Explore every episode of the podcast Site Story

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

What does it really take to lead major infrastructure projects?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson chats with Matt Hadden, Project Director at Morgan Sindall, about the real responsibilities, pressures, and satisfactions of being a PD in today’s construction world.

From running multimillion-pound programmes on the London Underground to handling unexpected events—like a colleague breaking their wrist on holiday—Matt shares what the job looks like day to day, how he prepares teams to succeed and why leadership is more about people than process.

In this episode:

• The mindset shift from engineer to leader—and why it’s not just about getting promoted
• How Matt launches new projects to align teams, reduce risk, and build trust early
• His journey from site engineer to PD—and what he wishes he knew earlier
• The role of resilience, curiosity, and communication in managing complex teams
• How sailing and an MBA have influenced his leadership style
  

Whether you're an early-career engineer or an experienced manager eyeing your next step, this is a candid look at the role of a Project Director—beyond the job title.

It’s not about control. It’s about clarity, connection, and creating the conditions for success.

About the guest: Matt Hadden is Project Director at Morgan Sindall, currently leading infrastructure projects across London Underground and beyond. He’s also a volunteer sailing skipper and MBA graduate.

Guest links:

LinkedIn – Matt Hadden

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure

Mentioned in the episode:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• The Open University MBA
• Rona Sailing Project (volunteer programme)
  

For more episodes and insights into careers in construction, subscribe to Site Story and explore resources at https://150cld.co.uk.  

What happens when environmental leadership is treated as a side project — instead of a core strategy?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin Tomlinson is joined by sustainability expert Vanessa Gatward, whose career spans frontline construction, client-side strategy and executive-level consulting. Together, they explore how the role of sustainability has evolved — and why it still isn't integrated enough in how we plan, build and lead.

You’ll hear about:

• The high-pressure moment that brought environment to the top table on a tunnelling mega-project

• Why the best sustainability teams don’t work in isolation

• The hidden carbon cost of asphalt — and what to do about it

• How leadership culture shapes environmental compliance, trust and delivery

• Why meaningful sustainability must show up in procurement, design, HR and finance

• The difference between technical risk and reputational risk in environmental decisions

• What happens when you "just wait to fix it on site"
  

Vanessa brings personal stories, strategic insight and a clear challenge for leaders: sustainability can’t just be a technical consideration. It’s a leadership one.

This is a must-listen for anyone delivering infrastructure, managing teams or shaping policy.

About the Guest: Vanessa Gatward is a sustainability specialist and consultant, with experience across contracting, client organisations, and major infrastructure projects. She now works with executive teams to embed sustainability into core business strategy.

Guest Website and Links:

• LinkedIn: Vanessa Gatward

• BehaviourLab: behaviourlab.co.uk
  

Resources Mentioned:

• BBC Podcast: The Climate Question

• Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA)

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation

• East West Rail: eastwestrail.co.uk
  

Want to lead sustainability from the front, not the fringes? Listen to the episode and subscribe to Site Story for more conversations that connect people, projects, and purpose.

What does it really take to build one of the UK’s most ambitious rail projects — and lead through every twist, challenge and concrete pour?

In this episode of Site Story, Colin is joined by Lenka Vošvrdová CEng MICE, a civil engineer whose journey spans Czechia, Russia, France, and the UK — culminating in her role delivering a complex viaduct on HS2 through central Birmingham. Now based in Switzerland, Lenka reflects on the lessons of international project work, the reality of leading on-site, and why engineering remains a people-first profession.

You’ll hear about:

• What it’s like to build one of HS2’s most iconic viaducts from the ground up

• Why she always recruited for mindset, not just experience

• The real learning curve of “self-delivery” vs subcontracting

• Her earliest site experience on the Russian border — and what it taught her about resilience

• How her career has been shaped by seeking challenge, not comfort

• Why work-life balance, flexible return paths, and better visibility matter more than ‘women in engineering’ campaigns

• And why every young engineer should travel — and ask more questions
  

Lenka brings refreshing honesty and clear-eyed leadership insight to a role many people still misunderstand. This one’s full of grit, growth and good concrete.

About the Guest:Lenka is a Czech-born civil engineer with global experience across infrastructure and energy projects. She was previously a section manager on HS2 in the UK and now leads major programmes in Switzerland.

Guest Website and Links:

• Connect with Lenka on LinkedIn 

Resources Mentioned:

• HS2 – High Speed Two (UK)

• Vinci Construction

• Ultra-low carbon concrete

• Emerging site tech: robotics, drone scanning, and safety innovation
  

Subscribe to Site Story for real stories from people delivering the world’s most complex engineering projects — and leading in ways that matter.

The People, Skills, and Strategies that Bring Projects to Life.

Site Story is where construction meets conversation. Hosted by Colin Tomlinson of 150CLD, 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.

Whether you're a project manager wondering how to better collaborate with design coordinators or a professional stepping into leadership, Site Story gives you the tools and understanding to work smarter and lead more effectively.