In this episode, Michelle gets to the heart of what keeps projects running smoothly; roles and responsibilities. She breaks down exactly who is who in the construction world, from Quantity Surveyors and Estimators to Project Managers, Architects, and Financial Controllers, and explains what each of them is truly responsible for.

Drawing on three decades of pulling struggling projects back from the brink, Michelle reveals why understanding these roles isn’t just “nice to know”; it’s essential. When everyone knows what they’re accountable for, decisions are sharper, communication is clearer, and the entire team can deliver with confidence.

When they don’t? Confusion, delays, and costly mistakes creep in fast.

This episode is all about helping you build a team where responsibilities are understood, strengths are used properly, and your project is supported by the right expertise at every stage.

Whether you're new to construction or a seasoned professional, you'll walk away with a clearer picture of who does what, why it matters, and how the right structure transforms project outcomes.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

In this episode, Michelle takes aim at the silent killer of construction businesses: chaos. Not the dramatic kind like shouting matches or last-minute disasters, but the everyday, behind-the-scenes chaos that slowly bleeds a company dry.

She exposes how missing processes, unclear responsibilities, and muddled communication create a perfect storm where money leaks, decisions stall, and teams slip into frustration and fatigue.

Through real client experiences and her own time in the industry, Michelle shows how internal disorder, not late payments, is often the biggest threat to cash flow.

From broken information chains to disconnects with accounts teams to overlooking the loyal people holding everything together, she reveals how small cracks quickly become costly chasms.

This episode is a no-nonsense guide to recognising the chaos you’ve normalised, and transforming it into clarity, confidence, and a business that runs like a well-oiled machine instead of a daily firefight.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

In this episode, Michelle lifts the lid on one of the biggest pressure points in construction: financing. From mortgages and bridging loans to development funding and invoice factoring, she breaks down the options contractors rely on, and the serious traps that often come with them.

Drawing on real experiences from the industry, Michelle shares how unexpected costs, overlooked finance charges, and poor planning can derail even the most promising project. She explores why understanding funding terms, anticipating contingencies, and managing cash responsibly can make the difference between profit and panic.

Whether you're running a small job or a multi-million pound build, her advice will help you take control of the money side with confidence.

The key message; Finance is a fact of life in construction, but with clarity and careful planning, it doesn’t have to be a risk. It can become a powerful tool for delivering successful, stress-free projects.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

In the Season 2 opening episode of Taking the Con Out of Construction, we get straight to the heart of one of the industry’s biggest make-or-break factors: cash flow. Michelle unpacks the real reasons contractors run into financial trouble, from mixing up profit and overheads to taking on projects with stretched payment terms that quietly drain the business.

She breaks down the practical steps every contractor should be taking: pricing tenders properly, capturing overheads with accuracy, staying on top of CVRs, and strengthening the communication loop between estimating and delivery teams.

Packed with real-world insights and straightforward strategies, this episode is your guide to building financial resilience, protecting your margins, and steering clear of the liquidation trap.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

In this episode of Taking the Con Out of Construction, Michelle Carr unpacks the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) the smarter, faster, and more cost-effective way to resolve disputes without stepping foot in court.

Michelle explains how adjudication and mediation work in practice, why they’ve become such vital tools under the Construction Act, and what every contractor should know about handling disputes before they spiral. She shares practical guidance on navigating the process with confidence, understanding your contracts, and keeping communication clear from the outset.

Beyond the legal side, Michelle explores how many problems start within the business itself, and how tackling internal issues early can prevent problems on-site.

With real-world insight and straightforward advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to manage conflict, protect relationships, and keep projects moving forward.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

This episode tackles one of the most critical, and often most stressful stages of any project; final account. It’s the moment where everything comes together, where the numbers tell the story of the project’s true success.

Michelle breaks down what the final account really means, and shares practical advice on keeping accurate records, managing variations along the way, and setting yourself up for a smoother negotiation by “starting with the end in mind” from day one.

Whether you’re a contractor, QS, or client-side professional, this episode offers clear, actionable insight into how to approach the final account stage with confidence, clarity, and control.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

In this episode of Taking the Con Out of Construction, Michelle tackles one of the trickiest parts of any project, variations. Whether it’s a small adjustment or a major change, variations are inevitable, but they don’t have to derail your project.

Michelle breaks down how transparency, clear communication, and a solid understanding of what’s been priced can prevent variations from turning into disputes. She explains why reviewing tenders carefully and resisting the lure of the lowest bid are crucial steps toward protecting your profit and maintaining client trust.

From ensuring designs are well-defined to pricing variations correctly, including overheads and every stage of the work, Michelle shares practical strategies to keep control and confidence throughout. She also highlights the importance of meticulous record-keeping and following the contract to the letter.

If you’ve ever faced the frustration of unexpected changes or budget blowouts, this episode will show you how to handle variations the right way; with professionalism, clarity, and calm.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.

In this episode, Michelle breaks down the often-underestimated world of applications for payment, a critical part of getting paid properly in construction. She explains the key differences between applications for payment and standard invoicing under JCT contracts, and why timing, accuracy, and process matter more than many realise.

Michelle offers practical advice on how to prepare and submit applications correctly, the role of Payless Notices, and what documentation you need to back up your claims. She also shares her tips on maintaining clear communication, strong client relationships, and meticulous records to protect yourself against disputes or adjudications.

Michelle also explores what to do when payments are delayed or withheld, giving actionable strategies to help contractors stay proactive and professional.

Listen as Michelle shares her expert guidance to help you master the payment process, avoid unnecessary stress, and secure timely payments with confidence.

Visit https://h2construction.uk/ to learn more.

Find Michelle Carr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-d-carr/

H Squared Construction: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h2-commercial-consultancy .

Find out more about Construction Alchemy here: https://constructionalchemy.co.uk/

CREDITS:

'Taking the Con out of Construction’ is a OneZeroCreative production.

Discover how podcasting can grow your brand: https://www.onezerocreative.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-zero-creative

Contact us at enquiries@onezerocreative.co.uk

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on the personal experiences of Michelle Carr and her guests. They are for general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or legal advice. Always seek your own independent advice before making decisions. Neither Michelle Carr nor H Squared Construction accepts liability for any loss, damage, or consequences arising from actions taken based on this podcast.