Operations Director, Mace Business School, Construction, UK
My construction journey really began way back in 1976, when I became an apprentice carpenter before then returning to technical college to gain further qualifications in 1983. I’ve always had an inquisitive mind as well as a habit of questioning “why”. Even as a chartered surveyor, I was frustrated by the current regulations in place, so I eventually took on the role of director at the Chartered Institute of Building to help influence industry standards. I became aware of Mace after being appointed as Director of Construction Best Practice, while also sitting on the board of Rethinking Construction and Constructing Excellence. And so, after several years in that role, I was then delighted to have an opportunity to join Mace, a company I really looked up to. I made the move from “preaching” best practice to actually delivering it at Mace.
I love the level of autonomy I’ve been given to build Mace Business School, allowing me to be creative and flexible, while supporting the priorities of the business. I’m very fortunate that there are so many talented experts across Mace that I now call friends, and who willingly give up their time to train and develop the supply chain. Mace is recognised for the loyalty that it shows to its supply chain, a loyalty that is returned many times over by the quality of service and delivery. The Business School membership is made up of the top 50 companies in that supply chain - many of whom have been members since the very start.
I’d always heard very good things about Mace, mostly about the culture and the scale of the projects being worked on. I felt aligned with the values of the business and how we operate. One of my biggest drivers was feeling inspired by Mace’s purpose, as well as wanting to join a consultancy and work across a diverse range of projects and programmes.
I’ve been given a lot of opportunities to grow and develop my skillset, to learn on different projects and from different people. I keep referring to people as they are the biggest asset to the business; not only are our teams vital to its success, they also help shape the experience of working here. At Mace, there’s plenty of opportunity for colleagues to learn from globally developed best practice and to really thrive.
A growth mindset is the most important skill anyone can have. Openness to admit that you don’t know something and willingness to learn creates the greatest opportunities. Having a clear understanding of both business goals and your own personal ones are what provides clear direction. Be fair, foster true and lasting relationships and have fun while you’re doing it.
In procurement, it’s all about people skills: being a master of collaboration and relationship building, whilst maintaining a strategic edge. It’s about being proactive and thinking ahead, always ready to tackle challenges and seeing the bigger picture.
Every bump in the road becomes a stepping stone to success, and with an optimistic approach and the right mindset, you will see this as an opportunity to excel and grow.
I would recommend studying CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply), as this is a great basis to get you started. But theoretical knowledge will only take you so far so it’s also important to get involved and learn from others around you.
It’s a hands-on role and you need to be able to apply knowledge practically to deliver projects for clients. So, I would advise future procurement professionals to go out and get that real-life experience and keep learning in that way.
When I left school I could’ve worked my way up and taken the reins of my dad’s successful precision sheet metal work business - but I really wanted to carve out a career for myself and like I said, I couldn’t be happier having been able to create a lasting legacy at Mace.