The Harsh Truth About Construction Hiring (And How to Fix It) feat. Martin Preece | Ep. 399

What happens when a construction company hits £5 million a year… and still collapses?In this new episode of Construction Secrets, Quantum CEO Raine Gerber sits down with Greg Wilkes, the builder-turned-business-coach helping thousands of construction owners escape burnout, regain control, and build companies that actually scale.They dive deep into the real issues construction owners face every day:Why hustle culture is killing your businessThe financial mistakes that kill profit on every projectWhy monthly P&Ls aren’t enough to save youThe power of phase tracking instead of just job-level marginsHow systems and structure beat stress and chaosWhy most builders fail to grow past the “busy and broke” stageGreg’s mission to help 10,000 builders a year transform their businessIf you’re a subcontractor, builder, or construction business owner who wants more profit, more control, and more time with your family, this is required listening.Timestamps: 00:00 - Hustle Culture Is a Lie03:12 - Greg’s Collapse and Comeback07:45 - The Turning Point: Buying Out His Business Partner12:10 - The Biggest Profit Killer in Construction18:22 - Why Phase-Tracking Saves Projects24:55 - Systems Over Stress31:40 - The Mission: Helping 10,000 Builders a YearConnect & Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠Quantum Contracts Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Raine Gerber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Greg WilkesDevelop Coaching AUSDevelop Coaching UKDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

Why do some construction teams thrive while others struggle?In this episode, Quantum CEO Raine Gerber sits down with Kieran Moran, Founder of Connecting Industry, to unpack what really drives project success.From communication and leadership to trust, alignment, and client relationships, Raine and Kieran break down the practical realities of delivering great projects in today’s construction environment.You’ll discover:Why communication and trust matter more than technical capabilityHow relationships win more work than pricing ever willThe three pillars that break down silos and build better teamsThe truth behind losing repeat work (and how to avoid it)Why clarity is your strongest risk-management toolThe leadership mindset that separates good builders from great onesWhether you’re a subcontractor, builder, PM, or industry leader, this episode gives you real, usable insights you can apply on-site tomorrow.Timestamps: 00:00 - Communication Gets You Chosen 03:42 - Why Connecting Industry Was Born 06:34 - Relationships Win Work 09:28 - The Three Pillars of Construction Success 15:33 - The Subbie Who Lost Repeat Work 23:29 - Why Cheapest Isn’t Best 34:17 - Communication Is Your Risk Strategy 46:45 - Leadership Mindset That Changes EverythingConnect & Learn More⁠⁠⁠Quantum Contracts Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Raine Gerber⁠⁠⁠Kieran MoranConnecting IndustryDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

What does great leadership really look like in construction?In this episode of Construction Secrets, our CEO Raine Gerber sits down with Martin Preece to explore how the construction industry can evolve, not just through projects and profit, but through people.They discuss:Why the biggest challenge isn’t finding talent, but keeping itThe shift from command-and-control leadership to communication and empathyHow culture and flexibility attract the next generation of construction professionalsWhy leadership development is the missing piece in most construction businessesFrom leadership mindsets to team culture, this episode unpacks what it takes to build companies that people want to be part of, not just work for.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 02:16 - How Martin Got Into Recruitment07:00 - The Leadership Gap in Construction12:00 - Building Strong Teams, Not Just Filling Roles17:10 - How Poor Onboarding Destroys Engagement26:00 - Managing Gen Z and Millennial Talent32:20 - Why Information Shapes Expectations38:50 - Building a Brand People Want to Work For46:40 - Learning Through Tough Projects57:30 - Final Thoughts: Influence and GrowthConnect & Learn More⁠Quantum Contracts Website⁠⁠Raine Gerber⁠⁠Martin PreeceBuilding Environs.auDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

If your construction schedule keeps slipping and your profit keeps bleeding, this episode is for you.Our CEO, Raine Gerber, kicks off Season 2 of Construction Secrets with Andy Alagappan, Senior Planning Consultant and Delay Expert, to expose the hidden causes of project overruns and how to fix them.Together they unpack:Why bad programs destroy trust, cash flow, and marginHow to spot early warning signs before delay turns into disputeThe truth about float vs contingencyPractical tools to plan smarter, recover time, and stay profitable“Time is way more valuable than money. You can make more money, but you can’t buy more time.”Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to Season 201:20 – From Formula 1 Dreams to Construction Planning05:40 – The Silent Profit Killer: Poor Planning09:00 – Early Risk Detection & Forecasting10:20 – Time Is Way More Valuable Than Money12:50 – The Purpose of a Program15:40 – Float vs Contingency: Clearing the Confusion21:10 – Communication and Early Warnings37:20 – The Myth of the “Dark Arts” of Scheduling 56:00 – The Future of Planning: AI and iBOQConnect & Learn MoreQuantum Contracts WebsiteRaine GerberStrategic Planning WebsiteAndy AlagappanDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in April 2024.Where did all the tradies go? Construction is booming, but the workers are vanishing. Margins are getting crushed, projects are understaffed, and no one wants to get their hands dirty anymore. In this episode, we dig into why there’s a global skilled labor shortage, how AI might flip the script, and why trades could become the most secure jobs of the next decade. If you're wondering how this shift will impact your business, you need to hear this. Tune in now.Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don’t let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB the FREE Industry Standards Guide: quantumcs.co/ISYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(1:32) - The biggest problem everyone's talking about is I can't get enough people(2:15) - Why is there a lack of skilled people?(3:23) - There is a lot of suicide in construction(5:17) - Construction was typically done by immigrants(6:19) - The white collar workers are going to become less and less valuable because AI is going to be able to do a lot of that workDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in April 2024.Most subcontractors waste their first five years learning lessons the hard way. They undercharge, chase every tender, stop marketing once the job starts, and get stuck in a cycle of low-margin work. In this episode, you'll get five practical strategies that can fast-track your growth, including how to dominate a niche, build powerful case studies, charge premium rates, and finally break free from competitive bidding. These are the same principles the top 1% use to grow faster, earn more, and win better work. Want to skip the trial and error? Hit the play button now.Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don’t let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB the FREE Industry Standards Guide: quantumcs.co/ISYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(1:09) - You want to master your own little puddle, then expand to the pond, and then to the lake(2:56) - You've got to eat some dirt(4:27) - Buy back your time(5:59) - Understand where you have the most value in your business(8:23) - How do you move away from competitive bidding?DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in April 2024.Most new construction business owners are set up to fail before they even break ground. They sign risky contracts they don't understand, take on the wrong insurance, and agree to timelines that make zero sense for their scope. In this episode, we answer real questions from trades and subcontractors about certifications, pricing models, insurance traps, and contract clauses that can wreck your margin. You’ll learn how to protect your IP, set the right risk tolerance, and avoid being locked into 36-month nightmares.If you're thinking of starting a construction company or just want to make sure yours survives, you need to hear this. Tune in now.Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don’t let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB the FREE Industry Standards Guide: quantumcs.co/ISYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(1:14) - What kind of training and certifications do you need to start your own construction company?(2:45) - What type of insurance cover or guarantee should I be taking out on my company?(5:42) - What would you say is the best sector to specialize in so that it doesn't happen to my business in a couple of months?(7:52) - When signing onto a project, what is an acceptable timeline of the project? What is the industry standard?(13:08) - How do I keep my IP to myself when I sign a new contract?(15:05) - Should my price be fixed price or an estimate, which option would give me the upper hand?(18:14) - Are there any courses you could recommend to my team and I can learn about clauses and contracts?DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in April 2024.Most contract administrators are leaving money on the table without even realising it.If you think your job is just submitting change orders and delay notices, you're missing the real opportunity.Great contract admins do more than push paper.They improve cash flow, increase margins, and protect the company from costly disputes.In this episode, learn how to become the kind of contract administrator who gets noticed, promoted, and rewarded while helping your company thrive.Listen in and discover how the top 1 percent actually operate.Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don’t let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB a copy of our book The Subcontractor's Edge: quantumcs.co/SubEdgePreYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(1:26) - One of the key things that you have to remember as a contracts administrator is it's not about. pushing paper from A to B(3:19) - Lawyers understand everything in the clauses for sure, of course they do, and they understand the risks, but they don't understand how it actually plays out on site(5:34) - The biggest problem in construction is doing work for free(7:10) - How do you be contractual without being aggressive? How do you do it in such a way is that they don't think you're combative?(8:15) - Contracts administrators are not paper pushers. They're switched on commerciallyDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in March 2024.You might think you're signing a fair contract… but you’re not.Most contractors believe they’re agreeing to standard terms, when in reality, they’ve been handed a heavily amended document that quietly shifts all the risk onto them.These “wolf in sheep’s clothing” contracts look safe until something goes wrong.Suddenly, you're hit with hidden clauses, tight time bars, and zero entitlement to variations or delays.In this episode, we break down how this happens, why it’s so common, and what you can do to protect your margins and cash flow.Tune in now and find out if your contracts are quietly setting you up to fail.Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don’t let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB a copy of our book The Subcontractor's Edge: quantumcs.co/SubEdgePreYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(2:08) - The thing about this is contracts typically are not really designed to be fair(3:06) - What they do is if they can push the risk, if they can have you finance the project on their behalf, their cashflow is a lot better(4:38) - What actually happens is they use the standard form contract, and then they amend that contract and then give you that contract(5:40) - They can manipulate time barsDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in March 2024.One mistake in construction can wipe out 20 years of hard work.It sounds extreme, but it happens every day.Rising interest rates, skyrocketing material costs, and a shortage of skilled workers are creating the perfect storm. On top of that, most contractors are blindly signing risky contracts that shift all the pressure onto them.If you're not negotiating smarter and protecting your margins, you're playing a dangerous game.In this episode, find out what’s really killing construction companies and how the top 1% are protecting themselves while making more profit on every project. Listen up!Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don’t let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB a copy of our book The Subcontractor's Edge: quantumcs.co/SubEdgePreYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(1:44) - What is the problem in construction and why do so many construction companies end up going out of business?(3:16) - Most people lost a lot of money if they were locked into contracts(4:20) - How do we make sure that one false step isn't going to put us out of business?(5:41) - If you're not playing the contracts game, you're going to lose(6:28) - Construction is a game about longevityDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter