SQFT Stories

University isn't the only path to success. The numbers don't lie–3 years at uni vs 3 years on site: Let's compare two 18-year-olds: Person A: Goes to university - 3 years of lectures - Student debt building - Limited practical experience - Occasional missed classes - Graduate-level entry position Person B: Takes an apprenticeship - 3 years of hands-on experience - Earning while learning - Real-world knowledge - Industry connections built - Money for travel & life - Already climbing the career ladder By age 21: One has a degree. The other has thousands of hours of experience. The truth? Both paths can lead to success. But only one gives you a 3-year head start. Conversation with Olly Plastow from Consensus Workspace Ltd. Catch the full episode with the links below: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eds62KHX Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e89d5eDb Apple - https://lnkd.in/e4vw5muH Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes.

We’re live with another episode Olly Plastow. Ollie is the co-founder of Consensus Workspace Ltd and the co-host of The Corporate, Character And ....Podcast. Ollie is ‘fit-out through & through’ as he describes it, having worked his way through every occupation in a design & build company. He now runs a family business that was co-founded with his Dad. Ollie holds a unique perspective around our industry as a younger personnel within it, giving him a different opinion on a variety of matters. We dive into: 5:30 - Difficulties within working with family. 10:21 - Ollie’s route through design & build. 11:43 - The start of consensus workplace. 31:13 - Ollie’s plans with his personal brand. 33:42 - Ollie’s opinion differing viral post on LinkedIn around apprenticeships vs degree. 46:15 - Future relationships between sub-contractors & main contractors. 51:54 - Ollie’s podcast plans and goals. Ollie has quickly become a friend within the industry. As I always comment on - we should be working together rather than against each other. Click the links below to watch/listen: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eds62KHX Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e89d5eDb Apple - https://lnkd.in/e4vw5muH Please subscribe for all future episodes 🙏

Content isn't a luxury anymore. It's survival. Look around: - Media's transforming - Retail's innovating - Tech's evolving And construction? Standing still. Content isn't optional anymore → It's not going away → The gap is growing daily While you're: ❌ Waiting to see ❌ Playing it safe ❌ Staying "traditional" The smart ones are: ✅ Building audiences ✅ Creating influence ✅ Taking market share Our industry will catch up. Question is: Will you lead or will you follow? Conversation with Tom Hitch from WRKPLC. Catch the full episode with the links below: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/ee8CDrsU Spotify - https://lnkd.in/eRDengDS Apple - https://lnkd.in/eCbk3vNj Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes.

We're live with another episode - Tom Hitch. Tom is the Founder of WRKPLC, a media brand that is focused on creating content on office design, workplace topics and commercial real estate. Prior to WRKPLC, Tom has had an extensive career in marketing & content production within various different companies in the Design & Build industry. He speaks honestly about what it takes to create high quality video format content, whether that be podcasts, short form, or long form. Tom also emphasises why leaders in the built environment must embrace content creation - or risk being left behind in an evolving industry. Also, Why we should be growing our personal brand and the power of it, specifically when pushed through LinkedIn. We dive into: 4:18 - What marketing looked like 10 years ago in Design & Build 7:00 - Life at Peldon Rose 12:40 - Time at Morgan Lovell 15:42 - Tom starting LinkedIn & What it takes to grow your profile 21:40 - Toms brand deal with Samsung 26:10 - Head of content Oktra 36:00 - Toms first podcast - Oktra Voices 42:37 - Start of WRKPLC  48:31 - Work behind starting a podcast 53:34 - How to create a podcast 1:03:25 - Why you need to start creating content within your construction business 1:11:46 - Future of content in construction Tom is one of the only others in our industry who focuses on content creation, so it was engaging for me as a host to listen to his perspective on how he thinks it should be created. It has also made me think I need to up my game when it comes to the quality of my own content. This episode is a genuine must watch/listen if you’re thinking about growing your personal/company's brand through creating content. Click the links below to watch/listen. Youtube - https://lnkd.in/eDwRdJZM Spotify - https://lnkd.in/eX2GR7vV Apple - https://lnkd.in/e-cq6Zet Please subscribe for all future episodes 🙏

How to scale as a fit-out contractor? This is also relevant for any type of contractor, not just fit-out. I asked Oliver Hammond a question I’m sure plenty of people would like to know. How would you scale as a smaller sized business to the next level? As someone who has ‘been around for years’ and now operates as a coach & consultant for many companies, Ollie is very well positioned to answer. Many of our first thoughts would be: - If I take on ‘X’ sized projects which leads on to taking on ‘X’ staff. - Let’s identify alternative sectors you could expand into. His initial response.. ‘Ask yourself if you want to scale’. All of us want to scale to the next level, deliver better projects, deal with more clientele, but have we actually sat down and asked ourselves: - Why? - Is this what we actually want? Catch the full episode featuring Oliver Hammond from OJH Space with the links below: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eG5DpnhW Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e9QaRhMY Apple - https://lnkd.in/eTP26K6K Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes.

Is our industry solely relationship orientated? Oliver Hammond made a strong case for both: - The power of nurturing relationships. - The power in not making enemies. You never know when nurtured relationships may come back around to help you in a time of need. I think one of the most powerful traits you can have in our industry is a natural relationship builder. Opportunities come through relationships. Projects come through relationships. Everything is stemmed through relationships. But we shouldn’t just look at trying to forge strong relationships with clients. What about Sub-Contractors relationships? What about supplier relationships? These all tie hand in hand with the greater goal we all have within our work. He also eludes to the fact that beyond the goals within our careers, true friendships can be formed outside of work. Watch the full episode featuring Oliver Hammond from OJH Space with the links below: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eG5DpnhW Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e9QaRhMY Apple - https://lnkd.in/eTP26K6K Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes.

Are customers always right? The old phrase of 'the customers always right'. As predominately a sales based industry, we seem to follow this narrative. Why is this? No-one is always right. Is it because we are too scared of losing them? Oliver Hammond makes a great point where he suggests when dealing with customers, it feels like we've always got an axe on our necks. But, the most important thing to do is to manage clients expectations, even if they're wrong. We're afraid they will go elsewhere, to a competitor. There is a general narrative in the construction industry as a whole where its criminal to lose a client to a competitor. Catch the full episode featuring Oliver Hammond from OJH Space with the links below: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eG5DpnhW Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e9QaRhMY Apple - https://lnkd.in/eTP26K6K Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes.

Has social media killed something vital… The art of real relationships? The good old days of construction sales. No distractions. Pure focus on only what you were doing. What mattered then: - Face to face meetings - Building genuine trust - Real conversations - Personal connections No: → LinkedIn updates → Competitor noise → Social media buzz → Digital distractions Just: - Your opportunity - Your relationships - Your intelligence - Your focus Today? Everyone knows everything. About everyone. All the time. Maybe we need: Less time scrolling. And more time building real offline relationships. Catch the full episode featuring Oliver Hammond from OJH Space with the links below: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eG5DpnhW Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e9QaRhMY Apple - https://lnkd.in/eTP26K6K Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes.

We're excited to share that our MD Mike Garrett MCIOB recently sat down with SQFT Stories to discuss some crucial industry topics, including mental health in construction, what it really takes to deliver successful projects, and the evolving nature of workplace dynamics. In this upcoming episode, Mike opens up about his journey from working with major industry players to leading Ikon in his 20s, while tackling some of construction's most pressing challenges. Stay tuned for the full episode where we dive deep into project delivery, industry culture, and our vision for Ikon's future. Thanks to Callum Foy for hosting and Zac Goodman for the studio space. 🎥 Joe Hayes

We’re live with another episode - Oliver Hammond. Oliver is the founder of OJH Space which offers coaching & consultancy within the commercial D&B world. Ollie has a unique outlook on the industry as he has both run his own contracting business & helped grow the businesses of some of the biggest players in our industry. His opinions stem predominately from a sales & BDM standpoint. One of my favourite sections of this recording is where we go into real detail around exactly how we should be operating to obtain new business & ensure we are servicing existing clientele correctly. 3:00 - Ollie’s first fit-out business. 6:33 - Process of winning tenders pre-internet. 17:54 - The journey ending his fit-out business. 31:25 - Tips on winning more pitches. 1:02:23 - Power of relationships in Sales & Business. 1:22:32 - How to scales from £0-3 Million to the next level as a contractor. Click the links below to watch/listen. YouTube - https://lnkd.in/eG5DpnhW Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e9QaRhMY Apple - https://lnkd.in/eTP26K6K Please subscribe to the channel for all future episodes 🙏