Director of Private Sector, Project Management, Consultancy, UK
I started my career working for a contractor in 1990. I had an interest in construction because I wanted to do something different to my friends. So I worked my way through a quantity surveying degree and got myself chartered and was then able to get loads of experience working on amazing and iconic projects all around London.
I really enjoy the variety of projects and locations. Once we start working with a client we can help them with all their needs, whether that’s a supermarket, shop, airport retail, office block or distribution centre.
Retail is a sector with interesting challenges as each retailer is fighting for sales and looking for better, quicker, more efficient and more innovative solutions. Every client is looking for something different but wants to increase sales. I enjoy working with the team and our clients to help find solutions.
Working at Mace is incredibly interesting. I work with a really good team and I’m also doing some offline training with graduates as I sit on the graduate panel for Mace. I'm passionate about supporting our graduates and enhancing their training so that they can grow and flourish. I think we have a moral obligation as part of the industry we are in to encourage young people into this sector and demonstrate how great and diverse it can be.
In 2017 I was appointed as director for project manager for our private sector business. I'm now leading a team of 120, delivering global projects for some incredible clients.
I'm incredibly proud of the team. It's one of the largest and most diverse in Mace - from graduates to people who have been with the company for over 20 years. There's always someone who understands what we need to do. We move across sectors so that we share knowledge and utilise the experience we have - it certainly helps to bring a different perspective to how we solve challenges for our clients.
You need to be enthusiastic about what you do. You need to be interested and understand what makes each and every one of our clients tick so that you can provide the best service to them. All retailers are really proud of their brands and you need to be as passionate about those brands as they are.
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.