Transform Your Construction Business Today
Expert solutions for profitable construction management and growth.
About Michelle Carr
Why I am the Construction Alchemist
I'm Michelle Carr, and I've spent 25 years working every side of construction contracts - which is exactly why I can see what others miss.
My Unusual Journey:
I've been the contractor producing reports that obscure costs from investors. I've been the monitoring surveyor catching those manipulations. I've worked for developers, main contractors, subcontractors, professional practices, and investors - understanding each party's motivations, pressures, and tricks.
I've experienced both sides of failure: watching my father's £76M turnover business go into liquidation (2003), then going personally bankrupt while working for another company that collapsed (2009).
I've survived what breaks most people: mastering bipolar disorder, raising twins in 2020 lockdown, rebuilding from bankruptcy to buying a £600K house in 8 years.
That's why chaos doesn't phase me - I've survived worse.
My Formal Credentials:
- Chartered Member, Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB)
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
- Degree in Quantity Surveying
- HND in Business and Marketing
- HND in Law
- Level 7 NVQ in Senior Construction Management
- 25+ years working every role across construction contracts
What Makes Me Different:
I don't just analyse numbers or report progress. I simultaneously diagnose financial dysfunction, operational breakdown, and leadership capability - revealing in 48 hours what takes others weeks to miss.
I've developed what I call "construction alchemy" - the ability to transform what appears impossible (bankruptcy, total loss, catastrophic failure) into profitable outcomes through forensic insight and strategic influence.
When development finance lenders call me, it's because monitoring surveyors can't answer the question that matters: "Will this borrower actually complete if we fund?"
I answer that question in 48 hours. Then, if you want, I execute the turnaround.
Why Development Finance Lenders Trust My Assessment
Cross-Contractual Insider Knowledge
Cross-Contractual Insider Knowledge
Cross-Contractual Insider Knowledge
I've worked on all sides of contracts and have an in depth understanding of how the Construction Industry works. I've been both contractor side AND monitoring surveyor side. I know where money and red flags hide because I've been the person hiding it and the person finding it. I know where the issues are and who causes them.
Borrowers can't BS me.
Simultaneous Three-Layer Diagnosis
Cross-Contractual Insider Knowledge
Cross-Contractual Insider Knowledge
I diagnose financial dysfunction + operational breakdown + leadership capability simultaneously. Most experts assess one layer - I see all three at once. That's how I answer "Will they complete?" while others just report "They're behind schedule." I find where the money has gone because I know where to look. I can also give the true answer to cost to complete, because I have delivered.
Proven Track Record
Cross-Contractual Insider Knowledge
Proven Track Record
I have spent my career transforming problem projects which are usually caused by problem contractors. Ive brought businesses from Bankruptcy to 20% profit in 12 months. Saved £7M overrun project. Turned bullying client into grateful partner paying £250K more. When I say "salvageable," lenders believe me because I've proven it.
The Process
Why Lenders Call Me
When Monitoring Surveyors Can't Answer The One Question That Matters
You have a troubled construction loan. The project is behind schedule and over budget. Your borrower is requesting additional funding.
Your monitoring surveyor reports progress. Your QS verifies costs. Your legal counsel reviews contracts.
But no one answers the critical question: "Will this borrower actually complete if we fund more?"
Without this answer, you're paralyzed between bad options:
- Fund more and risk throwing good money after bad
- Enforce and potentially destroy a salvageable project
- Make a multi-million pound decision on incomplete information
That's where I come in.
What I do differently
48 Hour forensic assessment of troubled construction loans
For development finance lenders who's borrower is either requesting additional funding or they are showing signs of delay and cracks in the process and they need ot decide: fund, enforce or restructure.
What you get:
- Forensic Clarity On Status of Project and Clarity on your options
- Clear evidence based recommendations on best way to move forward
- Instant Clarity and confidence in a decision within a time frame to have optimal impact
- Concise answers to the biggest questions
After 25 years working every side of construction contracts (from producing contractor reports to catching their manipulations as monitoring surveyor), I've developed the pattern recognition to answer in 48 hours what monitoring surveyors can't answer in months:
"Will this borrower actually complete if we fund?"
Through my signature methodology, The First Fix, I deliver rapid independent assessment that reveals:
✓ Where the money actually went (financial forensics)
✓ What the borrower is genuinely capable of (leadership psychology assessment)
✓ True cost and timeline to completion (operational reality)
✓ Clear recommendation: Fund under conditions, Enforce now, or Restructure
I am more than aware that the most dangerous thing in a project is to pull the funding, but sometimes it is the only option. I make this decision for you, so you don't have too.
You get decision-ready clarity backed by forensic evidence - not more reports that don't answer your question.
The 360° Turnaround
3-6 Month full-circle transformation for salvageable projects
When The Alchemy First Fix reveals recovery is possible, The Alchemy 360° rebuilds the investment for the inside out, financially, contractually and operationally.
This is about transforming chaos into control, dysfunction into delivery and uncertainty into enduring value.
We Deliver:
- Structural Clarity and cash flow recovery
- Operational and leadership realignment
- Systematic reform of contracts, controls and performance metrics.
Outcome:
A stabilised performing asset turnaround, rebuilt and transformed.