Brittany Harris is the co-founder and CEO of a digital platform called Qflow. Qflow enables construction teams to collect real-time materials and waste data at source. This platform was created to be a solution to waste in the construction industry by providing clients with only the resources needed in an efficient way. We speak to Brittany about Qflow and advice for engineering entrepreneurs.
Who are you?
I'm the CEO and co-founder of Qflow. My background is in civil engineering - I started my career with Mott MacDonald engineering and then spent some time on site in Hong Kong with Laing O’ Rourke and came back to the UK to work for BuroHappold Engineering.
What inspired you to start Qflow?
I became quite frustrated with the linearity of the engineering and construction world. I saw that whilst, we design for sustainability, this often gets “value engineered” out (quality gets compromised for cost), the impact can be terrible, and there are so many opportunities to improve it.
I met my co-founder Jade in 2016 who is also from the construction industry, and worked on Crossrail and HS2 for Skanska as an environmental advisor.
We were both volunteering for an organisation called World Merit and bonded over our love hate relationship with construction; it is this amazing industry that builds the world around us, but it is also unsustainable and inefficient
The Qflow product today solves a lot of the pain points that Jade experienced on site.
How does Qflow work?
Qflow makes it easy for construction teams to track and manage their waste and material data which helps inform cost control, sustainability reporting, and supply chain management. We use machine learning and AI to extract, structure, and audit this data so that it is instantly accessible and valuable. Engineering teams can then use this data to improve efficiency and sustainability on their construction sites.
The data we capture is also incredibly valuable to developers and investors who want to get a clear and transparent picture of what is going into their developments. It also helps them to identify small changes in behaviour and processes that will enable them to deliver on their net zero targets, creating a more profitable and efficient infrastructure and developments.
What makes working at Qflow so rewarding?
The most rewarding parts about working in Qflow is our team and our clients, and I know that sounds cheesy but it's true. I am always impressed and touched by the creativity and honesty of our team and their ability to work together in challenging times.
I am equally enthused and inspired by our clients and their genuine commitment to improve and the push the boundaries by using innovative technology that will help them deliver a higher level of sustainability in their day-to-day work. During lockdown we've been able to see inside the homes of our clients and meet their children and pets - that's one of the best things about the pandemic, because we've been able to get to know them on a personal level.
What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve faced in your entrepreneurial journey?
There have been a huge number of challenges, and the process of overcoming them has been an amazing learning experience. One of the biggest challenges so far has been raising investment to accelerate the growth of Qflow . Although interest in construction technology has boomed in the last two years, a lot of funds still see this industry as too slow and too risky. The fact that this is being taken on by two female first-time founders is seen as a risk too far.
What’s next in the pipeline for Qflow?
We’re growing the team and launching on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in Europe. We're building out new functionality within the product to deliver, safer more sustainable construction projects. I am so excited to see the impact this will have on the construction industry.
2020 was a challenging year for everyone. What's it like to run your business through a pandemic?
I've been so impressed with how our team adapted to remote working whilst maintaining a high level of collaboration and support throughout 2020. That flexible collaborative mindset has been pivotal in enabling us to continue working well as a team throughout lockdown.
Between March and August 2020, the majority of our customers were on furlough and couldn't be contacted. Relentless grit, optimism, and the support of our network, helped us to use that time really productively to support the few sites that stayed open. By the time construction kicked-off again in September, we hit the ground running.
What advice you would give to budding engineering entrepreneurs?
Start with the problem not the solution. One thing we got right from the start is that we focused solely on understanding and solving a real problem; one that we had experienced and explored with our first few clients. Only then did we develop the solution that turned into Qflow. Remember – technology enables you to reach a goal, is not the goal itself.
What impact has the Enterprise Hub had on your business? What are the most valuable lessons you’ve learnt?
The Enterprise Hub really kicked off this whole thing for Jade and I. We were still full-time engineers, and it was only through pitching our idea to the Enterprise Hub's Launchpad Competition and taking on their feedback that we were able to build out this mission into a business with a clear product that could deliver the change that we wanted to see.
We've learnt so many lessons along the way, but I guess the most important lesson is that you can be a good engineer as well as an entrepreneur, and that your experience in the industry is in many ways a unique advantage.
And finally - any tips for potential applicants?
Be confident in what you know, and do not be afraid to acknowledge the things that you do not yet know. You are not expected to have everything nailed on day one, and your ability to acknowledge those gaps is just as valuable as you having them filled.
The Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub supports the UK’s brightest technology and engineering entrepreneurs to realise their potential.
We run four programmes for entrepreneurial engineers at different career stages. Each one offers equity-free funding, an extended programme of mentorship and coaching, and a lifetime of support through connection to an exceptional community of engineers and innovators.
The Enterprise Hub focuses on supporting individuals and fostering their potential in the long term, taking nothing in return. This sets us apart from the usual ‘accelerator’ model. The Enterprise Hub’s programmes last between 6 and 12 months, and all programmes give entrepreneurs lifelong access to an unrivalled community of mentors and alumni.
Our goal is to encourage creativity and innovation in engineering for the benefit of all. By fostering lasting, exceptional connections between talent and expertise, we aim to create a virtuous cycle of innovation that can deliver on this ambition.
The Enterprise Hub was formally launched in April 2013. Since then, we have supported over 300 researchers, recent graduates and SME leaders to start up and scale up businesses that can give practical application to their inventions. We’ve awarded over £11 million in grant funding, and our Hub Members have gone on to raise over £1.2 billion in additional funding.