Insights

The Thinking, Given Away.

No selling here, just the argument.

Long reads exploring why construction continues paying for the same mistakes and what can be done differently, grounded in a research library of construction evidence and over twenty-two years on site.

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The Thinking, on Video

The same ideas as the long reads, delivered in a few minutes.

Short films and talks covering planning, project delivery and learning from failure, with new content added as the channel grows.

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Research and Learning

The Ideas Behind Better Delivery

Manifesto

Systematic Learning: Construction Needs an Open Loop

Aviation records failures, investigates them independently, and shares the lessons so they are not repeated.

Construction often does the opposite.

Here is how we close the loop.

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Long Read

Construction’s Biggest Cause of Delay is the One Thing Nobody Teaches

Planning continues to be identified as the leading cause of delay, yet it remains one of the least taught practical skills in the industry.

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Long Read

There Are Two Kinds of Planning. Most of Us Were Taught the Wrong One

Planning to defend versus planning to deliver, why dates can become unrealistic before work even begins, and why the contract may already be on your side.

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Long read

Retention clauses become void three years from commencement, including in contracts signed before the ban. What the bill says, when it bites, and what replaces the five percent.

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Long read

Avoidable error costs UK construction £10 billion to £25 billion a year, roughly twice the industry's entire annual profit. Where it hides, what causes it, and the training that halved it.

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Coming soon

The Regulation Horizon

A regularly updated overview covering Building Safety Act gateways, payment reform, the Procurement Act and the Future Homes Standard.

Coming Soon

Prefer to Use It Rather Than Read It?

The free tools turn these ideas into practical resources you can apply on your projects this week.

Blog Library

Construction Doesn’t Need Another Initiative it Needs a Black Box

Construction Doesn’t Need Another Initiative, it Needs a Black Box.  And It’s About Time We Admitted It. I've just re-read Matthew Syed's Black Box Thinking, one of my favourite books...
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The Real Cost of UK Construction: Why Margins Are Not the Problem

Why Margins Aren’t the Problem In the UK construction industry, one misconception refuses to die: “Construction is expensive because contractors and consultants are making huge profits.” It sounds plausible, but the...
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The Secret to Project Management: Persistence (and a Phone)

The Secret to Project Management: Persistence (and a Phone) I watched The Founder for the first time last week (late to the party, as ever!). While Roy Kroc’s philosophy doesn't apply to...
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