Thrive In Construction with Darren Evans
'Thrive in Construction' is the only podcast that delves into the personal journeys of sustainability leaders and innovators in the construction industry across the UK. Our show differentiates by offering unscripted, passion-fueled conversations that go beyond the buzzwords to the heart of what's driving the industry forward. It's tailored for aspiring professionals, seasoned experts, and anyone with a keen interest in the sustainable evolution of construction. We're here at a time when the call for sustainable development is not just a trend, but a societal imperative, empowering listeners to build a career that contributes to a greener future.
Episodes
99 episodes
Ep. 92 Build Test Solution's Luke Smith on Measurement, Retrofit & the Future Home Standard
How do we close the gap between how buildings are designed and how they actually perform?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans talks with Luke Smith, CEO of Build Test Solutions, about his journey from architec...
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53:25
Ep. 91 Designing Spaces for Learning | Kevin Higgs on Safety, Purpose & Net Zero
How do you design buildings where safety, sustainability, and education all come together?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans talks with Kevin Higgs, Development Director at Happy Days Nurseries, about cr...
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37:35
Ep. 90 Andy Hay on Sustainability’s Next Chapter & Leadership in Uncertain Times
How do we keep moving forward in an uncertain world? And what does true leadership look like in sustainability and construction?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Andy Hay, Managing Director ...
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35:33
Ep. 89 Rethinking Risk & Change: Bryony Coombs on Construction Innovation
How can AI, emotional intelligence, and better communication transform the future of construction?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans sits down with Bryony Coombs, civil engineer and Director at ALICE Tec...
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50:44
Ep. 88 Retrofit, Data & Community: Mark Allen on Future-Proofing Housing
How do we retrofit homes to be sustainable, affordable, and truly comfortable for the people living in them?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Mark Allen, Head of Technical Services at Fortem...
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39:00
Ep. 87 How Octopus Energy Is Powering Net Zero Homes | Emma Fletcher
Can we truly create homes with no energy bills while tackling climate change at scale?In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans speaks with Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy, about her journey ...
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38:06
Ep. 86 Future-Proofing Housing: Mohamed Gaafar on Solar, Storage & Net Zero
How do we make the energy transition accessible, affordable, and scalable for millions of homes?In this episode of the Thrive in Construction Podcast, Darren Evans speaks with Mohamed Gaafar, CEO & Founder of Gryd, a company transfor...
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46:17
Ep. 85 Unlocking Development: Rights of Light & Future-Proofing with Barney Soanes-Cundle
How can the construction industry balance legal risk, sustainability, and innovation while designing buildings for people?In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans speaks with Barney Soanes-Cundle, Senior Associate at...
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42:10
Ep. 84 Mental Health & Leadership in Construction: Vee Holt on Real Support
Mental health isn’t a weakness, it’s the foundation of strong teams and sustainable careers.In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans speaks with Vee Holt, Mental Health Trainer at St John Ambulance, who brings person...
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46:53
Ep. 83 Digital Twins & Resilient Leadership: Nathan Marsh on Infrastructure’s Future
How do you lead teams, embrace technology, and deliver sustainable infrastructure in a rapidly changing world?In this Thrive in Construction Podcast episode, Darren Evans talks to Nathan Marsh, Chief Digital Officer and a visionary lead...
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45:03
Ep. 82 Concrete, Carbon & Change: Nia Bell on Net Zero Construction
Concrete is the backbone of modern construction—but it’s also one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions.In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren Evans speaks with Nia Bell, Programme Manager at the Climate Grou...
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1:11:07
Ep. 81 One Step at a Time: The Mindset for Tackling Big Projects and Bigger Goals
From summiting Kilimanjaro to delivering some of the UK’s most complex heritage renovations, Jamie Mills lives by one rule: one step at a time.In this episode, Jamie shares how this mindset applies to business, charity, and sustainabili...
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53:18
Ep. 80 Why Legacy Thinking Is the Missing Piece in Sustainable Architecture
Most developments are built to sell fast, but what happens when you design for the next 500 years instead? Jerry Tate, founder of Tate+Co Architects, reveals why a legacy mindset changes every decision in the design process.In this episo...
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53:36
Ep. 79 The Blueprint for Zero-Carbon New Builds: Energy, Heat Pumps, and Smarter Design
The net-zero future depends on new builds designed from the start for low-carbon energy — not retrofitted later.In this episode, Mark Lufkin maps out the standard for net-zero-ready new builds: smart electric heating, embedded controls,...
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53:52
Ep. 78 Why the Construction Industry Is Losing the PR Battle and How to Win It
Despite building everything around us, construction remains misunderstood by the public and too many leaders are afraid of the spotlight.In this powerful episode, Leanne Tritton, founder of ING Media and Co-Founder of Don't Waste Buildi...
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49:40
Ep. 77 Why BIM Never Delivered What It Promised, And How To Fix It
BIM was meant to transform construction. So why did it stall?In this episode, Graham Kelly breaks down the real story behind BIM’s rollout. From poor client understanding to bloated consultancy models, learn what went wrong, what’s still wo...
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44:18
Ep. 76 Why Embodied Carbon Matters and How to Reduce It Without Sacrificing Performance
Steel and concrete make up 11% of global emissions, but we’re still designing like that doesn’t matter.Natalie Black shares how her team at Enbee is dramatically cutting embodied carbon through design, detailing, and smarter material ch...
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52:53
Ep. 75 Why Upgrading Homes Beats Building New, and What We’re Getting Wrong
Governments love talking about new builds. But what if the real climate and housing solution is already standing?In this eye-opening episode, Anne Harper makes the case for upgrading existing homes and why retrofitting is faster, cheaper...
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52:55
Ep. 74 The Science Behind Net Zero Buildings and What Engineers Must Know
Net zero isn’t just a goal, it’s a system-wide shift. In this episode, Dr. Anastasia Mylona breaks down the science behind net zero buildings and what it really takes to deliver on their promise.From carbon calculations to hu...
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56:16
Ep. 73 Only 16 Percent of Engineers Are Women, It’s Time to Shift the Balance in STEM
In this powerful episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by Alexandra Knight, Founder of Stemazing, engineer, and advocate for diversity in STEM, to explore the reality of gender bias in engineering and the urgent need for change.
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1:03:44
Ep. 72 The Excavator Pollution Problem in Cities: Why Small Machines Are a Big Climate Threat
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Mats Bredborg, Head of Customer Cluster at Volvo Construction Equipment, to expose a little-known crisis: the massive pollution caused by small diesel excavators in our cities.
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46:01
Ep. 71 “Buildings Cause 40% of Global Emissions” — Why No One Is Talking About It!
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Alice Bond, Policy Manager at the World Green Building Council, to explore the global fight for sustainability in the built environment.From structural engineering to shap...
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22:44
Ep. 70 Only 13 Staff Run 90 Train Stations: What Construction Can Learn from Copenhagen
How digital innovation is transforming construction. In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Marek Suchocki, a digital specialist and construction industry veteran, to explore how technology is reshaping the future of c...
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28:38
Ep. 69 ‘The Future Engineer Will Be a Creative Thinker, Not Just a Calculator’ – The New Role of Engineers
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by James Norman, a structural engineer, author, and educator passionate about shaping the future of the industry. James discusses his transition from working in industry to teaching, h...
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25:44
Ep. 68 What do Engineers Get Wrong About Sustainability? CIBSE President Shares Her Secrets to Leadership
In this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren sits down with Fiona Cousins the global Chief Operating Officer for Total Design at Arup. Fiona shares her inspiring journey from being one of the few women in engineering during the 1980s to be...
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44:09