Title or occupation: Chartered Project Manager / Regional Director / PM Lead (Southampton) AtkinsRéalis
How long have you been a YPG member: 6 months
Professional Spotlight
Tell us a bit about your background; what is your current role, and why did you decide on a career in the construction industry?
I joined AtkinsRéalis (formerly Faithful+Gould) in June 2023 as a regional director, and work as the PM lead for our Southampton office. I oversee a team of 20 project managers, within an office of 55, specialising in education, central Government, local authority and NZC projects. I had spent the previous decade working nationally as a chartered project manager and contract administrator, delivering projects across multiple sectors including residential, extra-care, education, commercial / industrial, and healthcare.
Having studied history as an undergraduate, I always found the idea of project management intriguing and was put forward for a trainee project management role by a friend and colleague – and I have never looked back. I qualified with a Master’s in construction project management in 2013, became a chartered project manager with the RICS in 2020, and a RICS APC assessor in 2022.
Can you tell us about any specific work you’re currently doing that has any association to JCT and its contracts?
I have worked extensively during my career as an employer’s agent and contract administrator using the JCT suite of contract documents, specifically JCT DB, MW, MWD, PCSA and all manner of warranties and consultant agreements.
I actively engage with colleagues and clients on the use of JCT as a standard form of building contract and have provided “Lunch and Learn” sessions on JCT to both colleagues and clients within public and higher education sectors. I have also worked with colleagues across the industry, in anticipation of the upcoming release of the updated 2024 JCT suite of contract documents, to understand the upcoming changes and reflect on what this is likely to mean to our clients and us as employer’s representatives.
What are you most proud of about the construction industry as a whole and where do you think it most needs to improve?
Working within construction provides a fantastic opportunity to make an impact on our society, our culture, and our legacy. Ultimately, when acting as a construction project manager, you are left with a physical testament to all the hard work and collective efforts of the team at the end of the project. It is fantastically rewarding to be able to walk around an asset or physically touch the result of all of these endeavours.
Construction however is notoriously slow to innovate and to incorporate technology. Whilst this is slowly improving, it feels as though the rate of change is drastically slower than almost all other industries, and we must work incredibly hard to challenge and drive innovation. The industry has suffered from a woeful lack of state funded investment in our workforce, specifically apprentices and graduate trainees. For my entire working life there has been a concern about our skilled workforce, which has only been exacerbated by recent economic treaties, meaning that we are struggling to meet the demands of the industry.
Who/what inspires you?
I find it incredibly rewarding working with talented, bright, and forward-thinking colleagues across the built environment, who challenge my ideas, thought processes, and ways of working. I would happily admit that, like most people, I crave comfort from routine and from what I know, but I continued to be amazed and inspired by the different approaches taken by my colleagues and designers when it comes to solving problems, presenting ideas, creating solutions and bringing projects forward.
What future goals and aspirations do you have for your career?
In the short-term I am very keen to continue to build even closer ties with the RICS and JCT, providing specialist advice in relation to procurement, tendering, contract practice, and contract administration.
I am also very keen to drive innovation within the sector and look at the ways in which project management in particular can embrace technology and modern methods of working.
What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Whilst I have overcome a number of personal and professional challenges, I would certainly rank becoming a chartered project manager and member of the RICS as one of my biggest career challenges to date. The time, effort, and commitment required to pass your APC should not be underestimated, but it provides you with the rounded knowledge and understanding required to become a trusted and competent surveyor.
What do you see as the main challenges for the construction industry over the next five years?
Construction, like the wider public finances, faces a number of fundamentally structural challenges that need to be overcome in the coming years. These principally relate to the uncertainty around planning policy, the increasing impact and stringency of the building regulations, the global drive towards achieving NZC, and the specific funding challenges faced by the public purse.
All of these parallel issues are having a significant and detrimental impact on scheme viability, development costs, construction costs, and the future liabilities associated with operation and maintenance.
Does JCT and the Young Professionals Group have a wider role to play in the industry beyond producing contracts?
JCT and the YPG should consider its wider influence in promoting education and training and ensuring that members are considering their CPD obligations and improving their knowledge and understanding of contract law.
The JCT and the YPG also have a role to play, in my opinion, in fostering a strong sense of collaboration within the industry and challenging stereotypes around contractual practices. As an organisation, JCT itself is borne out of the collective discussions of a number of leading industry bodies and organisations, reflecting the great potential benefits of strong collaboration.
What do you like most about being a YPG member?
Being a YPG member provides access to the latest news on the JCT, as well as providing excellent CPD and networking opportunities.
What else do you hope to gain from YPG membership?
I hope to be able to pass on my knowledge and experience to other members of YPG community.
Fun Questions
What are you reading, listening to, or watching that you’d recommend?
Stephen Hawking – A Brief History of Time
Living La Vida Local – A Podcast Series on the Local Government.
Do you have any hobbies?
Golf
Running
Parenting…
Favourite place you’ve travelled?
Vietnam and Thailand
Describe what a perfect day outside of work would look like for you?
Morning run
Long dog walk on the beach
Pub lunch
