100: Developers’ Pledge, Executive Teams and Safer Stairs
Bishop & Taylor discuss latest developments in funding fire safety remediation, the composition of top contractors’ management teams and RoSPA’s Safer Stairs campaign. They also discuss Liebherr’s decision to stay in Russia despite economic sanctions.
54m Apr 06, 2022
54m
99: The economy, earthmoving and biodiversity
 Bishop & Taylor mull on the chancellor’s spring statement, the earthmoving industry and biodiversity net gain… along with a few of their usual detours, of course.    
46m Mar 30, 2022
46m
98: Gove, Mogg and Social Value
Bishop & Taylor discuss, among other things, comments recently attributed to Cabinet ministers Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg. They also explore social value with Andrew Lowe of Social Value Portal.
55m Mar 23, 2022
55m
97: Budget, Neddies and Rod Stewart’s roadworks
Bishop & Taylor look ahead to next week’s spring budget statement from Rishi Sunak but don’t expect any U-turns on red diesel. They also discuss non-executive directors (aka Neddies) and whether loyalty should be part of the job spec. But first they enjoy Sir Rod Stewart filling in potholes.
44m Mar 16, 2022
44m
96: Labours of Hercules
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Brusk Korkmaz, CEO of AIM-listed Hercules Site Services, and his CFO Paul Wheatcroft  
37m Mar 09, 2022
37m
95: Situation Vacant, Pallets and PFI
Bishop & Taylor discuss the vacant chair at the Construction Leadership Council, the Pallet Loop scheme and the lurking perils of expiring PFI contracts.
35m Mar 02, 2022
35m
94: Succession Planning, Plain English and Corporate Slogans
With Taylor Wimpey choosing its next CEO from within, against the advice of a major shareholder, Bishop & Taylor discuss succession planning. They also make a plea for greater clarity from marketing copywriters and discuss the breadth of construction’s corporate slogans, from “we build stuff” to (Taylor’s favourite) “redefining the boundaries of ambition”.    
44m Feb 16, 2022
44m
93: Mates in Mind and the Squeezed Middle
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Sarah Meek, managing director of mental welfare charity Mates in Mind. They also meet Nick Barnes of Allied Mechanical Engineering, who explains how recent VAT reforms have further squeezed the middle of construction’s supply chain.
47m Feb 02, 2022
47m
92: Kier, CARES and 18 metres
Bishop & Taylor discuss reports of Kier buying Taylor Douglas, CARES (the UK Certification Authority For Reinforcing Steel) expelling manufacturers, and the arbitrary 18-metre cut-off for the new building safety regime.  
38m Jan 19, 2022
38m
91: Greg, Gove and Gongs
Taylor has been watching Greg Wallace in a JCB factory; Bishop accuses Michael Gove of grandstanding; and they share views on the 2022 New Year Honours.
40m Jan 05, 2022
40m
90: Review Of The Year
Bishop and Taylor look back and some of the highlights and lowlights of construction industry news in 2021.
59m Dec 15, 2021
59m
89: Retentions – with Lord Aberdare
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Lord Aberdare, who has tabled The Construction (Retentions Abolition) Bill in parliament. Our hosts also discuss developments in the campaign for mandatory builders’ licences, and the feasibility studies for a Stranraer-Larne fixed link, both of which now look dead in the water.
47m Dec 01, 2021
47m
88: Men’s Wellbeing (And A Bit About Diesel)
With International Men’s Day on 19th November, Bishop & Taylor discuss manliness and men’s health. They speak to Sophie Smith, a specialist nurse at Prostate Cancer UK. And they also discuss the construction industry’s (lack of) preparedness for the end of red diesel.
1hr 1m Nov 17, 2021
1hr 1m
87: Audits, Schools and Builders’ Merchants
Interserve’ auditors have been fined, BAM is building a net-zero pathfinder school and the consolidation of builders’ merchants continues. Bishop & Taylor discuss all this and more.
37m Nov 03, 2021
37m
86: Rebar, Funding Nukes and CITB (Again)
Bishop & Taylor have differing attitudes to the use of uncertified reinforcing steel on the HS2 project. They also discuss a change in funding methods for new nuclear power stations and consider proposals from the National Federation of Builders to ‘reconstruct’ the industry’s training board.
52m Oct 27, 2021
52m
85: Export Finance, Hand Signals and Hand Shakes
Bishop & Taylor wonder how much the UK really benefits from foreign contractors building roads in far-off lands. They also discuss the SOS hand signal with which victims of modern slavery can seek help, before straying to the topic of secret handshakes.
44m Oct 20, 2021
44m
84: After nmcn, RICS Rules and HS2 Logistics
After a brief digression into James Bond territory, Bishop & Taylor discuss developments at nmcn since they last spoke, the new rules for chartered surveyors and the production of HS2 tunnel lining segments in Hartlepool.
43m Oct 13, 2021
43m
83: Conference Season, The Fall of nmcn, and The Diversity Mentor
After a bit of politics, Bishop & Taylor discuss the demise this week of a £400m contractor. They are also joined by Ayo Ogunbambi, mentor to Balfour Beatty CEO Leo Quinn.  
1hr 7m Oct 06, 2021
1hr 7m
82: State Loans, Restoration Crafts and Smart Flywheels
In a bumper episode, Bishop & Taylor are joined by building conservation specialist Adrian Attwood of DBR and hear how 2022 will be ‘The Year of the Master Craftsperson’. They also talk fuel efficiency, from F1 to tower cranes, with Punch Flybrid’s Tobias Knichel. But first… views are expressed on UK taxpayer loans to a foreign-owned start-up.
1hr 4m Sep 29, 2021
1hr 4m
81: Shortages, Levelling Up and the Aggregate King
Bishop & Taylor discuss materials shortages and spiralling prices, exchange thoughts on the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, and look forward to the return of Peter Tom, the Leicester Tigers chairman dubbed the Aggregate King by The Times newspaper.
39m Sep 22, 2021
39m
80: Wells Cathedral Restoration, Cabinet Reshuffle and Staging the Grenfell Inquiry
Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the events of the week, including the cabinet reshuffle. They also talk to theatre director Nicolas Kent, whose Grenfell: Value Engineering – scenes from the Inquiry is coming to a London stage next month. And, first up, Taylor recalls his visit to Wells Cathedral to see conservation work in action.
40m Sep 16, 2021
40m
79: The Top 100 and Recollections of 9/11
Bishop & Taylor discuss the 2021 UK Top 100 Construction Contractors ranking, published this week. They also recall the world-changing event of 20 years ago this week and reporting from Ground Zero.
47m Sep 08, 2021
47m
78: Labels, Hospitals and Rishi’s Relief
On the agenda in this episode is the Wolfson Economic Prize shortlist and the limitations of Rishi Sunak’s apparently generous tax allowance for machinery purchases. But first, Bishop & Taylor are joined by Richard Waterhouse of NBS to discuss product specification, sustainability and marketing.
51m Sep 01, 2021
51m
77: National Highways, Selling OIL and Diversity Metrics
This week Bishop & Taylor discuss Highways England’s re-brand, the sale of Osborne Infrastructure Ltd and an industry programme to devise equality, diversity and inclusion metrics
45m Aug 25, 2021
45m
76: Hydrogen (fuel of the very near future)
To discuss the new UK Hydrogen Strategy, and what it means for construction and the built environment, Bishop & Taylor are joined firstly by Buta Atwal, CEO of Ryze Hydrogen and Wrightbus, and then by Cadent regional development manager Helen Boyle and Isaac Occhipinti from the Energy & Utilities Alliance
47m Aug 18, 2021
47m
75: Climate change, HVO and Modular entry costs
Bishop & Taylor discuss the latest scary news from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as the rise of HVO fuel and the deep pockets of modular house-builders.
44m Aug 11, 2021
44m
74: Stonehenge Revisited and 3D Printing
Bishop & Taylor discuss recent judgments from Mr Justice Holgate, one supporting the government’s roads programme and one blocking its Stonehenge tunnel plans. They also discuss whether 3D printing is just slow slipforming without formwork.
44m Aug 04, 2021
44m
73: Bridges and Pings
Helena Russell, author of Cleveland Bridge: 125 Years of History, joins Bishop & Taylor to discuss the company seeking rescue from administration. Also discussed in this episode are the music of the Golden Gate Bridge and the pings of the Covid app.
30m Jul 27, 2021
30m
72: Net Zero Week and Builders’ Merchants (revisited)
With it being Net Zero Week, Bishop & Taylor discuss an industry initiative for measuring progress in the built environment. And as fans of a good hardware store, they return to the topic of builders’ merchants.
52m Jul 21, 2021
52m
71: Easing Restrictions, Green Lorries and Driver Shortages
With ‘freedom day’ approaching, Bishop & Taylor discuss what it means for the construction industry. They also mull the decarbonisation of road transport and the shortage of truck drivers.  
37m Jul 15, 2021
37m
70: The Building Safety Bill, Bristol Beacon and Self-healing Concrete
Bishop & Taylor discuss the Building Safety Bill (which had its first reading in the Commons this week), Willmott Dixon’s reconstruction of what used be known as Colston Hall, and seemingly magic concrete that repairs itself.
56m Jul 07, 2021
56m
69: Rising Costs and Plant Hire Woes
Callum Mackintosh, president of the Scottish Plant Owners Association, joins Bishop & Taylor to discuss challenges facing the plant hire sector. But first our regular hosts briefly revisit flexible working and discuss why costs have risen on a Norfolk road project.
50m Jun 30, 2021
50m
68: Flexible Working Results
Bishop & Taylor are re-joined by Emma Stewart of Timewise (previously heard in episode 42)  to discuss the results of the Build UK-sponsored study into flexible working on construction sites.
41m Jun 23, 2021
41m
67: B3W vs BRI, Webuild and Timber (Again)
Bishop & Taylor discuss B3W (‘Build Back Better World’), the G7’s plan to counter China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). They also talk about the growing prominence (at least in their email inboxes) of Italian contractor Webuild; and they return to the topic of Scottish timber production.
47m Jun 16, 2021
47m
66: HS2, HPC and Leisure Centre Design
Bishop has had a tour of the HS2 Chilterns Tunnel south portal site, Taylor has been watching TV; they chat about their findings. They also discuss leisure centre design shortcomings. Plus: What not to say in a press release.
40m Jun 09, 2021
40m
65: CITB’s Quest for Consensus
As the Construction Industry Training Board starts its three-yearly consultation with the industry to ascertain whether there remains consensus for the statutory training levy, CITB policy director Steve Radley tells Bishop & Taylor why we still need it.
41m Jun 02, 2021
41m
64: Technical Innovations and Back to the Office
A trio of technical topics appeal to Bishop & Taylor this week, namely zero trim piling, asbestos recycling and reuse of concrete components. They also return to the familiar topics of flexible working and office life.
44m May 26, 2021
44m
63: Inflation, PBAs, Concrete Batteries and Urban Planning
Diversity is in the air this week as Bishop & Taylor discuss inflation, project bank accounts, concrete batteries and a report from Arup titled ‘Queering Public Space’.
49m May 19, 2021
49m
62: Queen's Speech and Green Gas
In the week that Her Majesty revealed the government’s legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary session, Bishop & Taylor find much to chew over, from planning to political process. They also discuss whether it is possible to choose bio-methane (answer: no) and how estate agents market unloved 60s’ buildings.
38m May 12, 2021
38m
61: The Joy of Wood, Pensions and Pointless Surveys
Bishop & Taylor cast an eye on the wonderful world of wood. They also note the inability (or reluctance?) of construction workers to save for their old age, and express disdain for surveys confected to promote vested interests.
37m May 05, 2021
37m
60: Tunnellers’ Folk Music and the Pitfalls of the Product Marketing Code
Bishop & Taylor are joined by acclaimed folk musician Nancy Kerr to talk about her latest work, Tunnellers, and by Dr Benoît Jones, the man from the British Tunnelling Society who commissioned the work. But first they talk to Daren Lester, chief executive of SpecifiedBy, and hear that the proposed Code for Construction Product Information might not be a good idea.
47m Apr 28, 2021
47m
59: Acquisitions and Other Matters
Acquisitions have been in the news, with new owners for Avant Homes and Kier Living, while RSK’s ‘buy to grow’ strategy shows no sign of slowing. Bishop & Taylor discuss this and more, including steel imports and the latest on smart motorways.
44m Apr 21, 2021
44m
58: Boardroom Diversity, Infrastucture Planning and the Prince’s Trust
Bishop & Taylor (middle-aged pink-faced men) tentatively discuss boardroom diversity. They also mull possible reform of the National Infrastructure Commission. And they talk to Jonathan Townsend, Chief Executive of the Prince’s Trust.
46m Apr 14, 2021
46m
57: The Rudi Klein Interview
A revelatory discussion with construction law barrister Professor Rudi Klein, who has championed the interests of subcontractors for more than 30 years, with some heroic successes along the way. Among topics covered are the use and abuse of project bank accounts to protect money owed to suppliers.
59m Apr 07, 2021
59m
56: Clearing the Suez & Other Great Saves; plus Employing Ex-offenders
After a brief recap of some of the week’s UK industry news, Bishop & Taylor turn their attention to the rescue of the stranded EverGiven container ship. They also discuss recruiting in prisons to counter labour shortages.  
45m Mar 31, 2021
45m
55: CITB, Shrewsbury Pickets and Lessons from WFH
Bishop & Taylor are joined by Peter Lauerner, chair of the Construction Industry Training Board, who explains why the CITB has decided to keep two of its training centres after all. They also celebrate the Court of Appeal judgment quashing the 47-year-old convictions against striking builders. And they ask expert witness Jacqui Bishop: after a year of working from home, what have we learned?
50m Mar 24, 2021
50m
54: Recruitment, Training and Recycling
Surveys and reports from Redrow, the CITB and the Construction Leadership Council provide food for thought on construction recruitment and training. Bishop & Taylor discuss some of the issues arising. There’s also news from HS2 of an unlikely replacement for rebar.
53m Mar 17, 2021
53m
53: Ulster Link, Social Value, Fire Safety and See-through Buckets
In a bumper episode, Bishop & Taylor discuss aspirations for a fixed link between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, the social value of construction, aspects of fire safety left neglected amid the cladding scandal, and Doosan’s transparent loading shovel.
50m Mar 10, 2021
50m
52: Budget and Branding
Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his post-Covid budget for the UK this week, giving Bishop & Taylor plenty to chat about. They also discuss Interserve’s branding U-turn.
44m Mar 04, 2021
44m
51: IR35, Top Jobs and Jargon
Bishop & Taylor get their teeth into issues of direct employment, senior recruitment and meaningless, obtuse and/or imprecise jargon.
45m Feb 24, 2021
45m