Tell us a bit about your role at VOR?
I manage various projects, including Stoke (Newford), WECA, North Devon Homes and private clients. I also oversee business development, marketing and bidding/new work.
What do you do in your free time?
I have two kids, so it mainly revolves around keeping them alive – but I like to exercise when I can.
What is your background? How did you come to work with VOR?
I have a degree in Law and a second degree in Quantity Surveying.
I worked as QS delivering commercial/residential for various tier-one contractors before moving to Skanska, working on building schools for the future programme in Bristol.
I was asked to join a new Project Development business for Skanska. Then I spent time in the Nordics to understand the commercial development model and bring it back to the UK. We went on to acquire 66 Queen Square in Bristol. It was a redevelopment providing 60,000 sqft of commercial space in new build and listed buildings. It broke rent records, was let to KPMG and sold for a record yield.
After Skanska, I joined a small, private residential developer as a development manager delivering Hope House in Bath and Brandon Yard in Bristol. Then I moved to freelance, working for Rengen, helping to value engineer problem schemes to ensure deliverability. I also trained as a retrofit coordinator.
What qualifications have you worked towards to support your job?
My background and extensive experience working with listed buildings support my role. I have undertaken Level 5 retrofit and Level 3 in old/traditional buildings.
Looking back on your career to date, tell us a bit about the best project you have worked on and why?
Delivering schools has been incredibly rewarding, some in more deprived areas of the city. Seeing the sheer joy of the kids when we handed over new facilities and how their education improved because of it.
Technically challenging would be Hope House in Bath. It’s a listed site in Lansdown in the former Royal High School for girls (Mary Berry’s school). We developed the site into 58 luxury units. The site is on a hill, and the enabling works package included ground anchors, contig walls, sewer diversions, removing 60,000 m3 of muck and protected species relocation. But mostly as I got to work with my dad, who delivered the groundworks package on-site.
Tell us a bit about why you want to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings?
I feel a strong moral obligation to my children and families to improve the way they live.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle for people considering improving the energy efficiency of their home?
Money, but also understanding the vast information to know what is right for them/their property.
What measures have you taken in your own home?
EWI, UFI, New windows/doors, lighting, and smart controls – next are renewables.
