First Site by Construction News

Эпизоды

• 
  Episode 32 : Inside the data centre challenge 19.08.2026 49мин

  In this episode, we explore whether the construction industry can deliver enough data centres to satisfy the UK’s AI ambitions. What are the main challenges facing the construction sector when it comes to data centres?  What are the potential solutions? CN deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by David McDonnell, managing director of data centres at main contractor McLaren;  Sam Stacey, director of systems integration firm A7C; and James Halse, Director and Data Centre Project Management Lead UK Turner & Townsend UK
• 
  Episode 31: Brexit – 10 years after the vote with John Wilkinson, Kelly Boorman and Graham Robinson 19.06.2026 49мин

  In this episode we look at the effects, both immediate and lingering, of Brexit on the construction industry. It’s now 10 years since the British electorate voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. Are the ramifications of that decision, which only passed by a narrow margin, still being felt in the UK’s construction sector today? What have been the long-term effects on the labour market and the prices of materials? How has it affected the pipeline of apprenticeships coming into the industry? CN’s features editor, Matt Davies, is joined by John Wilkinson, the chief operating officer at Bam UK & Ireland, Kelly Boorman, the head of construction at the audit, tax and consultancy firm, RSM and Graham Robinson, global infrastructure and construction lead at Oxford Economics and global business consultant at Pinsent Mason.
• 
  Episode 30 - Retentions: Retain or remove? With Rob Driscoll, Melanie Leech and Chris Hallam 04.05.2026 39мин

  In this episode we look at retentions. In late March, the government announced it was proposing to ban the use of retentions in construction contracts. The proposed ban is part of a wider package of measures aimed at tackling late payments across the UK economy as a whole, which the government says forces 38 small business to the wall every day. In construction, banning retentions might protect smaller firms from losing money when contractors further up the supply chain won’t pay or become insolvent. But for some, retentions are a vital tool that incentivise contractors to meet their obligations, especially when it comes to the quality of a build and correcting any defects. CN’s features editor, Matt Davies, is joined by Rob Driscoll, director of legal and business at the Electrical Contractors' Association, Melanie Leech, the chief executive at the British Property Federation and Chris Hallam, a partner at the law firm CMS.
• 
  Episode 29 – Putting Safety First with Peter Bennett OBE, Tom Jewell and Dr Keith Whitehead 19.03.2026 28мин

  In this episode, we’re taking a look at safety. Even though UK construction sites have some of the strictest regulations in the world, accidents still happen and fatalities still occur. So, can standards be raised and the number of fatalities and non-fatal injuries be reduced? CN’s features editor, Matt Davies, is joined by Peter Bennett OBE, the chair of the No Falls Foundation, Tom Jewell, the co-founder of the Soteria Group and Dr Keith Whitehead, senior consultant with the British Safety Council.
• 
  Episode 28 – Improving competency standards with Jon Vanstone, Gill Hancock and Faye Burnett. 18.02.2026 28мин

  In this edition, we take a closer look at competence, an issue that’s been under scrutiny since the Grenfell tragedy and the advent of the Building Safety Act. Competence frameworks are being set up, but how will they make a difference to the worker on a building site? Construction News Features Editor, Matt Davies, is joined by those at the centre of improving competence standards in the construction industry: Jon Vanstone, chair of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), Gill Hancock, co-chair of the Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) and Faye Burnett, programme director of Sector-Led Group 10 (SLG-10), a super-sector group within the ICSG, which is creating the competency frameworks for installation and maintenance roles.
• 
  Looking back at 2025 with the Construction News editorial team 22.12.2025 41мин

  In a special end-of-year episode of First Site, the CN editorial team picks out the big themes in our coverage over the past 12 months. CN deputy editor Ben Vogel is joined by features editor Matt Davies, news editor Nicky Harley and senior reporter Josh Stein.
• 
  Making sense of digital product passports with Peter Caplehorn, Stephen Hamil and Matt Brinklow 12.11.2025 50мин

  In this edition of First Site, Construction News deputy editor Ben Vogel explores the fast-emerging world of digital product passports and their implications for transparency, accountability and sustainability across the construction supply chain. Joining him to unpack how the technology could reshape regulation, procurement and data management are Peter Caplehorn, chief executive of the Construction Products Association; Dr Stephen Hamil, innovation director at NBS; and Matt Brinklow, sustainability lead at Mace. 
• 
  Spotlight on the CN100 with Atul Kariya and Max Jones 09.10.2025 42мин

  In this episode of First Site, Construction News Deputy Editor Ben Vogel is joined by MHA’s Atul Kariya and Lloyds Bank’s Max Jones to unpack the latest CN100 index of the UK’s top construction contractors. With profits and margins rebounding to pre-pandemic highs, how sustainable is this recovery? How are firms managing cash, risk, and resilience? The discussion also looks into the future of contracting models and whether the £725bn infrastructure pipeline will deliver long-term strength or new financial pressures. Find out more about a CN Premium Subscription which will enable you to compare and contrast previous CN 100s here: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/subscribe/
• 
  Getting to grips with the infrastructure strategy with Jonathan Willcock and Rachel Skinner 28.08.2025 30мин

  In this edition, we ask if the government’s £725bn infrastructure strategy will deliver on time and on target? And is £725bn enough to boost the UK’s attractiveness as an investment destination? Joining CN’s features editor, Matt Davies, to discuss the infrastructure pipeline, spatial planning, regionalisation and the involvement of the private sector are Jonathan Willcock, Managing Director for Transportation at Costain and Rachel Skinner, Executive Director at WSP.
• 
  Spotlight on life sciences with Nick Abbey and Lee Hutchinson 24.06.2025 48мин

  To coincide with CN’s Life Sciences & Research Clusters event, we look into the factors behind life science construction growth, the state of the market and the near-term outlook. CN Deputy Editor Ben Vogel is joined by Lee Hutchinson, regional director of life science at Sisk UK, and Nick Abbey, Director of Operations at Mace for Public Sector and Life Sciences.
• 
  Building Women – How everyone in construction can win, with Fay Allen 22.05.2025 44мин

  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.
• 
  PAS 2080 in construction – are we at the tipping point? with Mark Fenton and Matt Pygott 23.04.2025 45мин

  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?    
• 
  Building safety beyond Grenfell with Michael O'Connor, Amanda Long and Stuart Green 19.03.2025 52мин

  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.
• 
  New Towns with Hugh Ellis and Rico Wojtulewicz 19.02.2025 44мин

  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  
• 
  Live from Leeds at Speedy Hire Live Sustainability Summit: racing to net zero and battling modern slavery 22.01.2025 52мин

  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. 
• 
  2024 in review with the Construction News editorial team 18.12.2024 42мин

  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.
• 
  Spotlight on carbon accounting with Geraint Rowland and James Low 20.11.2024 49мин

  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.
• 
  Gender balance in the construction industry with Clare Francis, Angela Hughes and Jennifer McNab 23.10.2024 48мин

  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 report with Gill Hancock and Tom Thurlow 18.09.2024 48мин

  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.  
• 
  How will Labour's housing and growth plans impact contractors? With Viral Desai and Mike Reader 21.08.2024 42мин

  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.