, 2026 • Duration 32:50

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.

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Unlocking Mega Project Success

Season 3 · Episode 5

Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 43:42

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.

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Harnessing Technology and AI for Construction Site Productivity

Season 3 · Episode 1

Thursday, March 26, 2026 • Duration 45:12

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.

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Why do so many mega-projects go sideways—and what can we actually do about it?

Season 2 · Episode 6

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 • Duration 39:28

Delivering mega-projects is never simple—but are we making it harder than it needs to be? In this episode of Site Story, host Colin Tomlinson is joined by Jim Weeden, a seasoned delivery director who's led major infrastructure initiatives for Network Rail and beyond. Together, they explore the universal truths of project success, no matter the industry.

Jim shares powerful leadership lessons from his military background and how they apply in the high-stakes world of construction, engineering, and cross-sector projects. Expect insights that are practical, hard-won, and refreshingly human.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

What a 'project' really is—beyond the Gantt chart
Why leadership isn't just a buzzword in delivery roles
How military experience shaped Jim’s project philosophy
Real stories of resilience, challenge, and wins
Lessons from crossing industry lines that apply everywhere

If you’re in the business of delivering anything—this one’s for you.

Resources

About the Guest
Jim Weeden is a former British Army officer turned mega-project delivery director. With leadership roles across Network Rail and Bechtel, he's known for his calm under pressure, human-first leadership style, and ability to get results in complex environments.

Guest Links
LinkedIn

Mentioned in the Episode

Network Rail
Bechtel
Project delivery in public and private sectors

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Bridging the Skills Gap in Construction with John Cartwright

Season 2 · Episode 5

Wednesday, November 26, 2025 • Duration 49:14

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

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Quality, Culture and Coaching: Peter Billimoria on Leading Construction Differently

Season 2 · Episode 4

Thursday, November 20, 2025 • Duration 36:19

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

Building a Career in Construction: Rohit Malhotra's Journey

Season 2 · Episode 3

Thursday, November 13, 2025 • Duration 38:47

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

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No Tenders, No Disputes: Len Nugent’s 40-Year Playbook

Season 2 · Episode 2

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 33:23

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

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Why Hiding Mistakes is Making Your Site Less Safe

Season 2 · Episode 1

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • Duration 46:12

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

Site Story – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Spotify

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Site Story – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

LinkedIn11

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RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

LinkedIn11

Other7