Find out what it is really like to work for us...
Q: What were you doing before you joined Watts and how long have you been with the firm?
A: I have worked all my life in the construction industry since leaving school at 18 and although I worked in contracting for a couple of years, I moved into consultancy following graduation. I've worked as a quantity surveyor (more commonly referred to as a cost manager) for several large PQS firms, the most recent being Turner & Townsend. I joined Watts in March 2004.
Q: Why did you decide to join Watts?
A: Watts offered a great opportunity, which (I believe) could not be matched elsewhere. For a start, I consider that Watts is going places. It has great ambitions both as a company in general and within the department I work in, which fits with my personal aims. I also have a varied workload, undertaking services such as fund monitoring, quantity surveying and contract administration/employer’s agent work.
Q: What kind of projects are you currently involved in? What has been your most interesting job to-date?
A: I tend to find all my projects interesting in one way or another: they all have unique challenges!
From the projects I'm working on currently The Ark stands out. This is the Ralph Erskine designed 'landmark' building which is situated in West London, next to the Hammersmith flyover. It's had a turbulent existence to-date, originally designed for an owner occupier who went bankrupt. It has been left vacant for much of its time since. We are infilling part of its large internal atrium and installing atrium glazing to the remainder, along with new mechanical and electrical installations, which will mean the building can be let to multiple tenants. Our roll is contract administration and cost management and the project is due for completion by the end of 2007.
I also have a real ‘cut and carve’ project in Holborn, involving removal of the rear elevation to extend the floor plates into an existing courtyard, removal and replacement of the top two floors to facilitate greater floor to ceiling heights (and enable air conditioning to be installed), fitting out to Cat A Office space and conversion of parts to residential space. We have neighbours to either side and the rear and an existing retailer operating out of a ground floor unit. To top it off it is situated on London’s busy High Holborn, hence logistics are very tight and deliveries have to be well managed.
Last but not least, was the fire insurance valuation I undertook for the recent acquisition of 30 St Mary Axe, better known as The Gherkin. Such a well known building with cutting-edge architecture proved a real estimating challenge!
Q: How has your career progressed since joining Watts? Where do you see it going?
A: I have enjoyed great career progression since joining Watts, I started as a Senior Surveyor in 2004, moving to Associate later that year and have recently made Director. I'm now really looking forward to the challenges that being a Director of a PLC bring. So far as the future goes, dare I say onwards and upwards?
Q: How would you describe Watts as a company?
A: From my viewpoint, Watts has a great blend of youth and enthusiasm mixed with experience. We are dynamic and strive to continually improve our approach. We offer a broad range of market-leading construction consultancy services, across a wide range of disciplines.
We are perceived well by our clients (which includes many blue-chip/household names within the construction sector), to the extent that much of our work is repeat business - an enviable position to be in.
Q: How would you describe the social side of your team?
A: It's an old saying, but we do have a ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality. The team is filled with people who know how to have fun; we all get on well together and enjoy plenty of banter within the office and also over a drink after work. My team all seem quite a sporty bunch as well: we have an ex-professional rugby player and footballer among us, as well as quite an accomplished cricketer and sailor!
Q: Do you have any advice for people wanting to join Watts?
A: Do it! There are great opportunities within Watts for those that are ambitious and willing to learn. We undertake an interesting portfolio of work, covering many sectors and offering a vast array of services. My advice from a career perspective is that you get out what you put in and the harder you work the more it rewards you - this is certainly true of my time with Watts.