Own The Build
Own the Build is the podcast for Quantity Surveyors and Commercial Directors who want to sharpen their commercial edge and lead with confidence.
Hosted by Paul Heming, former Commercial leader and now co-founder of C-Link, each week’s conversation dives into the realities of modern commercial management — from procurement and contracts to digital transformation and leadership in construction.
Through honest discussions with industry leaders, forensic planners, and forward-thinking QSs, Paul explores how the best commercial teams deliver profit, performance, and project certainty in a changing industry.
If you’re serious about mastering the commercial side of construction — this is where you build your advantage.
Own The Build
Main Contractor QS vs Subcontractor QS: What Really Matters (EP 258)
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In this episode, Paul is joined once again by Simon Robinson, former main contractor Managing QS turned founder of Subport, to unpack a question that sits at the heart of construction delivery:
What actually makes a “good” subcontractor — and a “good” main contractor — from a commercial perspective?
Using results from a live poll of 100+ main contractor QSs, Paul and Simon explore the four traits most valued in subcontractors — including timely applications, real-time variation submissions, and the surprise winner: strong records and audit trail.
The discussion then flips perspective.
From the subcontractor side, what really matters?
- Clear information at tender stage.
- Fair and timely assessment of variations.
- Cash flow discipline.
- And, above all, communication that doesn’t label professionalism as “being contractual.”
The episode digs into:
- why poor variation timing destroys trust;
- how “payment on account” can quietly cripple subcontractor cash flow;
- the perception gap between managing one project vs managing twenty;
- why structured applications dramatically increase payment success; and
- how simple planning and empathy can transform commercial relationships.
The conclusion is refreshingly simple:
Professionalism. Communication. Planning. Empathy.
If both sides understood each other’s pressures just a little better, many of the industry’s recurring disputes would disappear.
A practical, honest conversation for any QS operating on either side of the fence.
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📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:
For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.
Want to connect with Paul?
Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at paul@c-link.com or through, C-Link.
C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.
Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.
