Building Smarter: Innovation, Equity & the Housing Crisis – Mike Pratt – Episode #10
No Fluff. Just Real Industry Conversations
What does it actually take to build homes that don’t just exist – but help solve the UK housing crisis?
In this episode of Hard Hat Talks, Kenneth Martin sits down with Mike Pratt of InverTay Homes – a former process engineer turned SME developer – to unpack the real challenges and opportunities behind today’s housing shortage. From the cash-strapped reality of getting a small construction firm off the ground, to erecting a house superstructure in less than a day, Mike sheds light on the mismatch between political rhetoric and practical, buildable solutions.
Expect bold innovation, candid frustrations, and a heartfelt conviction that housing is a human right – not just a policy problem.
What you’ll discover from the podcast
- Why small developers face a “baptism of fire”: Understand why raising equity and accessing finance has never been harder for new entrants.
- The promise of offsite manufacturing: Learn how Mike and InverTay Homes uses pre-fabricated panels to erect weather-tight structures in under 24 hours – saving on costly financing.
- The industry’s cautious approach to change: Hear why past disasters like Grenfell now have grounded innovation – and how safety and efficiency can coexist.
- Why policy often misses the mark: Learn about the unintended consequences of political solutions like rent caps and conversions that can backfire for builders.
- How the labor crisis goes beyond numbers: Looking at why 40-60% of apprentices leave within a year – and how cultural shifts in work habits are compounding the issue.
- Housing as a human right, not a checkbox: Why a secure home influences everything from child development to societal resilience.
- What developers need to do now: Practical advice on working smarter, building lender trust, and weathering market volatility.
- How the industry can step up: Insights on making construction a more attractive, valued, and long-term career path.
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