Why did you choose construction?
At the age of 16 a careers adviser suggested I should be a librarian! This made me absolutely livid and I walked out of the meeting thinking “I’ll show you what I’m really capable of!”
At the end of my first year at sixth form I applied to an architect’s practice for work experience. After just one week there the head architect asked me to stay on for the summer, so I worked for the practice for three months and during this time I decided I wanted to pursue a career in the construction industry.
I was accepted at Nottingham Trent University to study Construction Management and graduated with a 2.1 in 1992. I have a skillful aptitude for the cohesion of land, development and buildings and working in the construction industry combines these together for me as an individual.
What are you working on at the moment?
I run my own design and planning consultancy, managing generally 20-25 projects at any one time all in the design and submission process. We have three applications going to planning committee this month so I have some important representations to prepare for over the next couple of weeks.
On the design side I am currently working on a seven-bedroom domestic renovation project of a 19th century rectory. We are working on restoring the Victorian gable roof arrangement, the top floor attic rooms, designing a large two storey extension and an annex.
Working predominantly within the Derbyshire Dales and Peak District National Park, conservation areas and on listed buildings, it is of no surprise that we are waiting for the bat activity season to commence again in the spring before we can submit for planning approval.
On the commercial side I have recently seen the completion of a new dog rescue and rehoming centre for the charity Just For Dogs, providing state-of the-art glazed sound proof kennel pods, isolation kennels, dedicated kitchen, laundry, treatment rooms and exercise areas at the rear of their existing boarding kennel facility in Derbyshire.
As a CIOB Nottingham Hub committee member I am actively working on delivering the ‘Think Construction’ initiative to local schools and academies across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
I am passionate about raising the profile of the construction industry and believe that there are a wide range of interesting and varied careers of which many students have no knowledge. It is an extremely rewarding and worthwhile initiative, creating the opportunity to talk to students about their future career choices to inspire the next generation of construction professionals.
What do you love about this industry?
Having worked in this industry for over 30 years now the one thing that I absolutely love is the level of adaptability that is required.
Being an expert in my field of planning and design I have to adapt ‘the product’ to meet each client’s requirements for their business or domestic needs, to fit within the environment and landscape, within planning policy and to budget. I love the challenge!
