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Bovis bigwig seeks tasty prime catch

Martin Chambers, 45

Operations director, Bovis Lend Lease.

CIOB junior vice president. Fellow, RICS. Chairman of Family Housing Association, Birmingham.

How was 2004 for you? A rollercoaster. Last year was all about bidding for the regional prime contract central for MOD. The first half of the year grew to an enormous high of intensity in June. The disappointing thing is that the client was due to announce the preferred bidder on 8 December but they have put it back until late February.

Memorable events? I was made CIOB junior vice president. I remember sitting in a branch committee in February when the papers were submitted and watching people’s jaws drop when my name was mentioned. I also completed the merger of two institution branches in the Midlands in March.

Aspirations for 2005? We want to win the central prime contract. I’m leading a review of the way the CIOB organises itself locally. I also want to whup my fishing partner again. He was ahead with a 16lb rainbow trout until my Christmas came early when I bagged a 17lbs 12oz beauty in December!

Prediction for 2005? I would seriously like to see housing becoming a significant issue in this next election. At the moment the government is sending out mixed messages, suggesting that by redirecting social housing grant to big developers, more housing will get built. At the same time local authorities and others are looking to housing associations to deliver smaller inner city sites.

It’s not easy being green

Dave Hampton, 45

Director of consultancy ABS. Member of The Sustainability Forum which advises government. Chair of the Construction Industry Council’s Sustainable Development Committee.

How was 2004 for you? Probably my toughest year yet, on all sorts of fronts. I have been refurbishing and extending my own home, putting some of my ecological and carbon dioxide reduction principles into practice. It’s a source of immense pride now - and also immense shame! Being green is a very relative business. It is the first major construction project I have managed. I am in awe of ‘proper’ construction managers. On a positive note it was the year the world woke up to climate change and the reality of fossil fuel abuse.

Memorable events? My five-year-old daughter (the youngest of four children) had keyhole surgery for a hole in the heart.

Aspirations for 2005? I tried to help make 2004 a global awakening to climate change. In 2005 I will look closer to home! After all, if all that any of us manage to achieve next year is to sort things out in our own back yards - in our own homes, lives and businesses - then the world will take care of itself. If all 6bn of us are thinking ‘but what difference can just one person make’, then nothing will happen. As for business, there is plenty of work to be done with clients implementing real carbon dioxide reduction. Good for their business, good for ours and good for the planet.

Predictions for 2005? 2005 will be the year that smart leaders in the UK construction industry declare the future is bright and the future is green. When the UK leads the way and builds the low carbon and sustainable communities the world so badly needs we will be asked for these skills. Globally. What a future that could be.

Arup’s High-flyer hopes for global take-off

Peter Budd, 55

Heads up Arup’s global airport business. Has worked all over the world, in countries including Africa, China and the United States, typically in complex building projects.

How was 2004 for you? Manic. We have been hugely busy. One of my responsibilities is leading the airport business worldwide. Things have lifted in every geographical area. In the last two months I’ve been in South Africa, Italy and China.

Memorable events? The formal opening of a new airport at Chongqing in China, the largest single city in the world with a population of 30.6m. Arup won an international design competition in partnership with Llewelyn-Davies to get the job.

Aspirations for 2005? To increase the prominence of Arup’s airport expertise around the world and win several amazing projects which we’re currently in the running for. There’s a huge amount of work coming out of North America, Europe and Africa.

Predictions for 2005? Continued activity. The major PFI projects, particularly in healthcare and infrastructure are going to continue. That’s going to keep the industry pretty busy. There will maybe be a flattening off in the residential area, and hopefully stability in commercial work.

Well In the frame for frameworks

Neil Sherreard, 40

I watched people’s jaws drop as my name was mentioned for junior vice president!

Martin Chambers

Director for Cowlin Construction, covering Bristol and Plymouth. Became a member of the CIOB in 1995 and a fellow in 2000.

How was 2004 for you? Fantastic. We only opened the Plymouth office a year ago, and it is now turning over £30 million and we have 40 employees. Damn fine work for a year.

Memorable events? Winning a five-year framework agreement with Plymouth University, worth £10m. We have already completed six projects, four of which were running concurrently and which we delivered on time, within a week of each other in August.

Aspirations for 2005? Around 90% of our work is either two-stage, negotiated or partnered, and I would like to see that continue. It would also be great to get more frameworks locally as well.

Prediction for 2005? There will be continuing spend in education. I also think there are going to be some changes with ProCure 21. This will hopefully allow local health care providers and trusts to use the local companies they are used to working with.

Skanska’s young buck wants to get back to school

Mark Walmsley, 34

Commercial manager within Skanska’s PFI/PPP business stream education team. Made CIOB Fellow last year.

How was 2004 for you? Fantastic. Really busy, and probably like most people 2004 has just flown by.

Memorable events? Professionally: Kings College Hospital PFI project (right) where the project team handed the hospital over 10 weeks early; closing the Bexley PFI schools project and being part of the development team working on the Skanska proposals for ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Schools for the Future. Personally, a highlight was being awarded a Fellowship of the CIOB. I am the second youngest Fellow to ever be awarded the position.

Aspirations for 2005? To continue developing Skanska’s position in the education sector, and to be more involved with the strategic development of the London Region through the CIOB.

Prediction for 2005? I believe it’s going to be another growth year for construction. The national economy is growing at its fastest rate for 20 years. At Skanska we are expecting to bid for more projects than last year due to the increased volume of projects in the health, education and custodial markets.

Prof seeks Partnerships, wedding bells and world peace

Andrew Platten, 43

Head of Department of Built Environment at the University of Central Lancashire. Member of the Cumbria and Lancashire CIOB branch and chairs the CIOB accreditation panel. Sits on accreditation boards in China and the US as the CIOB representative. Member of the Constructing Excellence Lancashire steering group.

How was 2004 for you? Up and down. Up because recruitment in construction was excellent this year. Down because my team, Leeds United, was relegated.

Memorable event? I got my FCIOB in January. I was really proud. I felt it was a nice piece of recognition for what I do. I was honoured to travel with CIOB to both China and the US as part of my accreditation duties. This was all in my leave time. So business meetings from 7.30am were part of my holiday!

Aspirations for 2005? Peace, love and happiness. Answering all my emails, clearing the desk. Managing my personal time. Progressing our new Construction Knowledge Exchange project with five other University partners. Re-accreditation of our own programmes with CIOB.

Predictions for 2005 I predict a quite remarkable event to take place in Hong Kong this March involving a ring. [He means he is getting married.] Leeds United will regain their rightful place in the Premiership [Hmm, I think not - Ed]. The Wembley project will progress to time.

Fewer beans! more discussion! More fun! More ice cream!

Dr Ashok Jashapara, 42

Chair of the Knowledge Management Research Group at Loughborough University. In a previous career, he was a bridge designer, a builder with John Mowlem and a senior engineer with the London Borough of Hackney.

In 2005, london will be awarded the olympics - and crossrail will finally be approved!

Keith Leaman

How was 2004 for you? Very dynamic and busy. I took on quite a few different commitments on top of my normal job.

Memorable events? I conducted a masterclass in Knowledge Management at the largest business school in Poland. Loved visiting Warsaw in the January snow and sampling the rich varieties of vodka.

Publication of my book Knowledge Management: An Integrated Approach by FT Prentice Hall. The book has proved extremely popular and is to be translated into Polish next year and possibly Chinese.

Became Trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in the Foundation’s centenary year. I also enjoyed riding my motorised trike (that I built with a friend 10 years ago) to music festivals and bike rallies with a gang called the ‘Coffin Scratchers’.

Aspirations for 2005? More time with my family and friends and to get the work-life balance right. More time to write hand-written letters. To eat fewer beans and more ice-cream! I have become far too sensible about what I eat. I want to have more fun!

Prediction for 2005? The industry is going to learn from its mistakes. People are going to talk much more with each other than ever before. In particular, they will talk about their mistakes and ‘worst practice’ rather than the current preoccupation with best practice. I see the internet playing a big part in this. There will be many more networks forming (formal and informal) where people talk about solving everyday problems linked to construction practices and processes.

Small organisations should think big

Mike Foy, 55

Assistant chief executive at St Helens Council. Board Member of the Local Government (Construction) Task Force, Regional Champion for the North West, sits on the Management Board of the Centre for Construction Innovation (Manchester) and the Regional Centre of Excellence.

How was 2004 for you? Probably the shortest year of my life - or so it feels. As one of six Beacon Councils, in the theme of ‘Rethinking Construction’, we have spent the year spreading best practice to other local authorities.

Memorable events? Combining with Mid Devon District Council (the only small Council to achieve Beacon Council status in ‘Rethinking Construction’) in running two conferences to tell public sector clients that modernised procurement practices are not just for big clients.

Aspirations for 2005? I want to see the best practice from construction applied to other areas of procurement wherever appropriate. St Helens Council has a lead role with Manchester City Council and the Centre for Construction Innovation to ensure that construction procurement best practice is adopted on all public sector contracts in the North West.

Prediction for 2005 We will move further towards a two-tier industry. That means it will be even harder to ensure that small and occasional clients and SMEs do not become detached from the improvement process. We will start to realise that we need to identify precisely where skills shortages are and train in the areas required.

Please sir! can I have some more schools

John Tibbits, 49

Director, Kier Project Investment Ltd, the division responsible for Kier Group’s investments in PFI/PPP projects.

How was 2004 for you? It’s been a very good year. I was responsible for closing two PFI projects and winning a third, together worth £120 million (by capital value). We have great people and fantastic team spirit.

Memorable events? The opening of a new nursery school reminded me how much it means to the teachers and children to have new facilities and that the time we spend bidding and negotiating on each project is not an end in itself. A trip to Barcelona with my wife.

Aspirations for 2005? 2005 will see the government’s £2bn per annum ‘ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Schools for the Future’ initiative getting off the ground. I am leading the Kier involvement in this and will be hoping to secure at least one of the initial wave of projects. As the construction industry is short of new recruits I would also like to see how we can forge links with local authorities and schools to promote construction careers as part of this initiative.

Prediction for 2005? In a surprise move, Construction Manager merges with House and Garden magazine and Diarmuid Gavin is appointed as editor (sorry Rod). The article on ‘101 uses for a safety helmet’ helps take the first edition of Construction Managers for your House and Garden to the top of the sales charts.

Big wins on and off the pitch

Keith Leaman, 50

We should talk more. discuss ‘worst practice’ rather than get obsessed with best practice

Ashok Jashapara

Partner at Hornagold & Hills, responsible for projects in the regeneration/mixed Use sector. Previously with Beard Dove Project Management Partnership and developer Cardinal/Lysander.

How was 2004 for you? A remarkably successful year with some landmark regeneration projects secured and a number of major high-profile wins.

Memorable events? Being appointed onto three great projects: Quintain Estates and Development’s phase W01 at Wembley; London Borough of Southwark’s £1.5bn redevelopment of the Elephant and Castle and Housing Group’s ground-breaking Mildmay Urban

Village project. Personally, it was hitting 50 and still being able to cut it at work and on the football pitch - well at least against my 12-year-old son!

Aspirations for 2005? Starting work on Harlequins new West Stand, Wembley W01 and the Mildmay projects. And moving house!

Predictions for 2005 We will stop talking about Thames Gateway and we will get some real action, as the project will have a recognised figurehead to champion the cause. London will win the Olympics bid and Crossrail will be finally approved. I will lose weight and get fit!

Government just won’t listen

John Yadoo, 55

Former director of Aukett, later establishing his own firm Pryme Euope. In 2003 he set up as an independent consultant, Pryme Consulting.

How was 2004 for you? Different. It was my first year as an independent consultant where I don’t have the ties of managing people and a big business as well. It’s been very enjoyable. I feel like I’m using the best of my knowledge to the best advantage.

Most memorable event? Visiting mainland China for the first time in May. I gave a paper at the CIOB’s conference in Chongqing. I was very impressed by the positive attitude of the Chinese, both businessmen and students, who were keen to take hold of what we know in the West about construction.

Aspirations for 2005? Whenever I visit a site I just hope that some time something I say or do may influence people to take a better attitude to health and safety. My other hope is that public awareness of the industry will improve. The image is still very much related to the cowboy builder.

Predictions for 2005? There will be more awareness of sustainability in construction, although it will be a slow process. We will continue to struggle to get appropriate representation at government.

...i’ve still got a smile on my face

Lance Saunders, 60

Director, CASL Management Training, which he set up in 2002. Started working life underground as a mine surveyor, transferring into civil

engineering before moving into higher education. Worked for CITB as a training supervisor before setting up CASL.

How was 2004 for you? Very good. We run an NVQ assessment company and all of a sudden the demand for high level NVQs has really taken off. It’s been driven by the major contractors’ group insisting on CSCS cards.

Memorable event? I was 60 last year. I’m still feeling youthful and I’ve still got a smile on my face.

Aspirations for 2005 We have set up a joint venture with transport consultants TMS to deliver NVQs for the transport sector so I am hoping that will be a success.

Predictions for 2005? The industry will carry on at the same high volume of work. Skills will improve because clients including the government are all demanding it. The industry will take another step forward.