Bricking It with Bellway

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Aug 2026

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Welcome to Bricking It - Bellway's very own podcast giving you a unique insight into careers in the property building industry and life at Bellway. In series one, the focus is on apprenticeships and early careers. With guests including Bellway's CEO, some of our current apprentices, and industry experts, this podcast gives you the bricks to start building a career in construction and housing. ... More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk

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18 recent

August 26, 202641 min

Building a Brand That Feels Like Home: Nicola Hughes and Milan Kendall Shah

How Did Bellway's Rebrand Come Together? At Bellway, our brand is about more than a logo or colour palette, it's how people feel when they buy a home. This year to mark our 80th anniversary, we took a fresh look at what our brand stands for and how it shows up. In this episode, host Laura Cooper is joined by Nicola Hughes, Group Marketing Director at Bellway, and Milan Kendall Shah, Associate Strategy Director at Wolff Olins, to talk through the recent rebrand. Nicola explains why the project went beyond a fresh look. She talks through the shift to a Bellway first, digital first approach and the retained navy paired with a newly named ‘Bellway Glow’ orange. Milan shares his market research behind the strategy and why customers cared more about the quality of a home than the community around it. Milan also talks through how the brand idea behind Bellway feels like home came together with the three principles that shape it: Caring, Uplifting and Pragmatic . Together, they talk about what makes branding for house building different to other categories and what's next as the new identity rolls out across online reservations, a new house collection and the Bellway customer portal. Let's start Bricking It! More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk

February 18, 202618 min

Building Better with Timber Frame: Chris Hagan

How is timber frame construction shaping the future of housebuilding at Bellway? As part of Bellway’s commitment to reducing waste, improving build quality and supporting more sustainable construction, the business is transitioning more of its developments to timber frame construction, with an ambitious target of reaching 30% by 2030. In this episode of Bricking It with Bellway, Laura is joined by Chris Hagan, Managing Director of Bellway Home Space, to explore what this shift means for the way Bellway designs and delivers its homes and how off-site manufacturing is helping future proof the business for new regulations, skills challenges and net zero targets. Chris shares insight into the launch of Bellway Home Space, the new timber frame facility in Mansfield, and how manufacturing-led construction improves quality, consistency, speed and sustainability. The conversation also looks at the role of automation and robotics, the environmental benefits of timber, and the exciting career opportunities emerging as construction increasingly blends with manufacturing and technology. Chris joined Bellway just over 18 months ago to lead the creation of Bellway Home Space. With a background in aviation, automotive and construction manufacturing, he brings extensive experience in high-volume, high-quality, just-in-time production. He has previously set up and scaled multiple manufacturing businesses and now leads Bellway’s move into large-scale off-site timber frame manufacturing. Let’s start Bricking It! Careers at Bellway: https://www.bellwaycareers.co.uk/ Better with Bellway (sustainability): https://www.bellwayplc.co.uk/sustainability Timber in Construction Roadmap (UK Government): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timber-in-construction-roadmap

February 2, 202623 min

Delivering Quality on the Ground: James Griffin and Adam Hawkes

Every Bellway development relies on the people on the ground getting the details right, day after day. From leading teams and keeping work on track to meeting quality checks and new standards, there’s a lot that goes into building homes customers can feel confident in. In this episode of Bricking It, Laura Cooper is joined by James Griffin, Group Construction Director, and Adam Hawkes, Project Manager and the National House Building Council’s ‘Pride in the Job Quality’ Award winner, to talk about what ‘quality’ looks like in real terms. James explains how he drives consistency across the country through Bellway’s Customer First programme, while also pushing major changes such as the move towards the Future Homes Standard, timber frame construction and the shift to low-carbon technologies. He also shares how his time at NHBC shaped his view of what great quality looks like across the industry, and how that feeds into the standards Bellway expects on every site. Adam shares what a typical day on site actually involves, managing trades, keeping standards high, handling inspections and paperwork and making fast decisions when things change. He also reflects on what winning ‘Pride in the Job’ for his work at Sapphire Fields in Essex meant to him and why it matters for site teams who put the work in every day. Together, they discuss how new requirements are changing the way homes are built, what adapting to new technologies looks like on site, why training and support are essential as things change and why bringing more apprentices into the industry is so important. Let’s start Bricking It! More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk More on Bellway's Customer First programme: https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk/customers-community

January 19, 202632 min

Looking at Homes of the Future: Jamie Bursnell

What will new homes look like in 10 years? As the Future Homes Standard approaches, the housebuilding industry is entering a period of rapid change. From low-carbon heating and improved energy efficiency to future-proofed design, the homes we build today must be ready for tomorrow. In this episode of Bricking It with Bellway, host Laura is joined by Jamie Bursnell, Group Technical and Innovations Manager, to explore what homes of the future will look like and how Bellway is preparing for this next chapter. Jamie shares his journey from a trade background to leading technical innovation, before discussing what the Future Homes Standard means in practice, including the move to all-electric homes, the role of heat pumps, improved fabric performance and renewable energy generation. The conversation also covers Bellway’s sustainability commitments, lessons from the Future Homes Hub in Manchester, insights from testing at Salford University’s Energy House 2.0, and how skills, training and customer education are key to making low-carbon homes successful. Together, they reflect on how customer expectations are changing, why simplicity and comfort matter, and how sustainable features are becoming the standard rather than a sale extra. Let’s start Bricking It! More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk More about the Future Homes Standard: https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/ebook/future-homes-standard-december-2025/157459/ Sustainability Commitments at Bellway: https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk/

January 12, 202633 min

Building Better Customer Journeys: Louise Chamberlain and Vicki Hart

What Does Exceptional Customer Experience Look Like in Housebuilding? At Bellway, putting the customer first is central to everything we do. From the moment someone steps into a sales office to long after they’ve moved into their new home, every interaction plays a role in shaping their experience. In this episode, we explore how customer experience in housebuilding has evolved and what today’s buyers expect from a modern, transparent and joined-up journey. Host, Laura Cooper, is joined by Louise Chamberlain, Group Head of Sales Performance, and Vicki Hart, Customer Care Director, to discuss how Bellway teams collaborate across sales, construction and customer care to deliver consistency, quality and trust. Louise shares how the sales function is adapting to changing customer expectations, new technologies and future home standards, and how digital innovation is helping personalise the customer journey from the very first enquiry. Vicki discusses the role of customer care in building long-term relationships, the importance of empathy and proactive communication, and how technology, data and insight are helping to improve service and aftercare. Together, they also reflect on the impact of AI, sustainability, future housing regulations and the opportunities and challenges facing the industry as it continues to evolve. Let’s start Bricking It! ... More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk

March 14, 202541 min

Together We Rise: Cassandra Codling, Tracey Hill and John Dierikx

How can we encourage more women into roles in the construction industry? At Bellway we have a specific ambition to double the number of women in site-based roles, with the Women into Homebuilding initiative via the HBF being one of the main initiatives to deliver this. In this episode, we explore this year's theme of Women in Construction week: Together We Rise. To join me, I’ve invited Cassandra Codling, Tracey Hill and John Dierikx to discuss what the industry is doing to encourage more women into construction, how women can get involved and why our guests think working in construction is a fantastic opportunity. Cassandra is Regional Director, South East at NHBC where she oversees the delivery of services and operations in the region and works closely with housebuilders and developers to provide technical advice, improve construction quality and ensure compliance with NHBC standards, to promote ongoing excellence in housebuilding. Tracey is the Contract and Project Manager and joined the Home Builders Federation - Skills Partnership in 2018 to oversee collaborative projects and contracts that support the home building industry. Her work focuses on upskilling the existing workforce, promoting careers, and helping new entrants into the sector. John Dierikx is Construction Director at Bellway Homes – Scotland East. With over 25 years of experience, he leads and supports new build and delivery teams to create fabulous new build homes and communities. Let’s start Bricking It! ... More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk Women into Homebuilding Programme: https://www.hbf.co.uk/home-building-skills-partnership/women-home-building/programme/ Home Builders Federation: https://www.hbf.co.uk/ House Building Careers: https://www.housebuildingcareers.org.uk/ NHBC: https://www.nhbc.co.uk/ Beyond 25 House Building Conference: https://www.nhbc.co.uk/awards-and-events/beyond

February 24, 202534 min

Being an Employer of Choice: Simon Scougall and Heidi Khoshtaghaza

What is life really like at Bellway? At Bellway, we’re proud of the many employee benefits we offer, and we believe they make us an employer of choice. In this episode, I’m joined by Simon Scougall and Heidi Khoshtaghaza, who are here to share more about what makes Bellway a standout place to work. Heidi’s varied career in HR led her to joining Bellway in 2016 and she is now the Group HR Director at Bellway. Simon joined Bellway in March 2011 and has held senior positions within the Group, including that of Group Commercial Director and Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. Simon joined the Board as Chief Commercial Officer on the 1st of August 2024. We’ll dive into the wide range of benefits we offer, from support for mental health, job development, and overall well being, to our charitable initiatives and sustainability goals. Simon and Heidi will also share their insights on what today’s workforce is looking for in a job and how Bellway is stepping up to meet and exceed those expectations. Let’s start Bricking It! ... More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk

January 23, 202533 min

Constructing a Sustainable Future: Simon Park

At Bellway, we have always operated in a responsible and sustainable way, but we also recognise the growing importance of understanding the impact our business has. Our strategy, ‘Better with Bellway’ embodies our approach to responsible and sustainable business practice and is a key part of our business strategy. I’m Laura Cooper, Head of Organisational Development at Bellway and in this episode, I’m joined by the Simon Park to discuss more about what we’re doing to build a more sustainable future here at Bellway. Simon is a Chartered Environmentalist and the Head of Sustainability at Bellway’s Group Office. With over a decade of experience in sustainability roles, Simon joined Bellway in 2023 after working across various sectors, including social housing, construction, and higher education. At Bellway, he coordinates the Better with Bellway sustainability strategy, which encompasses all aspects of sustainability, from carbon management to waste reduction. We’ll cover what the Better with Bellway strategy is and the ways in which Bellway are integrating sustainability throughout the whole company; from supply chain to construction and beyond. Simon also shares the sustainability targets Bellway are working towards and gives advice on how you can be more sustainable in your everyday life. Let’s start Bricking It! ... More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk

October 15, 202451 min

Building a More Inclusive Workforce: Kerry Robinson and Chris Surr

Historically the number of construction workers with disabilities is low. At Bellway, we have plans to change that. In this episode, host Laura Bell is joined by Kerry Robinson from Percy Hedley and Chris Surr from Change 100. I’m Laura Bell, Head of Organisational Development at Bellway. In this episode, I’m joined by the Chris Surr from Leonard Cheshire’s Change 100 programme and Kerry Robinson from Percy Hedley Foundation. Both Kerry and Chris work with helping students with disabilities to take their first step into the world of work and work with businesses to assist them in making their workplace more inclusive. We’ll be covering how Bellway are working with both of these charities, what Bellway are doing to increase diversity within the business, and how Bellway are supporting young people with disabilities to get into the construction industry. Kerry and Chris also give advice on employing people with disabilities that will be beneficial for businesses in any industry. Let’s start Bricking It! ... Percy Hedley Foundation: https://www.percyhedley.org.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1649139343&utm_term=percy%20hedley%20foundation&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwurS3BhCGARIsADdUH52LXpLnoUIXMZM5RM2K-g_OL19FHYjumWWfUDlIuHqLIni-vhgUY68aAjfiEALw_wcB Change 100: https://www.leonardcheshire.org/get-support/employment-support/change-100-internships/change-100-applicants?gad_source=1 More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk

July 25, 202429 min

Bettering Biodiversity at Bellway: Neil Beamsley

What impact does construction have on biodiversity? In this episode of Bricking it, Bellway’s podcast giving you a unique insight into the property building industry, we’re going to chat about how we can better our biodiversity within the construction industry. Host Laura Bell, Group HR & OD Manager, is joined the Group Head of Biodiversity here at Bellway Homes, Neil Beamsley. He has worked for the company since September 2022 and oversees all activity in relation to biodiversity and ecology matters. Neil is a chartered ecologist and has more than 20 years of workplace experience, having previously worked in commercial consultancy, local government and for conservation charities. Neil discusses his role within Bellway, and the part that Bellway plays in caring for biodiversity. He talks about what Biodiversity Net Gain means and why it’s important, as well as delving into Nutrient Neutrality and discusses the aims that Bellway has to improve this. Neil also shares information that we all need to know about how to improve biodiversity, and some simple tips and tricks that you can incorporate into your everyday life to look after the natural world. Let’s start Bricking It! ... More about careers at Bellway: www.bellwaycareers.co.uk