In this episode, Tom Griffiths speaks with Tom O’Toole, founder of Bloom Construction, about building a modern refurbishment and retrofit company and navigating the financial and operational challenges of scaling a construction business.

Tom begins by explaining Bloom Construction’s focus on refurbishment and retrofit projects, primarily in the commercial sector but increasingly across education, residential, and historic buildings. The company typically operates on projects valued between £50,000 and £10 million, specialising in complex buildings where early-stage planning and technical understanding are critical. Tom highlights how their expertise lies in analysing existing buildings early in the design stage and helping clients identify what improvements or upgrades are realistically achievable.

The conversation then explores Tom’s career journey and the founding of Bloom Construction. After working his way up through site operations into management roles, Tom gained valuable insight into the commercial side of construction, particularly around cash flow, planning, and team management. Recognising a gap in the market for professionally delivered mid-sized refurbishment projects, Tom and his commercial partner launched Bloom Construction to serve projects that were often too small for major contractors but too complex for smaller firms lacking the necessary expertise.

A key theme throughout the discussion is the challenge of scaling a construction business, particularly in the early years. Bloom Construction grew rapidly—from £1.3 million in its first year to nearly £9 million in revenue within three years. Tom explains that securing a consistent pipeline of projects, managing risk, and maintaining strong cash flow forecasting were crucial to sustaining that growth.

The episode also explores the financial realities of construction, including the impact of compliance costs, staffing expertise, and the unpredictable nature of project-based revenue. Tom shares how Bloom manages risk through careful project selection and forward planning.

Looking ahead, the company aims to strengthen long-term client partnerships and leverage technology to remain efficient and competitive while continuing to grow sustainably.

Contact Tom here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-o-toole-70b2301a