Construction Disrupted
About
Construction Disrupted is a podcast for people working in the construction industry who need to stay current without drowning in noise. With a focus on the current, real-world issues across the built environment, the stories behind the headlines, the shifts worth your time, and the ideas to get you thinking. No froth, all coffee. Each episode follows a clear 3, 2, 1 structure: 3 headlines. Covering the most relevant and interesting topics from the world of construction. 2 opinions. Straight-talking analysis and debrief that digs deep beyond each headline. Why it matters and what it means for the future. 1 takeaway. Sometimes practical, sometimes actionable, or perhaps something to make you think. Hosted by Peter Sumpton and Ryan Jones, who bring a combined 40 years in construction and marketing, Construction Disrupted is designed for thought-leaders and decision-makers who prefer podcasts with more substance and less spin. We know the backdrop, fragmented supply chains, rising costs, skills gaps and sustainability pressures, and we won’t rehash doom for the sake of it. Instead, we move past the headlines and delve into the topics that are shaping the industry today, tomorrow, and probably a couple more days after that. Subscribe and join us every week – most weeks, anyway. Expect clear thinking, dry humour and the occasional soapbox moment.
Episodes
- Bridging Gaps in Construction | Episode 114
This episode explores the resurgence of regeneration under new models, the rise of AI-assisted dispute resolution, and the launch of a marketplace for steel reuse in bridge works.
- UK Construction 2.0 | Episode 113
This episode explores updates in the UK construction sector, focusing on affordable housing design, government initiatives for technical skills in growth industries, and the CITB Industry Impact Fund.
- Women and the Wharf are Winning | Episode 112
This episode examines differing viewpoints on the Middle East conflict's impact, notes a tripling of women completing construction apprenticeships since 2018, and features insights from Canary Wharf's development director on the estate's t…
- Opportunity and Optimism | Episode 111
This episode discusses efforts to accelerate cladding remediation, the transformative power of apprenticeships, and the resilience of architects. It also covers steps taken by the Building Safety Regulator to address the backlog of externa…
- Graduates in Hard Hats | Episode 110
This episode of Construction Disrupted discusses government funding for building inspector training and stalled housing sites. It also covers a survey revealing graduate interest in construction careers.
- The Great British Build-Up | Episode 109
This episode of Construction Disrupted discusses policy changes, housing plans, and improved project delivery strategies in the UK construction industry. It covers the abolition of retention payments, plans for new towns, and initiatives t…
- Gamification of Construction | Episode 108
This episode explores the gamification of construction, examining how the next generation’s gaming skills are shaping the future of the industry. It also covers government initiatives and funding aimed at creating jobs and apprenticeships…
- 706,000 Workers Wanted | Episode 107
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers the updated UK infrastructure pipeline, the need for a streamlined planning system, and a housing development in London. It highlights the demand for 706,000 workers annually and a new 2,300-ho…
- Women, Warnings and Wins | Episode 106
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers record-breaking growth in manufacturing output, warnings about material price increases, and updates on Gateway 2 cases. It also touches on efforts to improve inclusivity on job sites.
- Safety First, Robots Second, and a Really Big Church | Episode 105
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers new government regulations for building safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the projected impact of artificial intelligence on businesses by 2026, and a mention of the Sagrada Familia.
- The 61-Year Renovation Project | Episode 104
This episode explores signs of recovery in the building sector, the importance of quality in construction, and the ambitious restoration plans for the Palace of Westminster. It also covers different options for the renovation project, incl…
- Bottlenecks and Blueprints | Episode 103
This episode of Construction Disrupted, "Bottlenecks and Blueprints," covers challenges in regulatory approvals for high-risk buildings, the impact of trauma-informed design on creating safe spaces, and the enduring value of being an archi…
- Are Robot Dogs the Answer? | Episode 102
This episode discusses rising UK construction costs, the impact of data center growth on labor markets, and the use of robot dogs in nuclear decommissioning. The forecast indicates a 3.6% rise in UK construction costs for 2026, and data ce…
- Self-Belief and Smart Planning | Episode 101
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers the importance of self-belief for UK infrastructure ambitions, the progress of HS2 tunnelling into central London, and the necessity for construction leaders to plan realistically. It features…
- Fraud, Funding, and Frozen Frontiers | Episode 100
This episode discusses the UK’s Warm Homes Plan, including its investment goals and challenges. It also covers calls for fraud investigations in insulation schemes and the completion of a construction project in Antarctica.
- 39bn reasons to learn from mistakes | Episode 99
The construction industry anticipates a strong 2026 with £39 billion in projects, driven by data center demand and civil engineering. There is also discussion about the Northern Powerhouse Rail plan.
- Is Change Destroying Construction? | Episode 98
This episode of Construction Disrupted discusses whether change is destroying construction. It covers market forecasts, tender price inflation, rising building costs, and the struggles of smaller firms. Also, the episode touches on modular…
- A 2025 Review That Doesn't Mention AI | Episode 97
This episode of Construction Disrupted reviews the top UK construction news of 2025. It covers a year of Labour government, challenges in construction college enrollments, and signs of optimism in the industry.
- Blackpool, Bilbao and the Future | Episode 96
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers Frank Gehry's architectural legacy, Blackpool Council's new £200 million Highways Framework, and the evolving trends in the construction industry for 2026, including the impact of technology on…
- Grinding Gears | Episode 95
This episode of Construction Disrupted, "Grinding Gears," discusses the UK construction industry's challenges and potential solutions. Topics include economic recovery, skills shortages impacting net-zero targets, and strategies to reduce…
- Skills to Pay the £10bn Bill | Episode 94
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers the approval of the £10 billion Earls Court District redevelopment, record safety determinations by the Building Safety Regulator, and the UK construction employment reaching its lowest proport…
- Becoming Rachel Reeves | Episode 93
This episode of Construction Disrupted discusses government initiatives to boost housing and infrastructure, consumer confidence, and fiscal policies. It explores the challenges of balancing fiscal policies and maintaining consumer confide…
- Featuring Robert De Niro | Episode 92
This episode covers the untapped potential of AI in the construction industry, the challenges faced by colleges due to increased demand for construction courses, and the stalled Nobu Manchester skyscraper project, which involves Robert De…
- Constructions Big Numbers | Episode 91
This episode of Construction Disrupted discusses major developments in the UK construction and housing sectors, including Balfour Beatty's AI investment, the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, and scrapped transport projects.
- Invest in the Future of Construction | Episode 90
This episode discusses three major developments impacting the UK economy and industries: addressing the AI skills gap, rebuilding Britain's infrastructure, and analyzing industrial advertising trends. It covers initiatives driving growth,…
- Invest in People or Tech? | Episode 89
This episode of Construction Disrupted examines a report by Barbour ABI on marketing in the built environment. It discusses the importance of skilled human capital, strategic AI integration, and improving the construction industry's image.
- Mind the Gaps | Episode 88
This episode of Construction Disrupted explores challenges and opportunities in the construction sector. Topics include policy delays, workforce development, and the adoption of AI technology.
- Make Do and Mend | Episode 87
This episode of Construction Disrupted, "Make Do and Mend," covers financial instability in the construction sector, particularly the rise in business administrations. It also examines the challenges in achieving housing targets due to low…
- The £2 Trillion Question | Episode 86
This episode of Construction Disrupted, titled "The £2 Trillion Question," discusses the £2 trillion loss in global construction activity for 2025. It also covers the UK government's plan to implement a mandatory digital ID system for all…
- Build, Baby, Build | Episode 85
This episode of Construction Disrupted covers the UK government's new town schemes, the delayed Northern Powerhouse Rail project, and an innovative engineering solution preserving a historic church tower in London.
- How Predicting the Weather Can Improve Profit Margins - Episode 84 | Josh Graham
This episode explores how weather prediction and climate insight can improve profit margins and manage risks in the construction industry. Josh Graham, CEO of EHAB (WeatherWise), discusses quantifying and managing weather risk with data an…
- Progressive Procurement - Episode 83 | Alastair Blenkin
This episode features Alastair Blenkin, Founder and CEO of ProcurePro, discussing progressive procurement in construction. He addresses challenges like price volatility, fragmented supply chains, and ESG expectations, highlighting how digi…
- Real Insight from the Construction Tech Industry - Episode 82 | Peter Sumpton - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode of Construction Disrupted, recorded live at Digital Construction Week 2025, features quick-fire questions for industry professionals. It covers topics such as exciting developments in digital construction, barriers to adoption…
- Construction Conversations - Episode 81 | Amelia Fletcher-Blackburn - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
Amelia Fletcher-Blackburn, Enterprise Client Partner at Causeway Technologies and host of the "Deconstructing Digital" podcast, discusses digital transformation in the construction industry. She explores challenges, technological advanceme…
- Impactful Shared Workspace - Episode 80 | Greg Demchak - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
Greg Demchak, VP at Motif Systems, joins Construction Disrupted to discuss human factors in adopting digital tools within the construction industry. He shares insights on collaboration, measuring success, and future trends in construction…
- Building Smarter Concrete Foundations - Episode 79 | Djelal Osman - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode discusses how digital tools, AI, and sensor technology are transforming concrete construction practices. It covers streamlining management, improving monitoring, and leveraging data for efficiency and sustainability in the con…
- A Robotic Future - Episode 78 | Michael Ren - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode discusses the use of robotics to improve efficiency and safety in construction. It covers the challenges of integrating advanced technologies into construction environments and the balance between research and development with…
- Smarter Systems, Clearer Playbooks - Episode 77 | Pip Morpeth - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode features Pip Morpeth discussing the evolution of project delivery in the built environment. He focuses on implementing smarter systems and clearer playbooks to manage complex projects and integrate AI in a human-centered way.…
- AI - Faster, Smarter, Sustainable - Episode 76 | Charlie Sheridan - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode of Construction Disrupted features Charlie Sheridan discussing the active role of Artificial Intelligence in the built environment. He covers how AI is reshaping building design, construction, and maintenance, emphasizing its…
- Technology Adoption Gaps - Episode 75 | Stuart Campbell - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode of Construction Disrupted, with guest Stuart Campbell, explores technology adoption gaps in the construction industry. Topics include balancing innovation with skill development and the convergence of digital and physical worl…
- Lean Construction - Episode 74 | Remi Dornier - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode of Construction Disrupted features Remi Dornier discussing lean construction, its fundamentals, and its evolution over the past three decades. The conversation also covers the impact of AI on lean construction and the future o…
- A Data-Driven Future - Episode 73 | Paul Devlin - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
Paul Devlin, CEO of Causeway Technologies, discusses the role of digital solutions in the construction industry. He addresses the slow pace of digital transformation, the costs of inaction, and the integration of data, technology, and peop…
- Augmented Reality Check - Episode 72 | Alexander Sidorov - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode of Construction Disrupted features Alexander Sidorov from GAMMA Technologies, discussing augmented reality (AR) in the construction sector. The conversation covers the business case for AR, its evolution, and its potential in…
- Construction Tech Across EMEA - Episode 71 | Nathan Marsh - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
This episode of Construction Disrupted features Nathan Marsh, Regional Executive for EMEA at Bentley Systems, discussing construction technology across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He covers challenges, growth opportunities, and th…
- Building Safety Technology - Episode 70 | Simon Elliott - Live @ Digital Construction Week 25
Simon Elliott, CEO of 1Breadcrumb, discusses building safety technology in construction. He covers digital transformation, compliance, and creating worker-friendly solutions for on-site safety and efficiency.
- Recap: Digital Construction Week 24 - Episode 69 | Peter Sumpton and Guests
This episode recaps discussions from Digital Construction Week 2024. Topics include digital adoption, transformation, site efficiency, project management, cloud construction technology, streamlining processes, and machine learning within t…
- Digital Construction Week 25 - Episode 68 | Karolina Orecchini
Karolina Orecchini, Event Director of Digital Construction Week, discusses the event's evolution and what to expect this year. Digital Construction Week is the UK's leading event for innovation and technology in the built environment.
- Adobe Express: How to Bring Creativity into Construction - Episode 67 | Peter Sumpton
This episode discusses the use of Adobe Express in the construction industry. It covers how the creative technology can benefit UK construction companies in areas like communication, marketing, and collaboration.
- Construction Marketing Insights - Episode 66 | Ryan Jones
This episode discusses the evolving landscape of construction marketing, covering digital transformation, shifting buyer behaviors, and key marketing strategies. It features findings from the SLG Agency Horizon Report and insights from Rya…
- The Fair Payment Code: What You Need to Know - Episode 65 | Philip King
This episode of Construction Disrupted features a discussion on the Fair Payment Code, a crucial topic for the construction industry addressing late payments. The conversation explores the framework, compliance requirements, and benefits o…