Create and Construct https://createandconstruct.podbean.com Create & Construct takes you inside real-world construction projects, uncovering the full journey from concept and design through to build and completion. Each bi-weekly episode features industry experts, architects, engineers, contractors, and developers sharing practical advice, lessons learned, and behind-the-scenes insights. 

Designed for construction professionals, housebuilders, designers, specifiers, and built-environment enthusiasts, the podcast explores common challenges, innovative solutions, materials, planning, sustainability, and on-site realities. Expect honest conversations, expert commentary, and actionable guidance you can apply to your own projects. 

Tune in every two weeks for inspiration, professional insight, and a genuine peek behind the hard hat. 

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:35:40 +0000 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Business 1440 episodic Tobermore Tobermore No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21878346/C_C_POD_Dark_BG_18su33.png Create and Construct https://createandconstruct.podbean.com 144 144 6. Performance, Retrofitting and the Future of Materials - With Grant Henshaw & Tom Greening 6. Performance, Retrofitting and the Future of Materials - With Grant Henshaw & Tom Greening https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/6-performance-retrofitting-and-the-future-of-materials-with-grant-henshaw-tom-greening/ https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/6-performance-retrofitting-and-the-future-of-materials-with-grant-henshaw-tom-greening/#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:35:40 +0000 createandconstruct.podbean.com/11dc03d3-61f4-3479-9a46-42869e3fd73f In this episode of Create & Construct: The Podcast, host Michelle is joined by Grant Henshaw, Building Physicist and Research Fellow at the University of Salford, and Tom Greening, Strategic Account Manager at Tobermore, to discuss how homes perform past the design stage in the real world.  

The discussion explores energy efficiency, heat pumps, insulation and retrofitting, along with occupant comfort and the role of measurement in improving real-world performance.  

It also examines how materials, construction quality, embodied carbon and supply chains are influencing the future of housebuilding.

]]> In this episode of Create & Construct: The Podcast, host Michelle is joined by Grant Henshaw, Building Physicist and Research Fellow at the University of Salford, and Tom Greening, Strategic Account Manager at Tobermore, to discuss how homes perform past the design stage in the real world.  

The discussion explores energy efficiency, heat pumps, insulation and retrofitting, along with occupant comfort and the role of measurement in improving real-world performance.  

It also examines how materials, construction quality, embodied carbon and supply chains are influencing the future of housebuilding.

]]> Tobermore false No 2524 6 full 5. Women in Construction - Opportunity, Allies and Industry Reality - With Martha Penney 5. Women in Construction - Opportunity, Allies and Industry Reality - With Martha Penney https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/5-women-in-construction-opportunity-allies-and-industry-reality-with-martha-penney/ https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/5-women-in-construction-opportunity-allies-and-industry-reality-with-martha-penney/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:06:45 +0000 createandconstruct.podbean.com/153499f9-81bd-3eaa-afbd-12131602089b In this episode of Create & Construct: The Podcast, Michelle is joined by Martha Penney, Senior Quantity Surveyor at Taylor Wimpey, for an honest conversation about women in construction, career progression and the reality of working in a commercially influential role.

 

Together, they discuss how the construction industry is evolving, the importance of visibility, mentorship and male allies, and why opportunity in construction is far broader than many people realise. Martha shares her journey into quantity surveying, what commercial leadership looks like in housebuilding, and how the industry can better support the next generation of women entering construction.

 

This episode explores leadership, diversity, commercial decision-making, supplier relationships, buyer expectations and the role construction can play in building confidence, practical knowledge and long-term career satisfaction.

]]> In this episode of Create & Construct: The Podcast, Michelle is joined by Martha Penney, Senior Quantity Surveyor at Taylor Wimpey, for an honest conversation about women in construction, career progression and the reality of working in a commercially influential role.

 

Together, they discuss how the construction industry is evolving, the importance of visibility, mentorship and male allies, and why opportunity in construction is far broader than many people realise. Martha shares her journey into quantity surveying, what commercial leadership looks like in housebuilding, and how the industry can better support the next generation of women entering construction.

 

This episode explores leadership, diversity, commercial decision-making, supplier relationships, buyer expectations and the role construction can play in building confidence, practical knowledge and long-term career satisfaction.

]]> Tobermore false No 2237 5 full 4. Design, Planning and Sustainable Landscapes - With Jane McCorkell 4. Design, Planning and Sustainable Landscapes - With Jane McCorkell https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/4-design-planning-and-sustainable-landscapes-with-jane-mccorkell/ https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/4-design-planning-and-sustainable-landscapes-with-jane-mccorkell/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:37:01 +0000 createandconstruct.podbean.com/45caaf95-505b-3502-8d20-621e6be8bc4d Is landscape a finishing touch… or essential infrastructure?

In this episode of Create & Construct: The Podcast, we’re joined by award-winning landscape architect Jane McCorkell, who brings over 25 years of experience shaping public realm and private developments across the UK & Ireland.

From planning visuals to construction realities, Jane shares an honest look at what happens when budgets tighten, teams change and sustainability targets move from intention to verification.

We explore green infrastructure, SuDS, biodiversity net gain, and why getting landscape involved from day one makes all the difference.

This is a grounded, practical conversation for developers, specifiers and contractors who want to understand how landscape performs long after the ribbon is cut.

Because the space outside the building is never just decoration.

 

🔗 Find out more about Jane and her work here: Jane McCorkell Design | Multi-award winning landscape architect

🎧 Listen now and let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

]]> Is landscape a finishing touch… or essential infrastructure?

In this episode of Create & Construct: The Podcast, we’re joined by award-winning landscape architect Jane McCorkell, who brings over 25 years of experience shaping public realm and private developments across the UK & Ireland.

From planning visuals to construction realities, Jane shares an honest look at what happens when budgets tighten, teams change and sustainability targets move from intention to verification.

We explore green infrastructure, SuDS, biodiversity net gain, and why getting landscape involved from day one makes all the difference.

This is a grounded, practical conversation for developers, specifiers and contractors who want to understand how landscape performs long after the ribbon is cut.

Because the space outside the building is never just decoration.

 

🔗 Find out more about Jane and her work here:
Jane McCorkell Design | Multi-award winning landscape architect

🎧 Listen now and let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

]]> Tobermore false No 1556 4 full 3. Why Early Engagement Matters in Housebuilding - With Krisa Montgomery 3. Why Early Engagement Matters in Housebuilding - With Krisa Montgomery https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/3-why-early-engagement-matters-in-housebuilding-with-krisa-montgomery/ https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/3-why-early-engagement-matters-in-housebuilding-with-krisa-montgomery/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:04:08 +0000 createandconstruct.podbean.com/477f9da7-2e83-3601-a9b9-20aef93e2239 Housebuilders are under more pressure than ever to deliver homes on time, with little margin for error. In this episode, Michelle speaks with Krisa, Housebuilding Team Manager at Tobermore, about the real challenges facing housing developments today - from supply uncertainty to programme pressure.

They explore why early engagement with suppliers is critical, how reliable delivery keeps sites moving, and how working closely with the right partners can reduce risk across phased developments.

If you’re responsible for keeping housing projects on track, this episode offers practical insight into how early decisions can make housebuilding easier from start to finish.

]]> Housebuilders are under more pressure than ever to deliver homes on time, with little margin for error. In this episode, Michelle speaks with Krisa, Housebuilding Team Manager at Tobermore, about the real challenges facing housing developments today - from supply uncertainty to programme pressure.

They explore why early engagement with suppliers is critical, how reliable delivery keeps sites moving, and how working closely with the right partners can reduce risk across phased developments.

If you’re responsible for keeping housing projects on track, this episode offers practical insight into how early decisions can make housebuilding easier from start to finish.

]]> Tobermore false No 717 3 full 2. Rethinking Drainage: Designing for Flood Risk - With Michael McIvor-New 2. Rethinking Drainage: Designing for Flood Risk - With Michael McIvor-New https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/2-rethinking-drainage-designing-for-flood-risk-with-michael-mcivor-new/ https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/2-rethinking-drainage-designing-for-flood-risk-with-michael-mcivor-new/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000 createandconstruct.podbean.com/ce64c60a-8f11-3b4d-9dc5-e4335090c358 Flooding is no longer a seasonal issue - it’s a design failure. In this episode, we explore why traditional drainage systems are struggling under extreme rainfall and how SuDS-compliant permeable paving reduces flood risk by slowing water at source. Tobermore specialist Michael McIvor-New debunks maintenance myths, explains real-world performance during heavy rainfall, and shares what designers must rethink to build resilient developments.

]]> Flooding is no longer a seasonal issue - it’s a design failure. In this episode, we explore why traditional drainage systems are struggling under extreme rainfall and how SuDS-compliant permeable paving reduces flood risk by slowing water at source. Tobermore specialist Michael McIvor-New debunks maintenance myths, explains real-world performance during heavy rainfall, and shares what designers must rethink to build resilient developments.

]]> Tobermore false No 1063 2 full 1. Why Retaining Walls Fail (And How to Get Them Right) – With Alex Walther 1. Why Retaining Walls Fail (And How to Get Them Right) – With Alex Walther https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/why-retaining-walls-fail-mp3/ https://createandconstruct.podbean.com/e/why-retaining-walls-fail-mp3/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:44:21 +0000 createandconstruct.podbean.com/96bc433a-4131-3f0d-955f-04e5b9652875 In our debut episode, Michelle sits down with Alex Walther, Head of Retaining Walls at Tobermore, to explore why retaining walls are becoming a common feature on more and more projects. We unpack the mistakes that can quietly cost projects time and budget, and what customers really want from a retaining wall solution -beyond just strength and structure. Alex also shares insights into longevity and performance that might surprise you.

If you’ve ever wondered how retaining walls really work or wanted straight-talk advice from someone who lives and breathes them, this is an episode you won’t want to miss

]]> In our debut episode, Michelle sits down with Alex Walther, Head of Retaining Walls at Tobermore, to explore why retaining walls are becoming a common feature on more and more projects. We unpack the mistakes that can quietly cost projects time and budget, and what customers really want from a retaining wall solution -beyond just strength and structure. Alex also shares insights into longevity and performance that might surprise you.

If you’ve ever wondered how retaining walls really work or wanted straight-talk advice from someone who lives and breathes them, this is an episode you won’t want to miss

]]> Tobermore false No 1065 1 1 full