Built on People

On the Built On People podcast, host Dave speaks with Lee Drew, Construction Director at Arazu Construction, to unpack what the role really involves beyond stereotypes. Lee shares balancing a young company, five kids, and self-care, and explains Arazu’s collaborative culture and focus on health and safety first, then quality, commercial, and program. He discusses supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital and plays a charity rant game. Lee describes the biggest director-level shock as cashflow and responsibility for staff livelihoods, plus the need for long-term planning, disciplined overheads, and transparent communication. He outlines main contractor realities: tight margins (about 6.5%–8.5%), aggressive tendering, procurement and inflation risks under fixed-price contracts, and managing client, employer’s agent, and site expectations. A major theme is changing site culture to prioritize honesty and mental health, with Lee committing Arazu to donate to the Southern Wellness Action Group charity Clay Pigeon shoot later this year.

Host David Baker welcomes Jake Rogers, owner of Jack Rafter Carpentry, to discuss the realities of running a construction business beyond the “highlight reel.” Jake shares where he is in life—raising two young boys, balancing family plans, and feeling settled after seven tough years in the industry—and explains carpentry in simple terms. He recounts registering the company in 2017, moving from domestic work into commercial carpentry, pursuing accreditations, and taking the risk to avoid future regrets. Jake describes being blindsided by personal financial guarantees, reputation risk, and cashflow shocks, especially around COVID when clients went bust, leading him to trust his gut and walk away from bad contractors. He outlines the biggest stresses—constant calls, staffing, and client demands—and the rewards: flexibility and time with his children, plus building a respectful, non-hierarchical culture. He advises others to “just go for it,” build work on the side, and commit to hard early hours, and he agrees to support a charity clay shoot for SWAG, a mental health charity for construction.