‘You’re operating in the grey space, making decisions with a lot of unknowns’: Katy Dowding on two years at the top of Skanska UK
The firm’s president and CEO took the helm at a turbulent time for the country and for contractors. She tells Chloe McCulloch about her leadership style, her rejigged executive team and how industry and government can deliver more with less if they work together.
‘We tried and we tried and we very nearly got there’: Osborne’s finance chief on the company’s collapse – and lessons the industry can learn
A year ago, the contractor went into administration after nearly 60 years in business. Pete Duff tells Dave Rogers what happened and what needs to change
Best foot forward: the former Army brigadier plotting Sir Robert McAlpine’s return to defence work
Mike Hickson spent 30 years in the military. He hopes his experience will help the contractor get a bridgehead in the sector, he tells Dave Rogers
‘This industry is absolutely fine…’ Andrew Davies on the naysayers, rescuing Kier and what the firm plans to do next
The contractor’s chief executive goes in to bat for construction. It’s a good time to be in the business, he tells Dave Rogers
‘It was always the plan ...’ Keltbray’s Brendan Kerr on selling infrastructure and what he’s going to do next
The specialist contractor’s owner talks to Dave Rogers about going back to building, succession planning and why he never intends to quit
‘It’s madness what the industry goes to work for’… Sisk’s Paul Brown on margins, making the right decisions and working on Man City’s stadium
‘The last two or three years in the UK have been the toughest I’ve experienced,’ the Irish contractor’s Liverpool-born chief executive tells Dave Rogers
‘The contracting model needs to change’ – Permasteelisa’s boss on why the industry can’t go on like this
Liam Cummins joined the cladding specialist in 2023 after years working for main contractors. He talks to Dave Rogers about unsustainable margins, working for some formidable CEOs and why London is still the place to do business
‘Bid for everything, always haggle’: The life and times of John F Hunt’s John Hall
The founder of the specialist contractor turned 75 over the summer. He tells Dave Rogers about nearly going under, having the gift of the gab and why he did well out of the Cardiff Millennium Stadium
‘On some levels, it’s a straightforward industry but it has significant challenges’ – Wates’ new(ish) CEO on what he’s learnt so far
Wates boss Eoghan O’Lionaird has been in post for just over a year. He tells Dave Rogers about the challenges facing the industry, its razor thin margins, his belief in purpose over profit – and why he gave up golf
‘Perfect, see you Monday’ … McLaren’s Paul Heather on tier ones and being headhunted on holiday
From a teenager wondering what a QS does to running a £1bn business, the firm’s construction boss talks to Dave Rogers about industry ups and downs – and being offered a job by Kevin Taylor
‘They needed this’ – McAlpine’s new boss wins plaudits as industry prepares for firm to reset
Neil Martin is expected to ring the changes and take the blue-blooded contractor back to centre-stage. Dave Rogers reports
‘The day I convince myself I know everything is the day I go’: an interview with Bam’s John Wilkinson
The firm’s well-travelled COO on margins, a changing industry and the Iron (Scunthorpe United to you and me)
Gareth Lewis interview: how Mace is weathering the economic storm
The chief executive of the firm’s construction arm has been through three recessions but says the current conditions are unprecedented.
An interview with Alison Cox, London MD of Sir Robert McAlpine
Alison Cox almost left the industry, fearing long hours would clash with having a young family. But she found a way back and is at the top of her game
ISG’s new boss on different thinking, growth aspirations - and more of the same
Former bricklayer Matt Blowers has taken over from Paul Cossell at the top of the firm
In Business: Where McAlpine sees its future
Firm plans to re-establish itself in civils and infrastructure work, chief executive Paul Hamer tells Building
Ray O’Rourke: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before’
Ray O’Rourke outlines his personal wish list for ministers and assesses the industry’s prospects for the year ahead
Bill Hocking: Dealer's choice
Bill Hocking, boss of Galliford Try’s construction arm, might have felt he’d been dealt a bad hand when he took over the job two years ago, but now that he holds all the cards, he’s moved to reduce the risk the firm takes on
Bruno Dupety: Action man
In 2014, Bruno Dupety was brought in to sort out Vinci’s UK construction arm: managing some massive project losses, refreshing the leadership team and restructuring struggling parts of the business
Paul Cossell: Above and beyond
Paul Cossell took charge of ISG last year as the fit-out, construction and engineering firm transferred into private hands, a move which has enabled him to explore areas outside the core business