Savills has expanded its London project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with the appointment of Steven Brown who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. Steven has over 20 years’ experience in project management, planning and delivering projects across a
Savills has expanded its London office project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with two new appointments. Rekha Mistry who joins as a director and John Capper joining as an associate director, who will both be based at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London taking
Project management specialists, Greyfriars, have relocated to new offices in Norwich city centre – and marked the occasion with an opening event attended by colleagues, friends and clients. The move is a result of the company’s rapid growth and the need for a bigger space to accommodate its expanding team
Steven Cunningham, Head of Engineering and Project Management at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, has outlined ambitions for 2024 and beyond, focussing on enhancing customer engagement and developing people. With a wealth of experience in many facets of the business including estimating, trade, sales, and project management, Steven
Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, has today announced the appointment of Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE as its President-elect. Dr Thompson will commence in the role in July, taking over from outgoing APM President, Sue Kershaw, who has served in the role since
BOOSTING regional regeneration efforts, work has commenced on the redevelopment of previously derelict railway arches in Greater Manchester, which will be transformed into new destinations for food and drink, leisure and retail businesses. The arches on Norton Street, Salford, are located in Greengate, an area of the city currently experiencing
The winners of the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2023 have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place in London on Monday 20 November. The awards, sponsored by RPC UK Ltd, celebrate excellence within the project profession – from project organisations, projects, programmes and individuals working
Survey by APM reveals that 77 per cent of project managers working in organisations offering apprenticeship programmes say they benefit project work Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession, is calling on employers to invest in the better delivery of projects through project management apprenticeships
Eddie Higgins joins to manage major speculative logistics development scheme at Bellshill. Knight Property Group has expanded its project management team with the appointment of Eddie Higgins as Construction Project Manager. Eddie brings around 26 years site engineering and project management experience with leading companies within the Scottish construction sector,
New ways of thinking will be ‘essential for economic and social success post-coronavirus’, according to Pete Cohen, keynote speaker at the upcoming Think Differently virtual event, hosted by Association for Project Management (APM) and sponsored by Fujitsu. Think Differently: redefining diversity in projects is a five-day virtual event taking place between Monday 21
Savills has expanded its London project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with the appointment of Steven Brown who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London. Steven has over 20 years’ experience in project management, planning and delivering projects across a wide range of sectors and disciplines in the UK, Middle East and Australian markets. More recently he has specialised in multifamily build to rent (BtR) developments, working with clients including British Land, Get Living, Grainger and Grosvenor Estates. Steven joins from Arcadis, where he was a senior project director within the firm’s property and investment business. At Savills, Steven will lead the division’s London living sector team, focusing on residential, built to rent, hospitality and purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) asset classes. Steven Brown comments: “I am delighted to have joined Savills to head-up this exciting new growth area for the division. As we know, confidence is returning in the living sector after a period of sustained cost inflation, constraints on finance and regulatory uncertainty. I believe Savills, as a market leader in residential asset advisory services, is the ideal platform to support investor and developer clients through the project feasibility, design and construction phases of their developments. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the business to bring together in-depth real estate expertise and best-in-class project management services.” Paul Davies, head of London project management at Savills, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome Steven to Savills. The living sector is a huge area of growth for the BPC division and with Steven’s knowledge and expertise we will considerably increase our capability to service these clients moving forward. It is fantastic that the team continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to further expansion imminently.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills has expanded its London office project management team, part of building & project consultancy (BPC), with two new appointments. Rekha Mistry who joins as a director and John Capper joining as an associate director, who will both be based at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London taking the overall team headcount to more than 30. Rekha has over 20 years’ experience in consultancy project management, contract administration and design and architecture. Her specific focus is on leading large scale, complex commercial occupier fit-out projects, having worked with clients such as the Government Property Unit and Transport for London. Rekha joins from Seven Projects where she was head of project management, having previously worked at both T&T and BNP Paribas. She is also a qualified architect and has recently been a Mixology Awards judge and mentor for the Wilmott Dixon Women in Leadership Programme. John has over 11 years’ experience in construction project management, delivering high-end complex Cat-A and CAT-B projects. He specialises in the office sector, primarily delivering refurbishment and alteration schemes for clients including Oval Real Estate, Pontegadea and Savills Investment Management. John joins from his previous role as Operations Manager at Neilcott Construction and prior to this he was a project manager at Overbury. At Savills, Rekha will complement the firm’s capability in the occupier fit-out market, a key growth area for the business. Whilst John’s construction background will bring a wealth of expertise to complex building projects in the expanding refurbishment market. Rekha Mistry comments: “I am very excited to have joined Savills market leading team. Occupiers are continuing on their flight to quality, along with a focus on both attracting and retaining staff. As a result we are seeing a significant increase in the number of businesses seeking to provide the best possible space for their employees. With this in mind, I look forward to working with colleagues from across the business on a wide variety of projects.” Benjamin Cottle, co-head of London office project management, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome both Rekha and John to Savills. This continues our strategic growth in project management with further plans to expand our life science team and develop opportunities in the living market in central London over the course of 2024.” Richard Eyley, co-head of London office project management, says: “The appointments of Rekha and John underscore our ongoing commitment to expanding our team with a diverse range of expertise. Our recruitment targets are robust, positioning our team of project managers strongly within the London market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Project management specialists, Greyfriars, have relocated to new offices in Norwich city centre – and marked the occasion with an opening event attended by colleagues, friends and clients. The move is a result of the company’s rapid growth and the need for a bigger space to accommodate its expanding team – and expanding client portfolio. Held on Friday 19th April, the event welcomed guests to the firm’s new Queens Road offices to celebrate their move. “It’s brilliant to bring everyone together and mark the start of a new chapter in our company story! It seems like just yesterday that we moved to our previous offices, but having expanded to a team of 15, this move is much-needed!” says Jon Barnard, Director of Greyfriars Project Management. Greyfriars Project Management – who work with big name clients in the public, private and charity sectors – have quadrupled in size in just four years and aim to target sustainable growth of 50% over the next three years. Their new office provides ample space to accommodate the company’s increasing staff and support its commitment to providing top-tier project management services to its clients. Since the business was founded in 2018, the project management specialists have worked with big names, including National Highways, National Trust and Norfolk County Council. But, Greyfriars’ director Jon Barnard is keen to state that none of this would have been possible without the dedicated support of the Greyfriars team. “The excellent support of the Greyfriars team has been instrumental to the business’s success! This office move is part of our continued commitment to investing in our people. We’ve invested in a bigger space, as well as the equipment and infrastructure needed to support a growing team and provide everyone with the tools and training they need to do a fantastic job for our clients and the community!” adds Jon. Greyfriars Project Management are unique in that they only work on projects which deliver genuine community value. “The central location of our new office is perfectly situated to allow us to get even more involved in community-engagement activities. Plus, it means we’re easily accessible on foot and via public transport, which is not only good for staff and visitors, but kinder to the environment too” concludes Jon. Greyfriars Project Management provide independent, professional project management support services for all types of building, transport and placemaking projects. They’ve successfully delivered projects throughout the UK and pride themselves on their flexible approach to providing services which suit their clients’ requirements. To find out more about Greyfriars Project Management, visit https://greyfriarspm.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Steven Cunningham, Head of Engineering and Project Management at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, has outlined ambitions for 2024 and beyond, focussing on enhancing customer engagement and developing people. With a wealth of experience in many facets of the business including estimating, trade, sales, and project management, Steven is now responsible for the design function of the business. He said: “As we look ahead to our ambitions for 2024, customer engagement is a key business driver for us, as well as ensuring a smooth operation from the design to stage all the way through to manufacture and delivery. “The experience I have gained from my various roles in the business has given me a greater understanding, allowing me to see things from many different stakeholder’s perspectives – both customers and internally – to be able to improve processes and the quality of our offering. “As we are part of the wider ASSA ABLOY group, it gives us the ability to provide a more comprehensive solution than competitors, offering both the door and additional hardware as well.” The company’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) application, Openings Studio™, remains a key focus, with Steven keen to promote the benefits of the platform. “Openings Studio™ integrates with design software to create and visualise openings for complete door, frame and hardware schedules and specifications. “This enables seamless extraction of door design intent and all relevant interfaces to assist fabricators to develop complete door requirements that meet building regulations.” In addition to solutions such as Openings Studio™, Steven believes great people are at the heart of the company’s success. He adds: “We’re keen to develop staff, grow the design function, and increase collaboration across departments. We have a very capable design team with different age ranges, some with many valuable years of experience and some newer team members. “This blend helps vastly when it comes to innovation, and I’m always learning new things from younger colleagues and looking at ways we can improve and do things better. “Teamwork is crucial to reach our goals and exceed all expectations, and we are confident we have to tools in place to make 2024 a year to be proud of.” For more information on ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, please visit bit.ly/3OpVQRa. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, has today announced the appointment of Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE as its President-elect. Dr Thompson will commence in the role in July, taking over from outgoing APM President, Sue Kershaw, who has served in the role since 2019. As President, Dr Thompson will advocate for the project profession, host APM’s high-profile events and facilitate discussions that will drive forwards project, programme and portfolio work around the world. Her professional background includes roles as Music Editor of Root magazine, Managing Director of marketing and PR company ASAP Communications, and President of the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners. In addition, she is a founding member of radio station Choice FM. She has four Fellowships including from Kings College London, along with honorary doctorates from London Metropolitan University and the University of Plymouth. She is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London and a successful author, speaker and influencer. Commenting on the appointment, Milla Mazilu, Chair of APM’s Board of Trustees, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Yvonne Thompson as APM’s incoming President. She is a hugely respected leader, role model and campaigner. These qualities make her the ideal choice to represent APM, the chartered membership organisation for the project profession. “Yvonne joins APM at an exciting time for the project community, but also at a time when many face challenges in their work to deliver projects and programmes that will benefit society. Yvonne’s experience in spearheading innovative and groundbreaking projects will be invaluable in this role. I speak for everyone associated with APM when I say I am greatly looking forward to working with her. “I would also like to thank our outgoing President, Sue Kershaw, who has served APM, our members and the wider project profession with tireless dedication since 2019. With Sue’s support, APM has successfully navigated challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduced new innovations and offerings for our members. Her work has helped cement APM’s reputation as an outstanding professional body.” Dr Thompson said: “I am honoured to have been appointed into the prestigious role of APM’s President. I now look forward to getting started in the coming months, and to help promote APM’s vision, mission and strategy. I’m also keen to help shape the future of the sector and drive professionalism. “I look forward to working with APM’s Board of Trustees in helping to shape the project profession’s direction, along with Chief Executive Adam Boddison, and all those associated with APM and its work.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BOOSTING regional regeneration efforts, work has commenced on the redevelopment of previously derelict railway arches in Greater Manchester, which will be transformed into new destinations for food and drink, leisure and retail businesses. The arches on Norton Street, Salford, are located in Greengate, an area of the city currently experiencing a period of intensive development activity and growth. The scheme forms part of Project 1000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is behind the project on Norton Street, delivering mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), and civil and structural engineering services in partnership with Stephen George + Partners (SGP), operating closely with main contractor Triton Construction. Improvements will include new glazed frontages, new services and drainage, and an internal lining to make the spaces dry and ready for occupation. Matt Barron, associate structural engineer at Pick Everard, said: “After investigating the existing arch structures and local ground conditions, we developed a structural design and drainage scheme. “Our building services team then coordinated with utility providers to provide sufficient utility connections to the new development, and has designed the necessary ventilation, power and lighting solutions for the new arch fitouts. “We look forward to seeing the completion of this project and its contribution to the regeneration of the local area.” SGP studio director, Alan Soper, said: “We are excited to see work commence on thetransformation of these historic arch structures on Norton Street into spaces for businesses to develop and thrive. “The development is located in a key area of regeneration and renewal within Greater Manchester and The Arch Company’s investment will help to create a vibrant destination for Salford’s new neighbourhoods, while also supporting local businesses and the wider community.” The design for the scheme also incorporates high-quality materials that will generate an attractive appearance to the elevations on Norton Street, creating a ‘street’ of arches that will appeal to potential occupiers in the current marketplace. Danny Joss, director of capital programmes at The Arch Company, added: “We are really pleased to be investing in transforming these arches. We anticipate strong demand given their location, and we look forward to seeing new businesses move in, supporting the local economy and creating jobs for this growing community.” Norton Street is just one of several projects Pick Everard has worked on with The Arch Company. Other projects include the regeneration of four dilapidated railway arches on America Street in Southwark to deliver vibrant new spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars, and other leisure businesses, as well as the transformation of six vacant railway arches on Witan Street, in Bethnal Green, to create a range of new commercial spaces. Pick Everard also worked with The Arch Company on the redevelopment of ten derelict railway arches on Corporation Street in Manchester. To view the full range of services Pick Everard provides, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The winners of the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2023 have been announced at a prestigious awards ceremony taking place in London on Monday 20 November. The awards, sponsored by RPC UK Ltd, celebrate excellence within the project profession – from project organisations, projects, programmes and individuals working across a broad range of industry sectors in the UK and internationally. Jacobs has been name winner of the APM Sustainability Award, a new award launched this year, to recognise organisations or individual projects that demonstrate environmental sustainability practices in the development and delivery of their projects. The award recognises the commitment of organisations, project managers and their teams to run more sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly projects. Jacobs which provides a range of engineering, technical, professional and construction services, was selected as the winner by awards judging panel for its approach to embedding sustainability into every project. Sustainability is a critically important priority for Jacobs, it’s embedded from the way the organisation operates its business to the sustainable solutions it co-creates with clients and partners. Jacobs continues to seek ways of making positive environmental, societal and economic differences for businesses, governments and communities around the world. To ensure every project is a climate response opportunity the company embeds sustainability through its global sustainability strategy, PlanBeyond 2.0. This is the foundation of what sustainability means to Jacob’s people, clients and the planet — integrating sustainability objectives throughout operations and client solutions in alignment with the UNSDGs. Will Masters, Sustainability Lead at Jacobs, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for me this is a shared award. This is not just about thousands of people delivering projects in Jacobs. When you look at the list of finalists, not only have we won the award but three of the projects listed as finalists are our projects. “For me, sustainability is something we need to be thinking about in the same terms as safety and quality, so it’s fantastic that APM is recognising sustainability as it is.” Professor Adam Boddison OBE, Chief Executive of APM, said: “I would like to congratulate Jacobs for its outstanding commitment to excellence in sustainability and project delivery. The company clearly showcases a commendable commitment to sustainability, integrating it into every aspect of operations, project management, and client solutions. “Our awards are all about celebrating the outstanding successes of the project profession, and I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists for their incredible achievements over the past year.” For a full list of the APM Award 2023 winners visit apm.org.uk/apm-awards/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Survey by APM reveals that 77 per cent of project managers working in organisations offering apprenticeship programmes say they benefit project work Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered body for the project profession, is calling on employers to invest in the better delivery of projects through project management apprenticeships schemes for their staff and new apprentices. The call comes ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 7-13 February 2022. This follows a recent APM survey of over 1000 project professionals (with research company Censuswide), which reveals that of the respondents who say their company runs project management apprenticeships, the majority (77 per cent) consider apprenticeships to be beneficial to project work within their business1. In the construction sector*, of the respondents who said their company runs apprenticeship programmes for project professionals, 55 per cent said they help the whole team develop themselves, 50 per cent say they bring new ideas into the organisation and 45 per cent who say that apprenticeships are a good way to recruit and retain talent. Commenting ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, Jackie Martin, director of education and lifelong learning at APM, says: “Now more than ever, businesses and communities depend on talented project professionals, as projects and project‑based working are here to stay. We would urge employers to invest in developing skills through apprenticeships for the value they can bring and for the long-term benefits to project delivery. “As the chartered body for the project profession, we are committed to promoting and encouraging better skills development and training. The growth of the “projectification” of work means more project professionals will be needed to help organisations succeed. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help plug the gap since they blend a professional qualification with supported learning and development while in a full‑time role.” For further details about project management apprenticeships, APM has a dedicated page on its website apm.org.uk/qualifications-and-training/apprenticeships/national-apprenticeship-week APM also offers free Student membership to students and apprentices aged over 16. Student members can benefit from a range of online resources, networking opportunities and events. Visit apm.org.uk/membership for further details. 40 per cent of survey respondents working in the construction sector stated that their company runs project management apprenticeships
Eddie Higgins joins to manage major speculative logistics development scheme at Bellshill. Knight Property Group has expanded its project management team with the appointment of Eddie Higgins as Construction Project Manager. Eddie brings around 26 years site engineering and project management experience with leading companies within the Scottish construction sector, including Ogilvie Construction and Stewart Milne. He will operate from the firm’s Edinburgh office and manage developments in the central belt of Scotland with initial focus being the development of Belgrave Logistics Park, the 14-acre former Devro site in Bellshill, which was acquired by Knight at the start of this year. His role will involve overseeing and managing the entire flagship 250,000 sq ft speculative development project, working closely with the design team and principal contractor. Site preparation is currently ongoing, with planning being submitted in June. Site works are scheduled to commence in September with completion in Spring 2020. Howard Crawshaw, Director of Knight Property Group said: “Eddie is a valuable addition to our experienced project management team and brings with him a wealth of experience in the construction sector. He is well respected and will add another dimension to our existing team given his background and many years of engineering expertise. He will manage the Bellshill project from the front-end to completion, bringing a specialism that will add real value and foster collaboration between the members of that team.” Eddie Higgins added: “I’m excited to be joining Knight and was impressed by the positive ambition of the company, along with the supportive and refreshing ethos. Belgrave Logistics Park is a major development project and my contracting background will be of benefit in ensuring that we deliver a successful project to bring to the Scottish logistics and industrial market next year.” The 47-year old is married with two children and lives in Perth.
New ways of thinking will be ‘essential for economic and social success post-coronavirus’, according to Pete Cohen, keynote speaker at the upcoming Think Differently virtual event, hosted by Association for Project Management (APM) and sponsored by Fujitsu. Think Differently: redefining diversity in projects is a five-day virtual event taking place between Monday 21 September and Friday 25 September, and aims to promote diversity of thought, creative problem-solving and new ways of working, to enable businesses and individuals to deliver ever better benefits to society through projects. The event will take place online, with different themes being explored each day through live sessions delivered by handpicked speakers, sharing a wealth of creative ideas, experiences and practical tools. In addition, there will be virtual networking sessions for project professionals of all backgrounds and experience levels and a virtual exhibition area where delegates can interact with sponsors and take part in activities. The event will also include APM’s Women in Project Management (WiPM) virtual conference, which will tackle some of the most relevant topics affecting project professionals today. Daily themes will include: Thinking differently about organisations How project organisations are developing to embrace a more diverse culture and how people can influence positive change in their organisation. Thinking differently about people How approaching team diversity from a different perspective contributes to greater project success, how to build personal skill sets and improve wellbeing in project teams. Thinking differently about projects How challenging traditional thinking on project processes means better and longer lasting benefits for the end user. Thinking differently about women in project management This virtual APM Women in Project Management conference day will inspire people to forge a new path and create their own adventure through the project profession. Think differently takeaway day The final day of the event will feature digestible summary sessions to clarify key takeaways and messages from the week. Pete Cohen, expert in human behaviour and performance, will be the event’s opening keynote speaker. Pete, who has coached numerous world-class sporting stars and was the resident life coach on ITV’s GMTV for 12 years, will kick off the week with a practical and inspiring talk on how to ‘think differently’. He said: “Changing mindset to view things from a different perspective requires skills, patience and practice – but it can be very rewarding! My session will give the audience a ‘brain warm up’, offering valuable tools and techniques to help them approach the week ahead with an open mind – and get much more out of it as a result.” Debbie Dore, Association for Project Management’s chief executive, said: “Whether responding to the global pandemic or the climate change crisis, it’s essential for organisations and individuals to embrace new ways of working, new people and new thinking. “Now is the time for change, but we recognise change also brings challenges. This event will look at what ‘thinking differently’ truly means for organisations, individuals and projects to inspire people to embrace and celebrate the kind of diverse thinking that will result in greater project success and better outcomes for society.” Registration for Association for Project Management Think Differently Week is open now. Individual members of APM can register for free. Employees of APM Corporate Partners can register for £15. Non-members can register for £25, which includes access to the full five-day event.