The Construction Cogs Podcast

Construction Cogs

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Each person in construction is a cog in the ever-moving machine. The Construction Cogs Podcast is a construction and engineering podcast that speaks to those cogs, from workers and specialists to contractors, leaders, and business owners, to explore careers, site life, safety, technology, infrastructure, and what really keeps the industry moving.

Jul 17

Timothy Milligan - Lift Tec Academy

Got it. I’ll avoid putting links inside brackets going forward. Here’s a Buzzsprout description for the Lift Tec Academy episode. In this episode of The Construction Cogs Podcast, I’m joined by Tim from Lift Tec Academy to talk about crane training, construction careers, and what it takes to get started in the lifting industry. Tim shares how he got into construction, why he moved into lifting operations, and what led him to start Lift Tec Academy. We talk about the early days of building the business, including the difficult moments, the long hours, and the drive needed to keep going. We also cover crane operator training, slinger signaller training, crane supervisor, appointed person, CSCS cards, plant training, and why smaller training groups can make a real difference for learners. A big part of the conversation focuses on what happens after someone gets qualified. Tim explains why getting the ticket is only the start, how new operators and slingers can approach agencies, and why attitude, persistence, and staying front of mind are so important when trying to find work. We also touch on crane training in America, how it compares with the UK system, and why good training needs to go beyond simply passing the test. This episode was filmed from my tower crane cab, which felt like the right place to talk about lifting operations. You can get £100 off a Lift Tec Academy course by visiting: https://www.lifttecacademy.co.uk/constructioncogs Use code: CCOGS100 https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
Jun 30

Anthony Hegarty - DSRM - Risk & Crisis Management

In this episode of The Construction Cogs Podcast, I speak with Anthony Hegarty from DSRM Risk & Crisis Management about Operation Crane and The Crane Report. Most people in construction have heard the statistic that around two construction workers a day die by suicide. But Anthony’s work asks a difficult question: do we properly understand what sits behind that number? We discuss why the usual conversation around construction suicide may be too narrow, why mental health is important but may not explain the whole picture, and why Anthony believes the industry needs better investigation, better data, and a deeper understanding of the patterns before someone reaches crisis. Anthony also explains the anonymous questionnaires linked to Operation Crane. These are for people who have come close to suicide and found a way back, and for families or friends who have lost someone. The aim is to understand what was happening in the lead-up, what signs may have been missed, and what helped some people turn back before it was too late. Anthony’s links: Operation Crane and The Crane Report: https://www.dsrmrisk.com/crane Anonymous questionnaires: https://www.dsrmrisk.com/investigation https://www.dsrmrisk.com/investigation Email: dsrm-uk@dsrmrisk.com Support links: If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. Support services are listed here: https://constructioncogs.com/support/ The Construction Cogs Podcast: https://constructioncogs.com/the-construction-cogs-podcast/ https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
May 31

Kirsty Budenbender - DSK Environmental

In this episode of The Construction Cogs Podcast, I’m joined by Kirsty Budenbender, co-founder of DSK Environmental. Kirsty shares how she built the business with her family, what asbestos removal really involves, and why she believes there still is not enough education around asbestos, especially for homeowners, schools, and people working in construction. We also get into the practical side of the work, including decontamination, due diligence when hiring a contractor, and the reality of industrial maintenance in waste-to-energy plants and shutdown environments. Kirsty also explains why asbestos awareness matters so much to her, the support available through Mesothelioma UK, and her ambition to make a real difference through the work she does. Mesothelioma UK charity event: Thursday 2 July at Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, ME9 8PX, from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Relevant links: DSK Environmental www.dskenvironmental.co.uk Kirsty on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-budenbender-576037189/ Video about asbestos being found in the home https://dskenvironmental.co.uk/residential-asbestos-removal/ HSE asbestos information https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/ Mesothelioma UK https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/ Contact info@constructioncogs.com to appear as a guest. https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
Apr 30

Renée Breen - Apprentice in Naval Architecture

A ship can look rock solid and still be one bad weight shift away from trouble. We’re joined by Rene, a level 4 apprentice naval architect, to make vessel stability feel real, human, and surprisingly relatable, from heel and GM values to the unglamorous truth of tracking every kilo during a refit. If you’ve ever wondered what naval architecture actually involves, or how ships get safely repurposed and sent back to sea, this conversation gives you a clear starting point. We also talk apprenticeships in the UK. Rene walks us through the competitive application stages, the aptitude-style tests you can’t really revise for, and the pressure of A-level results. Her biggest insight is simple. Employers often look past imperfect grades when your attitude, curiosity, and determination are obvious. Along the way, we dig into apprenticeships versus university debt, how progression can work from HNC to degree routes, and why “hard work over talent” shows up in real hiring decisions. Then it gets personal. Rene moved from Liverpool to Plymouth for the role, leaving a close family network and building a new life from scratch. We discuss what it’s like being one of very few women in engineering, how odd comments can wear you down, and why reporting harassment is not “making a fuss”, it’s protecting people. She also shares the value of industrial placements, learning on the tools, and having a mentor who actually takes time to teach. If you enjoy honest career stories, engineering problem-solving, and practical lessons that cross over into construction and infrastructure, you’ll get loads from this. Subscribe for more, share this with someone weighing an apprenticeship, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway. https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
Mar 31

Steve Leyton - Keltbray's Director of Lifting

Steve Leyton, Lifting Director at Keltbray, joins the Construction Cogs Podcast to talk about how lifting competence is built properly across major projects. We get into how Keltbray have centralised their lifting operations, how they assess and mentor slingers and supervisors, and why that approach is helping them retain people long term. Steve also shares his journey into lifting, his involvement in BS 7121 standards, and stories from some of the UK’s most complex heavy lift operations. https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
Mar 1

Rachel Housman - Ally Safety

In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel Housman from Ally Safety, my first ever guest on this podcast from across the pond. We originally connected after I entered a safety video into a competition Rachel ran, and it led to a proper chat about what she does, why most training does not land, and how to make safety communication actually stick. We get into: What Ally Safety is, who it’s for, and what you get with a subscriptionTraining that works in the real world, including humour, attention, and dealing with people who think they’ve seen it allRisk and decision makingLeadership, reporting culture, and the habits that accidentally make people hide problemsPreventative maintenanceTechnology in training Then we finish with some Nonsense Questions to round it off. Connect with Rachel and Ally Safety https://allysafety.com/ https://www.facebook.com/allysafety/ https://www.instagram.com/ally_safety/ https://www.pinterest.com/AllySafety/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/allysafety/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-housman-csp-cih-80957163/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRRHDgvsBeJGYrwyPBzVhbw https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
Feb 1

Richard Stone - Project Management Blueprint

In this episode of The Construction Cogs Podcast, I sit down with Richard Stone, founder of Project Management Blueprint, to talk about what really happens when construction becomes a race to the bottom, and why chasing the cheapest price often creates the most expensive problems. Richard breaks down the thinking behind Project Management Blueprint and the structured, step-by-step approach he teaches for running smoother, more compliant, more profitable projects, across refurbs, conversions, and bigger builds. We get into: Tendering and pricing pressure, and why cheap usually means something is missingThe real-world importance of solid pre-construction informationCompliance, health and safety, and the consequences when corners are cutMental health and the stress that comes with insecure, pressured workThe line that sums it up: Nothing is as expensive as cheap adviceIf you’ve ever felt the squeeze to price lower, move faster, or take shortcuts to “win” the job, this one will hit home. Follow or contact Richard here: Website: https://richardmstone.com/Email: richard@richardmstone.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmstone/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/project_management_blueprint/ https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/
Jan 1

Philippa Wright - Mobile Crane Operator

In this episode, we speak with Pip Wright (Philippa Wright), a UK mobile crane operator, about what the job really involves on site. Pip shares how she got into crane operating, the responsibility that comes with lifting operations, and why confidence, communication and mindset are essential in a role where safety is everything. We also discuss site culture, earning respect through competence, and being a woman in construction without. A conversation for anyone working in construction, considering a trade career, or curious about roles in the crane industry. Topics covered: • How Pip got into mobile crane operating • What a mobile crane operator actually does on site • Responsibility, safety and pressure in lifting operations • Communication between crane operators and slingers • Confidence, mindset and learning on the job • Being a woman in construction • Advice for getting into crane operating and construction Lifting Operations training: https://lifttecacademy.co.uk/constructioncogs Use code CCOGS100 for £100 off your course https://constructioncogs.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CCcranelife https://www.youtube.com/@TheConstructionCogsPodcast https://www.instagram.com/cccranelife/ https://www.tiktok.com/@cccranelife https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmywebb/ https://www.reddit.com/user/ConstructionCogs/

Each person in construction is a cog in the ever-moving machine. The Construction Cogs Podcast is a construction and engineering podcast that speaks to those cogs, from workers and specialists to contractors, leaders, and business owners, to explore careers, site life, safety, technology, infrastructure, and what really keeps the industry moving.

Creator

Construction Cogs
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

28
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 The Construction Cogs Podcast
Show Website

The Construction Cogs Podcast