Podcasts

Christian Hale, Hale

21 September 2024: Christian Hale, MD of housebuilder Hale works in the high-end luxury home sector, but even his end of the market isn’t immune from the perils of value engineering post-tender, in fact it’s getting more common. He explains how clients’ expectations from their homes need managing so that cost cutting isn’t inevitable, and makes a plea to reduce extra costs like urban parking suspensions.

Stephen Rankin, Vantage & Co

15 July 2024: 

This episode of Builders Voices (in collaboration with the Federation of Master Builders) is a revealing conversation with housebuilder Stephen Rankin, awarded the 2023 Master Builder of the Year by the FMB.

Stephen and firm he founded Vantage & Co have a string of great projects which demonstrate an unusual level of attention to detail, including a renovation of one of the few remaining Georgian villas in central Birmingham. He has however been vocal about some of the intractable problems in the industry, from severe planning headaches to how skills gaps can be filled.

A former joiner, Stephen looks at issues caused by underfunded planning departments, and how simple availability problems lead to negative outcomes for all. He clearly outlines some ideas for improving things which the new Government needs to consider if it really wants to ‘get Britain building.’

Builders' Voices #8: Chris Carr, FMB

8 April 2024: In this episode of Builders’ Voices, James Parker, editor of Housebuilder and Developer, speaks to Chris Carr, who has run his family SME housebuilding company in Grimsby for many years, but has recently seen his industry profile going through the roof as President of the Federation of Master Builders. He is a key figure advising and lobbying Ministers on what needs to change to ensure that SMEs are able to deliver all of the Government and industry targets for housebuilding. He’s also a master of pragmatic, creative thinking to get over the major stumbling blocks such as those around planning. A podcast in association with the FMB.

Key takeaways from the FMB’s 2023 House Builders Survey

1 February 2024: In this episode of Builders’ Voices, James Parker speaks to Jeremy Gray, head of policy at the Federation of Master Builders. Jeremy discusses the key takeaways from the FMB’s 2023 House Builders Survey, a key snapshot of the shared challenges across the sector.

Latest news on the State of Trade

1 November 2023: The FMB’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Jeremy Gray, walks us though some key findings from the Q3 2023 State of Trade survey and what they mean for the industry.

Sam Eden, FMB London

4 December 2023: Sam Eden, director of the FMB’s London Hub, has been in touch with dozens of SME builders grappling with the new Ultra Low Emissions Zone in their day to day business.

Alli Gay, CHI Homes

16 August 2023: Alli Gay is managing director of an award-winning SME housebuilder in Bristol, CHI Homes, which focuses on producing high quality private homes.

N. London Construction

25 May 2023: Nic London, a member of the Home Builders Group at the Federation of Master Builders talks to Builders' Voices. A former bricklayer, this qualified construction manager is a strong advocate for quality in housebuilding, and attracting a new generation of builders. 

Swan Homes

27 March 2023: In this episode James Parker, editor of Housebuilder & Developer, speaks to Adrian Swan of Swan Homes and chair of the Home Builders Group at the Federation of Master Builders, about his drives and challenges going forward in a revealing interview. 

NH Construction and Yorkshire Marketing Consultants

14 September 2022: In this episode, James Parker, managing editor of Housebuilder & Developer Magazine speaks to Kelly Worrall, NH Construction and Yorkshire Marketing Consultants to see how SME builders can effectively market themselves in an ever evolving sector.

Swallow Hill Homes

18 July 2022: In this episode, Jack Wooler, deputy editor of Housebuilder & Developer magazine, talks to Rob Bailey, MD and co-founder of Swallow Hill Homes, about life running a small firm in 2022.