I'm The Gaffer

I'm The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people, offering insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint unprecedented success in the dynamic world of construction. Whether you are still ‘on the tools’, just getting started, a seasoned site manager focused on large-scale project management, or a fast-growth building industry entrepreneur/developer this podcast is for you.Gavin's guests, ranging from influential thought leaders to boots-on-the-ground practitioners, share their stories, successes and failures, and offer invaluable lessons and tips, allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the construction landscape. This podcast is a must have shared learning space for any person looking to achieve success in the building industry.As a construction person, this podcast is your go-to source for navigating the complexities of the construction industry where success is not just built; it's crafted with p

I'm The Gaffer is a business podcast hosted by Gavin Coyle, with 125 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 82.

Gavin Coyle hosts I'm The Gaffer, a business show with 125 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #124

  Falls From Height: The No. 1 Killer on Site, And What Actually Works - Peter Bennett OBE (No Falls Foundation)

  Sep 29, 202658 minS1

  Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer If you have ever sent a man 200 miles in a van with two ladders on the roof rack and wondered why he didn't "work safely," this episode is about why falls from height are still the number one killer on site, and what 45 years at the sharp end of the access industry says actually fixes it. Peter Bennett OBE joins Gavin Coyle. Peter is managing director of PASMA, executive director of the Ladder Association, chair of the No Falls Foundation and a past president of IPAF, 45 years in access, from a Glasgow scaffolding yard with Stevens & Carter to writing the standards the industry works to today. Fresh HSE fatality statistics had been released the very morning of the recording, and Peter walks through what they really mean. You'll learn: • The numbers: 35 killed in falls last year, 361 in a decade, 44,000 non-fatal falls a year in GB • Why non-fatal falls are just as serious, life-changing injuries, not just fatalities • The fatality Peter's carried for decades, and why nobody got counselling • The two most dangerous people on site: the novice, and the over-55 who's "forgotten" the danger • Why banning ladders backfires, train risk assessment instead of prescribing everything • The two-ladders-on-a-roof-rack test for pricing work at height into a job Episode Highlights / Timestamps 01:09 Welcome: Peter Bennett OBE 09:56 Fresh HSE stats: 35 deaths, 361 in a decade 14:13 The ripple effect 16:40 The fatality Peter can't forget 19:50 Over-55s: "you don't bounce as well" 27:41 Advance guardrails 32:04 "Ladders are banned" 37:44 Two ladders on a roof rack 44:49 Fatal accident inquiry: six deaths 49:29 Retirement, succession 53:00 Favourite books Connect with Peter Bennett OBE • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/peter-bennett-obe-b3884a13 • No Falls Foundation: nofallsfoundation.org • PASMA: pasma.co.uk • Ladder Association: ladderassociation.org.uk • Email: peter.bennettobe@nofallsfoundation.org • Sign up for No Falls Week: https://nofallsweek.org/ About Coyle Group Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction. With over 25 years of experience , 100+ safety professionals , and more than 1 million safety hours completed , Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly. Learn more: https://coyle-group.com/ About the Podcast I'm The Gaffer , hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ImTheGafferPodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

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  Episode #124

  Connstruction Procurement is Broken | Alastair Blenkin (ProcurePro)

  Sep 22, 202652 minS1

  If you've ever finished a package and quietly wondered whether you made or lost money on it, and had no way to find out, this episode is about the part of construction where the margin's really won and lost, and why almost nobody's systemised it. Alastair Blenkin joins Gavin Coyle. He's co-founder and CEO of ProcurePro, a construction procurement platform used by 300-odd contractors globally with around 150bn of construction value running through it. He was a lawyer "for about five minutes," quit at 25, launched a month before COVID, rebuilt from scratch when the market vanished, and has scaled to 100 staff across ANZ, UK & Ireland and the Middle East, with the US next. You'll learn: • Why procurement is a 15-20 step process most contractors run on sticky tape and Excel • "If I can't see my risk, I can't manage it" • Removing friction so subs quote how they want, AI normalises the comparison • AI and headcount honestly: not mass redundancy, "two QAs become one" • Making lessons learned mandatory: capture went from ~5 a week to 50 • The vision: a live, consented cost library for the whole industry • The "I've already got an ERP" objection, and the one image that answers it • Handling "you're cost prohibitive" with the scope-gap question • Why UK/Ireland are conservative buyers and what it takes to win there • Curveballs: sliding down a 6,000m ice volcano, and why he makes people read The Lean Startup first Episode Highlights / Timestamps 01:05 Welcome: Alastair Blenkin, ProcurePro 03:38 Why procurement is 15-20 steps held together by sticky tape 08:21 "If I can't see my risk, I can't manage it" 11:34 "Subs, quote how you want", AI normalises the comparison 14:49 AI and headcount: two QAs become one 22:27 "I've already got an ERP", the one image that answers it 24:17 A lawyer for five minutes, quits at 25 26:35 Make lessons learned mandatory: 5 a week to 50 28:12 Nirvana: a live, consented cost library 33:41 Why UK and Ireland are conservative buyers 42:05 The scope-gap question, handling the price objection 46:35 Curveball: sliding down an ice volcano 47:49 Favourite book: The Lean Startup Connect with Alastair Blenkin LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alastairblenkin ProcurePro: procurepro.co About Coyle Group Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction. With over 25 years of experience , 100+ safety professionals , and more than 1 million safety hours completed , Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly. Learn more: https://coyle-group.com/ About the Podcast I'm The Gaffer , hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ImTheGafferPodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

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  Episode #123

  PPE Wasn't Designed For Women? | Jane Middleton (AtkinsRéalis)

  Sep 15, 202651 minS1

  If you have ever hopped into a site truck because your trousers were too tight to climb, tucked your glasses under your hard hat to keep them on, or been asked "is that your dad's coat?" this episode is about why that was never good enough, and the new British Standard that says so. Jane Middleton joins Gavin Coyle. She's a senior asset management consultant at AtkinsRéalis and a chartered geologist, shortlisted for an Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering award in 2023. She started out supervising drilling rigs on the Heathrow expansion project, in PPE that didn't fit, and ended up helping write the new British Standard for inclusive PPE and workwear, launched October 2025 with a parliamentary launch behind it, legislation and European adoption now in progress. You'll Learn: What AtkinsRéalis does and how Jane's career led from geology to asset management How a simple struggle with PPE sparked a mission for change Why the "average man" became the default design standard for workwear and PPE How Jane helped transform her company's PPE catalogue with more inclusive options The impact of properly fitting PPE on safety, confidence, and belonging Menopause, modesty wear, disability access, and other overlooked workplace needs The story behind the British Standard for inclusive PPE Why 82% of female firefighters reported that their gloves don't fit The business case for inclusive PPE and attracting future talent How one wheelchair-using project manager challenged manufacturers to think differently What's next for PPE standards in the UK and Europe Jane's personal passions, lessons learned, and advice to her younger self Episode Highlights / Timestamps 00:00 82% of female firefighters said their gloves don't fit 01:02 Meet Jane Middleton 06:41 From geology to asset management 13:40 The PPE problem begins 14:40 The Hilux moment 16:51 The "average man" template 17:37 Transforming the PPE catalogue 24:41 Bold as Brass 26:23 Writing the British Standard 28:09 The firefighter glove survey 33:28 Accessibility and PPE 37:26 The first women's safety Wellington 39:08 Taking the standard to Parliament and Europe 44:45 What would Jane do differently? 50:06 How to connect with Jane Connect with Jane Middleton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janekelsey/ AtkinsRéalis: https://www.atkinsrealis.com The British Standard (launched October 2025) is free to download, send it to your boss About Coyle Group Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction. With over 25 years of experience , 100+ safety professionals , and more than 1 million safety hours completed , Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly. Learn more: https://coyle-group.com/ About the Podcast I'm The Gaffer , hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ImTheGafferPodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

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  Episode #122

  Mast Climbers Beat Scaffolding | Rob Munns (BFT Mastclimbing)

  Sep 8, 202650 minS1

  Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer If scaffolding is your default solution for working at height, this episode may change your perspective. Gavin Coyle sits down with Rob Munns , Head of Sales at BFT Mastclimbing , to explore how mast climbing work platforms can improve safety, productivity, and project costs. With a background outside construction, Rob brings a fresh perspective and challenges long-held assumptions about access solutions on site. You'll learn: What mast climbers are and how they work Key safety features and common site mistakes to avoid The importance of proper training, certification, and inspections Why "buy cheap, get cheap" can be a costly mistake The truth about wind limits and other common myths How mast climbers reduce labor, improve ergonomics, and increase safety Real-world cost comparisons between scaffolding and mast climbers The types of projects where mast climbers deliver the biggest benefits Rob's thoughts on men's mental health and lessons learned throughout his career Highlights / Timestamps 00:58 Meet Rob Munns and BFT Mastclimbing 02:13 What is a mast climber? 09:48 The drop-down flap safety story 12:28 Overspeed safety systems explained 17:46 Why quality matters in mast climbing 18:29 IPAF training and accreditation 25:14 Busting the wind myth 28:03 A gang of eight vs a gang of two 32:07 The economics of mast climbers 35:20 Productivity and ergonomic benefits 43:06 The only buildings mast climbers can't handle 46:33 Men's mental health and career advice 48:08 How to connect with Rob and BFT Mastclimbing Connect with Rob Munns LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robmunns BFT Mastclimbing: bftmastclimbing.com Email: sales@bftmastclimbing.com About Coyle Group Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction. With over 25 years of experience , 100+ safety professionals , and more than 1 million safety hours completed , Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly. Learn more: https://coyle-group.com/ About the Podcast I'm The Gaffer , hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ImTheGafferPodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

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  Episode #121

  Lean Doesn't Mean Less People — It Means Better | Kelley Huss (JE Dunn Construction)

  Aug 25, 202646 minS1

  Welcome to a new episode of I'm The Gaffer ‍♂️ If you've ever thought of lean as corporate jargon — or a polite word for layoffs — this conversation will change how you look at your crews, meetings, and margins. In this episode, Kelley Huss, Manager of Lean at JE Dunn Construction, joins Gavin Coyle to unpack what lean really means on a job site. Kelley shares practical lessons from her career in construction and explains how lean can improve efficiency, strengthen relationships, and solve real problems in the field. You'll learn: What lean actually means — and why it's not about cutting headcount Why lean fails when it's treated as just another checklist or tool How process mapping helped a trade partner get paid within 19 days How weekly work plans helped turn around a losing project Why lean managers need relationships and champions, not just expertise How lean can be applied earlier in design and pre-construction Why treating subcontractors as trade partners can improve collaboration Episode Highlights / Timestamps 00:00 Lean does not mean fewer employees 01:59 Is lean an excuse to remove labor? 04:23 When lean becomes a checklist 07:39 Getting a trade partner paid in 19 days 14:02 Turning around a losing project 17:46 What makes an excellent lean manager? 21:45 Measuring lean and capturing small wins 28:23 Why lean belongs earlier in the process 32:25 Managing long-lead materials 37:50 Why “trade partner” matters 45:00 Start with what bugs you 45:40 Where to find Kelley Connect with Kelley Huss - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-huss-cm-lean-682b0822/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsteel96/ - JE Dunn Construction: https://jedunn.com - Her podcast: Rebuild the Construction Mindset (with Jenna Hamilton) - Book she recommends: Everything I Know About Lean I Learned in First Grade — on Amazon and Audible About Coyle Group Coyle Group provides safety outsourcing and managed services for high-impact projects across wind, utilities, power generation, engineering, and construction. With over 25 years of experience , 100+ safety professionals , and more than 1 million safety hours completed , Coyle Group helps organisations deliver projects safely and compliantly. Learn more: https://coyle-group.com/ About the Podcast I'm The Gaffer , hosted by Gavin Coyle, features conversations with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts covering construction, engineering, leadership, business growth, safety, procurement, project delivery, and workplace culture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ImTheGafferPodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, construction, business growth, workplace culture, employee engagement, engineering, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.

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