How long have you worked for Summers-Inman?
I joined in September 2019 so just over 2 years.
How did you get into your current role?
After having qualified as a construction manager in South Africa, I moved to the UK in order to gain a different kind of work experience and enjoy the amazing culture. I loved it so much I decided to stay and spent 6 years in London before moving to Newcastle where I have been living for the past 15 years. I have worked as a Project Manager for numerous national companies working on a wide range of projects.
You are responsible for Project Management in the North East region, can you tell us a bit more about your role?
I am responsible for winning work, managing the associated resources, project delivery and ensuring that standards remain high with projects completed to the satisfaction of our Clients.
What type of projects do you work on?
We cover a diverse range of new-build and refurbishment projects which include schools, university buildings, healthcare, utilities and retail for regional and national clients.
What would you say is the most important aspect of your role?
Ensuring all members of the Project Team are equally respected, promoting a collaborative working environment.
From your own experience, what would you say are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry today?
The move towards carbon zero is exciting but clients will need to be aware that this will have a fairly significant impact on budget.
The industry has become extremely competitive with some companies bidding at a loss or break-even to ensure staff are gainfully employed. The effect is that staff are having to therefore deliver more projects which has an impact on the quality of delivery.
What advice would you give anyone wanting to get into the industry?
It is a great industry to be involved in with such a diverse range of specialisms to pursue. There are many affiliations and groups to join such as the CIOB, RICS, NAWIC etc.
What’s it like working for Summers-Inman?
I worked with Summers-Inman in the past and always admired their professionalism and the fact that they had been around in the industry for so long i.e. over 100 years in Newcastle. When I was offered a job, I didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity.
And finally, what would career plan B have been?
I initially applied to study medicine. The course was over-subscribed and decided to pursue a career in construction instead as my father ran a QS practice and enjoyed the collaborative approach in ensuring the success of a project- so here I am!
