Growing Consultancies - Consultancy Leadership Done Properly | David Watts of Childerstone Project Management Ep24

In this episode of the Growing Consultancies podcast, I speak to Shaun Harris of Harris Associates. Shaun is a proper “been there, done it” business owner, there are plenty of pearls of wisdom in this conversation. We talk about doing things the traditional way for a long time, then recognising when it’s time to modernise. We also get into leadership, wearing multiple hats as a business owner, and why compliance and building safety is one of the biggest opportunities in the market right now.It’s also a refreshing one for the podcast, because we’ve not had many guests so far from the building surveying and compliance space, and Shaun brings a really grounded, practical perspective.We discuss:• What Harris Associates actually does and how the business is structured (multi-disciplinary, multi-office)• Why compliance is a huge growth area and where the real opportunity sits (especially with existing buildings)• Growing headcount from the low 30s towards 40 and the challenge of finding quality people• How PI insurance has changed and why it matters so much for higher-risk work• How the business pivoted post-2019 and why speed of decision-making is a competitive advantage• Modernising the “traditional way” by working smarter, improving systems, and using tech without losing expertise• AI, digital tools, and the risk of losing future senior talent if juniors don’t learn the fundamentals• Leadership, time management, and how Shaun prioritises in a week where everything changes daily• Taking risks, getting comfortable with failure, and why attitude matters as much as technical ability• What success really looks like beyond money, turnover, and titlesIf you’re a consultant, surveyor, business owner, or anyone navigating change in the built environment, you’ll take something from this one.Shaun HarrisHarris AssociatesSubscribe for more episodes.#growingconsultancies #buildingsurveying #compliance #buildingsafety #firesafety #builtenvironment #consultancylife #leadership #businessgrowth #constructionindustry #propertyconsultancy #retrofit #netzero #professionalservices

In this episode, I speak to Colin Wood, founder of EthosEQ, a growing Quantity Surveying business just over a year old, focused primarily within the commercial space.Colin shares his journey from corporate consultancy life to launching his own partner-led business, and what he’s learned in the first year.We discuss:• The difference between working in a large corporate organisation versus a small, agile consultancy• Why Colin decided to leave a secure senior role and start from scratch• The story behind the name EthosEQ and the importance of emotional intelligence in modern consultancy• Building a distinctive brand in a crowded London market• The evolution of the QS profession and where it’s heading• AI, automation, and whether tech will really replace the traditional QS• The importance of fundamentals, cost certainty, and avoiding “buying a problem” at tender stage• Growing intentionally versus chasing growth for growth’s sake• Referrals, pipeline building, and winning work in the early days of a startupIf you’re a Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, consultant, or founder building your own business, there are some honest and practical insights in this one.Colin WoodEthosEQ Construction AdvisersSubscribe for more conversations with consultancy founders and leaders.Let me know your biggest takeaway in the comments.#growingconsultancies #quantitysurveying #qs #consultancylife #constructionindustry #businessgrowth #commercialconstruction #leadership #entrepreneurship #builtenvironment #costmanagement #aiinconstruction

In this week’s episode of Growing Consultancies, I sit down with David Watts, Managing Director of Childerstone Project Management.David shares his view on how a modern consultancy should be built and led. Childerstone have grown quickly, and it is not by accident. It comes down to leadership, culture and doing the simple things properly.We discuss:Developing people properly and investing in future leadersWhy it is healthy to be comfortable with people moving onBuilding a senior leadership team you genuinely trustCreating a consultancy culture that attracts high-quality professionals Why hiring good people and looking after them still winsDelivering consistently for clients in a competitive construction marketWhat stands out in this conversation is David’s calm confidence. He understands that not everyone will stay with a business forever, and he is comfortable with that. Instead of trying to hold people back, he focuses on creating an environment where his talented team can thrive while they are there.Childerstone’s growth reflects that approach. They work on strong projects, employ strong people, and keep the model simple. It is amazing how many consultancies forget that the fundamentals still matter.If you are working in construction project management, cost consultancy, or thinking about leadership in the built environment, there are some real lessons in this episode.David Watts LinkedIn Childerstone Project Management#GrowingConsultancies #QuantitySurveyor #ProjectManagement #ConstructionIndustry #CostConsultancy #BuiltEnvironment #ConstructionCareers #ConsultancyLeadership #ProjectManager #UKConstruction

In this episode of Growing Consultancies, I’m joined by Jamie Hanson of CODA Studios.CODA are a small architectural practice headquartered in Sheffield, with a growing presence in Manchester, and this turned into a really honest and insightful conversation.Jamie and the team completed a management buyout, buying out the original founder just as Covid hit, which meant taking over the business during a period of real turmoil. We also talk openly about how tough 2024 and 2025 have been, including the difficult reality of having to make redundancies and the impact that has on a small consultancy.In this episode, we discuss:Completing a management buyout during Covid- Taking over a business in uncertain and high-pressure conditionsNavigating difficult years and making tough decisionsThe reality of redundancies and their impact on a consultancyManaging cash flow and profitability in a small practiceRebuilding confidence and momentum after a downturnLaying the foundations for future growthJamie is a genuinely great guy, this was a very open and honest conversation, and I think anyone running or working in a consultancy will get a lot out of this episode.#growingconsultancies #architecturepractice #constructionindustry#consultancylife #smallbusinessUK #architectsUK#quantitysurveying #pprojectmanagement #cashflowmanagement#businessleadership #constructioncareers #builtenvironment

Twenty five episodesCountless storiesOne simple idea. That growing a consultancy is about people first.In this special episode of Growing Consultancies, we take a moment to look back on the first 25 conversations. From brave beginnings and bold decisions to hard lessons, people problems, and the steady work of building something that lasts.These episodes were never about perfection or polished soundbites. They were about honesty. The moments where things nearly did not work, the risks that paid off, and the values that kept businesses moving forward when the road got bumpy.If you are building, scaling, starting over, or simply curious about what really goes on behind the scenes of a consultancy, this episode is for you.Thank you to every guest who shared their story, and to everyone watching who is quietly building something of their own.📌 Subscribe for weekly conversations with consultancy founders and leaders🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts💬 Comment with your favourite moment from the first 25 episodes#growingconsultancies #businesspodcast #consultancylife #leadership #construction #projectmanager #quantitysurveyor

This week we have a special edition video with Paul, sharing his honest predictions for 2026 across the construction and infrastructure sector.After what has been a challenging 2025 for many businesses, with redundancies across consultancies and the loss of contractors, Paul gives a grounded view on what is likely to repeat, what will recover, and where the real opportunities lie in 2026.This video is based on real conversations with clients across the UK focused on the consultancy market.In this video, Paul talks about:Why parts of the consultancy market still need to right sizeWhy some businesses struggled post-Covid while others continue to grow Which construction sectors are likely to be busy in 2026, including data centresThe expected return of high-rise residential and Gateway approvalsCommercial, retail and leisure market activityEnergy, utilities and grid investmentDefence spending and geopolitical pressureWhy rail may continue to struggleThe worsening skills shortage across constructionAn ageing workforce and the continued brain drain of UK Quantity SurveyorsWhy early recruitment activity in 2026 is already a positive signIf you work in a construction consultancy, or you are a Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, Director or business owner, this video will give you a clear and realistic view of what the year ahead may look like.This is not hype. It is a practical outlook on where the industry is heading and what that means for people and businesses within it.👍 If you find this useful, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and share it with someone in the industry planning for 2026.#constructionindustry #quantitysurveying #projectmanagement #constructionconsultancy #2026predictions #ukconstruction #infrastructure #skillsshortage #datacentres #energyinfrastructure #constructioncareers #consultancylife

In this episode of Growing Consultancies, I’m joined by David Green of Churchill Cost Consultants.Churchill is a consultancy originally formed in the US, and in 2022 David was approached by the founders to set up and grow their UK and European operations from scratch. Just a few years later, the business has already grown to 36 people, with ambitious plans for continued growth across the UK and Europe.This is a fascinating story of backing yourself and taking a calculated risk. David made the decision to leave one of the highest-performing teams in the consultancy world to join a smaller start-up and move into the data centre sector for the first time. Today, both his role and his team are entirely focused on data centres, an area of construction that continues to attract huge interest and investment.We discuss:- Setting up a consultancy from scratch in the UK- Scaling a business quickly while maintaining quality- Making the move from a large consultancy to a start-up- Breaking into the data centre market- Leadership, growth, and building specialist teamsThere’s often a lot of mystique around the data centre market, and if you’re a Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, Cost Manager, or anyone working in construction, this episode will give you real insight into how that world works and what opportunities exist within it.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you’re enjoying the Growing Consultancies series.#GrowingConsultancies #QuantitySurveying #ProjectManagement #CostConsultancy #ConstructionIndustry #DataCentres #DataCentreConstruction #ConsultancyLife #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ConstructionCareers

Today I’m joined by James Hallworth of Workman LLP. James is a Partner at Workman and also leads their Building Technology offering. He is also the driving force behind IBOS, a specialist building technology division focused on helping property and asset owners better manage their buildings.This turned into a genuinely fascinating and educational conversation around what many people call PropTech (a phrase James himself isn’t particularly fond of). At its heart, this episode is about how technology can transform the way buildings are operated, managed, and optimised.We discuss:What “PropTech” really means in practiceHow building technology is changing asset and property managementImproving building efficiency and reducing energy intensityHow data and smart systems can revolutionise the way buildings performWhat the future looks like for building management and ownersI’ll be honest, this is an area I didn’t know enough about going into the conversation, and I learned a huge amount from James. If you work in construction, property, asset management, project management or quantity surveying, this episode will open your eyes to where the industry is heading.Listen now, subscribe, and join us on the journey of growing consultancies.#GrowingConsultancies #ConstructionConsultancy #PropertyTechnology #PropTech #BuildingTechnology #AssetManagement #PropertyManagement #Sustainability #EnergyEfficiency #ProjectManagement #QuantitySurveying #BuiltEnvironment #WorkmanLLP

Welcome to another episode of Growing Consultancies, the podcast exploring how modern construction consultancies are growing while staying true to the fundamentals of the industry.Today I’m joined by Matt Viall of Core Five. Core Five are one of a small number of cost consultancies who, in my view, are getting things right in the current market. They’re growing, evolving, and embracing new ways of working, while still respecting the core principles of the Quantity Surveying profession.This is a really thoughtful and balanced conversation about the future of cost consultancy and the importance of not losing sight of the traditional QS skill set.We discuss:Why the fundamentals of Quantity Surveying still matter more than everThe risk of becoming over-reliant on models and digital outputs without understanding the basicsThe importance of strong Learning & Development in construction consultancyHow to ensure people coming into the industry truly understand constructionThe growth of Core 5 and where the business is heading nextMatt is one of the industry’s good people, and this is an honest, insightful chat that will resonate with Quantity Surveyors, Cost Managers, Project Managers and anyone working in construction who cares about doing things properly.🎧 Watch now, subscribe, and join us on the journey of growing consultancies.#GrowingConsultancies #ConstructionConsultancy #QuantitySurveying #CostManagement #ProjectManagement #QSConsultancy #LearningAndDevelopment #ConstructionCareers #FutureOfConstruction #Core5 #ConsultancyLife #BusinessGrowth

Welcome to another episode of Growing Consultancies, the podcast exploring how forward-thinking construction consultancies are being built for the future.Today I am joined by Niall Aitken of Exigere. This is the second time Niall has appeared on the podcast overall, but his first time on Growing Consultancies.Exigere are, in my view, the model of a modern QS and cost consultancy. This episode is essential listening for anyone currently working in a traditional cost consultancy or QS practice who wants to understand where the industry is heading.Niall shares how Exigere have positioned themselves as a high-performing, future-facing consultancy, making deliberate investment in digital, data, and modern ways of working to stay ahead of the curve.We discuss:What separates a modern QS consultancy from a traditional cost consultancyWhy investment in digital and data is no longer optionalHow forward-thinking consultancies are better positioned for the futureThe risks of standing still in an evolving construction industryWhat Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers should be thinking about for their careersIf you are a Quantity Surveyor, Cost Manager, Project Manager or anyone working in construction, this episode will be a real eye-opener and will challenge how you think about the future of consultancy.Watch now, subscribe, and join us on the journey of growing consultancies.#GrowingConsultancies #ConstructionConsultancy #QuantitySurveying #CostManagement #ProjectManagement #QSConsultancy #DigitalConstruction #ConstructionTechnology #FutureOfConstruction #Exedia #ConsultancyLife #ConstructionCareers