SQ.FT Stories

Steve Kerslake is the founder of Construction Sport and one of the leading voices fighting to improve mental health across the construction industry.
Before launching Construction Sport, Steve worked on the tools and experienced first-hand the pressures, the culture, and the hidden struggles happening every day on building sites. His own journey includes major personal challenges from a life-changing acid attack to serious health issues that pushed him to breaking point and it shaped his mission to support those who feel they have nowhere to turn.
In this episode, Steve opens up about the realities behind the UK’s construction suicide crisis why it’s happening, what’s being missed, and the cultural issues that continue to put workers at risk. He also shares why he launched Construction Sport and how the organisation is now helping vulnerable people across the industry.
We explore:
Why suicide rates in construction remain the highest of any UK sector
The pressures, behaviours, and cultural norms that often go unnoticed
Steve’s own journey through trauma and how it shaped his purpose
Why the industry’s current systems aren’t enough to protect workers
What construction companies can do to create safer, stronger environments
How Construction Sport is providing support where traditional routes fail
This is one of the most honest and emotional conversations ever recorded on the podcast and an important one for anyone working in construction, managing teams, or trying to create positive change in the industry.

Fraser Munro is the Founder of Mfive Consultancy and one of the rare people in our sector who truly understands Design & Build from both sides of the table.
Fraser started his career in pre-con at LiquidSpace before becoming part of the founding team at ThirdWay, helping grow it into one of the leading Design & Build firms in London. After travelling the world and returning post-COVID, he launched Mfive Consultancy, a business that blends project management with deep D&B experience.
Because Fraser has sat in both chairs, contractor and consultant - there’s no pulling the wool over his eyes. He’s seen the tricks, the tactics, the commercial manoeuvres and the subtle ways both contractors and project managers can influence cost, programme, and decision-making.
In this episode, we explore:
• How Fraser helped build ThirdWay and what he learned from scaling a D&B business• The difference between how contractors think vs how consultants think• The tactics used on both sides of the table and why transparency matters• What’s changed in the D&B world over the last decade, and what still needs to change• Why the industry desperately needs more forward thinkers taking a lead role in shaping its future
Fraser brings experience, honesty, and a perspective that cuts through the noise.
A brilliant conversation with someone who’s seen the industry from every angle and isn’t afraid to say where it can be better.

Faisal Amin is the Managing Director of Peak One Partners, a specialist consultancy helping construction companies master business development and sales.
Unlike many in the sector, Faisal didn’t come from a construction background. His experience is rooted in pure business development and it’s that outsider perspective that’s given him a clear view of what the industry is getting wrong.
After spotting a gap in the market, he launched Peak One Partners to help contractors improve how they win work from refining their sales processes to building better client relationships. Faisal believes construction is a sales industry, even if most people don’t see it that way, and that the skills needed to sell effectively are rarely taught or embraced across the sector.
In this episode, we dive into:
• How most contractors are missing out on projects due to weak business development processes• Why the construction industry needs to stop fearing the word “sales”• What genuine business development looks like beyond chasing tenders and cold calls• The key differences between transactional selling and relationship-driven growth
Faisal brings a refreshing, commercial lens to the conversation challenging traditional mindsets and offering practical steps to help contractors rethink how they approach clients, pipeline, and growth.
This one’s for anyone in construction who wants to stop relying on luck and start building a real business development strategy that wins.

Jonathan Naylor is the Managing Director of Concept Construction, a multi-million-pound contractor specialising in the retail and leisure sectors.
Jonathan’s journey into construction is far from typical. Starting out in a builder’s merchants, he worked his way up through the industry with an instinct for sales and a natural ability to build and retain strong client relationships. That commercial edge has been central to his success but it’s also given him a front-row seat to the issues holding the sector back.
In this episode, Jonathan speaks openly about the realities contractors face today: from tender packs getting thinner and pushing design responsibility onto contractors, to the growing problem of blended roles: where, for example, designers are asked to evaluate tenders despite not being trained surveyors. He shares how these shifts are reshaping the way projects are won, priced, and delivered.
We explore:
- How Jonathan went from the merchant’s desk to running a multi-million-pound contracting business
- Why client relationships are the lifeblood of sustainable growth- The impact of poor-quality tender packs on contractors and project outcomes- Why blended roles and cost-cutting measures could be hurting the industry in the long run
Jonathan brings honesty, insight, and a practical perspective on what it takes to survive and succeed in today’s construction market.

Stephen is the Managing Director of Williams SW, a M&E Contracting business.
Beginning his career as a plumbing apprentice, Stephen has worked his way through every layer of the industry, experiencing the tough realities of construction first-hand.
Alongside growing his contracting firm, Stephen has also carved a path as a residential-to-commercial property developer, giving him a unique perspective on both building and investing in projects.
From struggling to find money for wages to facing non-payment from main contractors, Stephan’s journey hasn’t been smooth. But through grit, resilience, and sheer determination, he’s built a thriving company and earned his place as a respected contractor and developer in the industry.
In this episode, we explore:
• How Stephen went from apprentice to running a £6M firm• His journey into residential-to-commercial property development• The harsh realities of cashflow, non-payment, and fighting to survive in construction• Why resilience and belief are key traits for anyone growing a business in the industry• The lessons Stephan has learned about leadership, growth, and staying the course
Stephen’s story is raw, honest, and a reminder of what it really takes to build success in construction and property when the odds are stacked against you.
 

Lee Day is the Managing Director of Area Europe, a design and build company delivering workplace projects across the continent as part of the Fourfront Group.
A designer by trade, Lee’s career began in the furniture world before expanding into workplace consultancy and, ultimately, design and build. What’s never changed is his passion for the creative side of the industry the way exposed M&E services can transform a space, or how a team of specialists can come together to produce a true showpiece workplace.
Now leading Area Europe, Lee is spearheading the delivery of projects throughout Europe, while keeping one core principle at the heart of it all: maintaining the feel of a local supply chain, no matter where the project is based.
In this episode, we explore:
• How Lee’s design background shaped his approach to leading a European D&B business• Why creativity and technical detail both matter in building great workplaces• The challenges and opportunities of delivering projects at scale across Europe• How Area Europe balances global reach with a “local partner” feel
Lee brings creativity, perspective, and a clear love for what makes the design and build industry special. This one’s packed with insights into how workplaces are being delivered across Europe, and what it really takes to get it right.

Will Stokes is the Founder of Co-Space, a serviced office company taking a unique approach to the flexible workspace market.
Before launching Co-Space, Will built his career in property development. But he saw an opportunity to do something different using data to identify regions and specific locations where demand for serviced offices was underserved, and then building spaces that matched what local businesses really needed.
That approach has helped Co-Space stand out in a crowded sector, and given Will a platform to grow the business on his own terms.
We also dive deep into the story of WeWork, arguably one of the most fascinating rises and falls in recent business history. With Adam Neumann at the helm, WeWork became a global giant, fuelled by huge investment, big promises, and a culture that divided opinion. Will shares his perspective on why the business achieved such rapid growth, why it ultimately struggled, and what lessons operators in the serviced office space should take from its journey.
In this episode, we explore:
• How Will transitioned from property development into the serviced office market• Why data-led site selection has become the foundation of Co-Space’s model• His take on the rise and fall of WeWork, and what we can learn from Adam Neumann’s leadership• How COVID reshaped office demand and where the serviced accommodation sector is heading next
Will brings insight, energy, and a clear vision of what the future of workspaces could look like. This one’s full of honest lessons, market perspective, and a look at how flexible office space is evolving beyond the hype.

Ben Martin is the Managing Director of Active Workplace, a fast-growing fit out & facilities management company with big ambitions for the future.
Before stepping into the MD role, Ben’s career took a few sharp turns. He launched his own business, only to see it go under due to supply chain challenges. He then joined a larger furniture business offering full fit out, but quickly found his wings clipped and his scope to grow limited.
When the chance came to lead a new company and help drive rapid growth while shaping it on his own terms, he grabbed it.
In this episode, we explore:
• How Ben went from running a furniture-focused business to leading full-scale fit out projects• Why some companies are still winning work on unsustainable margins—and why that’s a problem for the whole sector• His take on the ripple effects of ISG’s collapse, and why it may not be the last major shock we see• The mindset and energy needed to grow a new company in a competitive market.
Ben brings openness, ambition, and a clear-eyed view of the industry’s challenges. This one’s full of honest reflections, market insight, and a glimpse into what it takes to scale a fit out business the right way.

Paul Heming is the Founder and CEO of C-Link, a software platform built to save time for quantity surveyors and bring more clarity to the construction supply chain.
Before launching C-Link, Paul trained as a QS and worked across both main contractor and sub-contractor roles, including on high-profile projects like Battersea Power Station. But it wasn’t always the plan. Paul originally wanted to be a journalist before finding himself in the construction world. After years working in the trenches of the industry, he spotted a clear problem: QS processes were outdated, manual, and costing the industry valuable time and money. So he built C-Link to change that.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why QSs often get a bad reputation when dealing with sub-contractors and how that can be changed • What both main contractors and subbies can do to protect themselves commercially
• How technology can reduce tension and improve collaboration across the supply chain
• Why the construction industry needs to tell better stories, because behind the spreadsheets and scaffolding are brilliant people building incredible things Paul also hosts his own show, Own the Build, with over 200 episodes and a mission to bring honest, practical insights to the construction sector.
This episode is packed with real talk, new ideas, and a fresh perspective on how construction can evolve without losing the essence of what makes it special.

Jordan Connachie is the Managing Director of Kori Construction, a £60 million main contractor specialising in the later living sector.
Jordan began his career as a surveyor before stepping into the family business. At the time, Kori was a respected local contractor with a modest turnover. Since then, he’s helped scale the company significantly, building a high-performing team and securing a reputation for delivering complex projects with consistency and commercial control.
In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to grow a main contracting business sustainably and why the margins in our industry are tighter than ever.
Jordan offers an honest, inside look at the pressures main contractors face, from pricing risk to cash flow strain, and why a lack of commercial awareness is often at the root of industry failures. He also shares practical advice for subcontractors on how to protect themselves financially, avoid disputes, and become more valuable partners on site.
We also explore how to grow a profitable contracting business in a market where the margin for error is small and the commercial expectations are high.
Three things that stood out to me:
His view on why many contractors fail due to poor commercial management, not just bad luck.
His breakdown of how main contractors operate on tight margins and still succeed.
His clear, actionable advice for subcontractors looking to protect their business and get paid.
If you want a better understanding of how main contractors think and what it really takes to grow in this space this episode delivers it.