Speller Metcalfe is built upon an ethos of teamwork and family values, and our people are at the very heart of it.
We pride ourselves on employing a talented and dedicated array of over 200 staff who are committed to working together and supporting each other to create an award-winning company at the forefront of construction.
Here we introduce some of our team. Click on an image to find out more about who they are and what they do at Speller Metcalfe.
How did you become an Estimating Manager?
After school I joined a company with the original intention of training as a quantity surveyor. I spent a year on site getting to understand the construction process and decided to move into estimating, initially completing a two year HNC course. The company I worked for was quite limited in the type of projects we worked on and I didn’t think I would have the right opportunities to develop. I then decided to make the move to Speller Metcalfe who sponsored me through university, where I did a Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying degree alongside starting a role as a trainee estimator, which gave me the opportunity to be mentored by two of our senior estimators while studying.
Over the last nine years I progressed into an estimator role, then senior estimator and now my current job is as estimating manager for the Small Works division.
What does your job involve?
Estimators form part of the pre-construction team, and so we come in right at the start of a project. When a potential project (tender) arrives my job is to review it and see if it’s suitable for the company.
Once we’ve agreed to proceed we issue the enquiries to sub-contractors and then I will do a take-off of quantities, using site visits and drawings of the build to determine the costs involved. We work with the pre-construction team to review quotations and ensure they are compliant or determine if we have any questions.
Before submitting our proposal to the client, we do an adjudication, which is walking the team through the job and discussing costs, contracts, potential risks, programme, any clarifications we may have and then present our final cost to the client.
As Estimating Manager my job is also to try and plan our estimating capacity for future projects, manage staff availability, make sure we can achieve what’s required and keeping track of our achievements in line with business targets.
What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s a bit like a roller coaster, there can be mixed emotions where you’re on a high because you’ve won loads of work or you suddenly find a lot of jobs coming to a close and you have to make sure you have work ready for the teams on site. It’s the challenge that keeps me on my toes!
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
We are currently on site with St Richards Hospice in Worcester, where our current scheme has a very interesting glulam frame structure that needed a lot of design involvement and I’ve really enjoyed getting into the complexity of the project.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
I know this is what you hear time and again from Speller Metcalfe but I can honestly say the best thing is the team ethos, everyone has been so approachable from my very first day and if you need help, someone is always there.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I’ve just taken up golf, although I haven’t got to handicap stage just yet! I’m also dad to one-year-old Ruben, who takes up quite a bit of my time…
How did you become a Trainee Quantity Surveyor?
I actually started working at Speller Metcalfe helping out with admin support in the summer holidays as my Dad has worked here for many years as a contracts manager. I ended up coming back each year during summer and eventually supporting the estimating team in Small Works. After finishing school I had a law degree place lined up but Speller Metcalfe offered to sponsor me to complete a Quantity Surveying Degree Apprenticeship with the University of Wolverhampton.
I’m really glad I took the leap as I now study part time and work part time so I also have an income and with interests in both maths and law this has suited me really well. I will also become a RICS Chartered Member through my degree which is an added bonus, with the course split over five years.
What does your job involve?
As a smaller division we tend to do both estimating and quantity surveying and I really enjoy the variety. A lot of time is spent doing take offs, which is identifying the individual elements of the scheme that need to be measured and priced. I keep abreast of the costs during the project, down to the minutiae of individual paint brushes! It’s interesting to do the whole process of estimating through to surveying as you see how it’s all connected, for example if something has to be questioned you can see why it may have gone wrong and understand the process more thoroughly.
I also do a range of other tasks such as cost reporting, costing for variations as the job progresses (such as adding in more doors for example), placing orders with sub-contractors and final accounts. I work closely with the Commercial Manager who mentors and supports me on each job.
What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s really rewarding to see a project all the way through, from just an opportunity to then handing it over to the client.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
My first project which was for the Blue Cross animal welfare charity. It was a fabulous team, everyone was so lovely from the client to the sub-contractors. The client even sent us a mug each saying, “You’re the best!” They were so happy they kept us on to undertake another project which ended up being the first job I priced on my own and it was great to have the confidence of the team behind me.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
It’s the team – it doesn’t feel like you’re at work (unless you’re sat in meetings all day!). If you’re on site or in the office, you’re like family. Some of the staff here even remember me as a baby!
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I love to spend as much time outside as possible and after competing in dressage competitions when I was younger, I now spend a lot of time on hacks with my horse and my puppy Minty. I bought her when I worked at the Blue Cross and she got to come to work with me every day (the dog not the horse)!
How did you become a Site Manager?
At school I studied A Level geography, business and maths and decided to pursue civil engineering, attending college one day a week over two years to complete my HNC whilst working at the same time.
Being on site gave me the experience of doing an engineering role but also being part of the building atmosphere. From then I got a job at a groundworks company as an engineer where I was sub-contracted to work on a Speller Metcalfe job in Bristol. The contracts manager approached me and said he was impressed with the way I was running the team and my eye for detail and asked if I would be interested in pursuing a career in site management as there was an opening for a trainee.
I took him up and within my first year the company had put me through my SMSTS training, as well as courses in environmental awareness, manual handling, asbestos awareness, first aid and temporary works coordination, so by the time I had qualified as an assistant site manager I had all these qualifications under my belt.
Coming from an engineering background, which is very structured and precise, has been really useful in site management as you are continually managing quality aspects and needing to focus on the small details.
What does your job involve?
The key part is organising your trades in line with the programme, making sure they attend daily and that they are all lined up to come in at the right time. Working on residential schemes there are three key snag stages that you have to be particularly aware / prepared for in terms of monitoring quality; pre-plaster snagging, pre-painting and final handover.
It’s also key to have good communication with the trades on site, being the person they can approach with any issues and working together to find solutions. As the site manager you have to pull those people together, whether it’s the architect, the client or the scaffolder, you always know someone who has the answer if it’s not you!
What’s the best thing about your job?
Scaffold drop stage is a really satisfying part of the job – when you think back to an empty field at the start of a job and then that turns into something you can stand back and realise what your team has accomplished. It’s also nice to get positive feedback from the trades and the surrounding community, when they appreciate the job you’re doing.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
In terms of achievement Shirehampton was a great project; it was my first job to run as a project lead with half the job as a traditional build and the other half refurbishment, so I learnt a lot and achieved a brilliant end product with the help of my contracts manager and QS. In terms of aesthetics, Cotswold Gardens in Willersey was a development in the Cotswolds, built in traditional stone, which was a real show stopper and was Highly Commended at the LABC Awards in the Best High Volume Housing Development category.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
I love the fact that I can pick up the phone to Steve Speller with no feel of hierarchy or intimidation at speaking to the owner of the company. It could be Steve or any of the directors, and you don’t get that in many places.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I enjoy playing rugby and watching sports as well as renovating houses. I recently completed a small three bedroom place in the centre of Gloucester that I’ve sold, and I’m now onto my second in Bristol, which I’m living in and doing up at the same time.
How did you become an Assistant Design Coordinator?
I left school not knowing what I wanted to do, working in retail for a few years before discovering that being creative really appealed to me. I applied to do a foundation degree in Art & Design at Birmingham City University, and through a 3D design module I began exploring architectural design; while this prompted me to discover that while architecture wasn’t for me, I became interested in the technical aspects of construction.
After completing my course I moved onto a sandwich degree in Architectural Technology, with a year’s placement in London. During this time I ended up attending a Women in Construction event where I was introduced to the role of Design Manager and during my university placement year secured a role as a trainee design manager with Kier. I joined them full time after uni as a Graduate Design Manager but after three years decided I needed a change and through a colleague who had moved to Speller Metcalfe I was given an interview. After a few job offers I decided that I wanted to join here because of the reputation of the company and the opportunity to be a part of a team where your input can really make a difference.
What does your job involve?
The main role of a Design Coordinator or Manager is to manage and organise all aspects of the design, from the architect to the sub-contractors and suppliers. We pull all the information together, make sure all the design elements are coordinated, that they will work and comply with building regulations, while recording all the information.
Once the project moves onto site, we have to ensure the design information keeps pace with the project timescales and that key members have been trained in using the 4Projects platform to coordinate information. We also deal with requests for information, making sure they have been communicated and resolved, assisting design teams in the verification of their designs, liaising with internal and external construction staff and the project team and bottoming out any technical issues on site. I have a lot of experience in BIM (Building Information Modelling) which is really important as being up to speed with technology is essential for my job.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I really love being on site, although enjoy that I can be both office and site based too. I get to see something go from a scribble on a piece of paper to being produced in real life and that process is very rewarding, for example seeing a new school come to life, and knowing that you’re making a difference to someone’s education. Working with the project team and creating some great relationships is also fun to be a part of.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
I’m quite new to Speller Metcalfe, joining last summer, but I’ve really enjoyed assisting with the Chard Leisure Centre. I’m an avid gym goer but never been a part of designing it before!
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
Working for a regional contractor means that you get to know everyone, whether it’s the site manager or a director, and having those relationships is really important. You don’t get that at a bigger company whereas I feel valued and heard here. It’s never too much to ask for a small thing and Speller Metcalfe is very much about the people, which is what I like.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I love a bit of DIY and have been doing up our house for the last couple of years. Since our new kitchen got put in a few weeks ago I’ve been doing a lot of baking! I also love being active, going for runs and walking.
How did you become an Accounts Assistant?
Having done both maths and further maths at A Level, moving into a finance role was a natural progression for me. After leaving school I worked in a bookies for a while before taking on an accounts role at the age of 21 in another company after being recommended for the job through a classmate.
I then joined Speller Metcalfe through a recruitment agency and have been with the company for five and a half years.
What does your job involve?
The first task each day is to rate and sign all the bank balances, checking what’s coming in and what’s going out. After this, we go through all of the general processes that keeps the company running day-to-day. The accounts team is split into three areas; purchase ledger (processing and checking supplier invoices), sub-contract (processing and checking sub-contract payments) and general accounting (my role).
I process time sheets for the weekly paid staff as well as sub-contractor certificates and purchase invoices. I also raise sales invoices which are particularly important as we have to ensure everything is done within a specified timeframe (which also varies). I’m also responsible for administering holidays, processing credit cards and mileage claims.
What’s the best thing about your job?
As I’m office based, I enjoy getting to speak to all the different people on site, getting to know what’s happening right across the company and speaking to all kinds of people, it keeps it varied and interesting.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
I’ve always said that ever since the start we’ve always had the full support of both managers and colleagues, and that means a lot in any job as from experience that hasn’t always been the case. I know it’s probably a cliché but the family-ethos is really important here.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I run the local darts league in Worcester as well as a pub quiz, which since the pandemic I’ve moved online and has been a great way to keep in touch with the regulars! I also follow Worcester City FC and being in lockdown has given me the opportunity to start something new so I’ve begun an online journalism course which I’m using to help me do football reporting online. When I can I also travel to watch the football and have been to some amazing places including Croatia and the Faroe Islands.
How did you become a Senior Health & Safety Manager?
I am a qualified geologist by profession (degree-led) and initially began my career with a Local Authority advising on environmental issues. Very sadly, during this time a friend of mine was killed as a result of management failure, and this touched a nerve. I am a passionate advocate of doing what’s right and this incident propelled me into health and safety, where I continued to work with the Local Authority moving into an inspecting role for seven years.
I moved into construction as a H&S Manager after being head hunted, where my passion for people and inclination to look for solutions rather than problems was recognised and put to the test! Over 20 years I worked on a complete range of construction activities from deep excavation to demolition. In that time I built a rapport with the HSE and through various contacts was invited to join Speller Metcalfe and have now been here almost 12 years.
What does your job involve?
Our key focus as the H&S team is to be a presence for our site teams and a consistent source of information. We regularly visit sites (weekly or fortnightly) to carry out audits and provide support to our teams so it is important we are working within the most recent health and safety legislation and ensuring that whatever stage a project is at, that activities can be carried out safely and responsibly.
As Senior H&S Manager I am also responsible for managing the health and safety team, and we work closely with our environmental and quality colleagues to ensure we are being consistent in our approach right across the company.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The people, without a doubt. I love seeing things being built but with a respect for the people who actually do it. In my mind it is so important to engage, respect and appreciate what they can do as everyone has their own value and if they are doing their job well, it also makes mine easier!
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
I would say the Harvey Shopping Centre in Harlow. Technically it was very interesting and complex because we were working above a live supermarket and a shopping centre on a reinforced concrete structure, having to undertake a sectional demolition with a tower crane in place to install a multiplex cinema. With shoppers walking around underneath the works in the centre at all times of the day, it was imperative everything was done exactly right.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
Being appreciated as part of the team, everyone is valued.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I am an avid bee keeper (and even keep bees in the garden of the person doing this interview!). I have also been lucky enough to have undertaken numerous walking treks all over the world, including the Stok Kangri (Himalayas), Kilamanjaro (Tanzania), Hekla (Iceland), Zugspitze (Germany), Eiger and Jungfrau (Swiss Alps).
How did you become a Framework & Partnerships Manager?
After A Levels I did a degree in politics with aspirations to be the next Fiona Bruce! Clearly I needed a backup plan and I knew that construction had a lot of opportunities outside of the traditional site roles as my dad had spent his career in the industry.
I ended up taking on my first job as a business development (BD) assistant at a company in Reading, where they wanted someone enthusiastic and cheap! It was a good grounding to learn about business development, creating client relationships, marketing, events, writing bids etc., all as part of one role and an opportunity to learn on the job.
I really enjoyed it and when a role came up more local to home in Birmingham I jumped at it, working to support business development for the City and Interiors division within the company. When the BD Manager left a few years later I was offered the role, latterly moving to support the housing division. After my dad started to work at Speller Metcalfe I was approached by James Speller for an informal chat about a potential opportunity and a few months down the line it was the right time for me to move over and I haven’t looked back.
What does your job involve?
My current role is very founded in business development. It’s all about generating opportunities for Speller Metcalfe which is done principally through building strategic relationships with clients and consultants. A lot of time spent meeting, calling and emailing people, attending events, market research and tracking leads. It is my responsibility, with the support of the wider team, to make sure we have a clear pipeline of opportunity and that we leverage ourselves into a work winning position. On the framework side, I work with a lot of framework management teams and key account managers, driving new schemes through the frameworks we sit on as well as supporting our team to win framework projects.
What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s twofold – I really enjoy getting to have so much contact with lots of different people externally, some might say talking all the time! And secondly working with a really nice team, which is reflective of Speller Metcalfe. The property and construction sector is a great place to work and is full of lots of interesting individuals.
What’s has been your favourite project or achievement?
We recently secured a place on the Constructing West Midlands Framework which we hope will be a significant pipeline for us. It was hard won and we were all really delighted. It’s also always great to see a scheme that you’ve been a part of from the outset, usually at the pre planning stages, complete and hand over on site.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
It like that my role is autonomous, where in the most part I am left to get on with it, but with the knowledge that I have support around me from the directors and the pre-construction team when I need it.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I love to read but also enjoy socialising, meeting up with friends when I can. As a family of four I love being with the kids, we do a lot of singing and dancing in this house and the base guitar comes out on occasion! Otherwise being outdoors is really important, be it up on a hill or in a wood somewhere.
How did you become an Assistant Quantity Surveyor?
I’ve been with Speller Metcalfe since I left school, joining as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor (QS) and now as an Assistant QS. I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take and found it really helpful to speak with the school careers advisor, who helped me identify my strengths and quantity surveying as a potential job route. As the school already had a great relationship with Speller Metcalfe, she put me forward as a potential candidate.
What does your job involve?
Since joining, I’ve been lucky to have been given a really good grounding in Building Information Modelling (BIM) alongside my QS role, which has helped me have a deeper understanding of the design and construction process.
Day-to-day I move between site and the office supporting with a range of tasks, which at the start of a project includes estimating – taking measurements from drawings to identify the cost of constructing the building. Once on site we place the orders with the appropriate sub-contractors so works can begin, keeping tabs on all the costs as the project progresses.
When the building is complete, we then check all the costs, making sure we identify any variations and can agree the final account.
What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s the early part of a project when you’re trying to find way to improve costs and work together to improve the construction of the building.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
I really enjoyed working on the Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, it’s a significant project for both the local area and the industry.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
I like that I can be working one-on-one with a director one day and a trainee the next, it doesn’t really feel like there is a hierarchy, everyone helps everyone. The other benefit is the flexibility, you get to use your own intuition rather than being told exactly what to produce and how to do it.
I also like that it’s a local company with a lot of family feel to it.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I’m getting into running and I’m working hard to beat Senior QS Dave Holden! I started off doing 6 min 30 secs p/km at the end of the year and I’m aiming to get somewhere close to the 4 min p/km mark.
How did you become a Quantity Surveyor?
I initially undertook a full-time degree but decided studying part-time while working was a better fit following a placement year. In construction you can either work as a consultant (client side) or for a contractor. Having spent my first few years in consultancy, which is more office based, I decided to move over to contracting. I find no two days are the same, you’re out on site a lot more and personally I find it more interesting as the focus is on making money for your own business (not the client) and delivering a great project.
What does your job involve?
Having previously worked for international businesses I was given great opportunities to climb the ladder, but found I wanted to be somewhere that my work felt like it was making a difference to the business. At Speller Metcalfe I have more input and the focus is more than just profit – you’re not just a number, it’s much more family orientated than that.
Now my job involves managing the numbers side of things, which includes managing clients, payments, sub-contractors, reporting to the business and a lot of meetings! Being a QS is only of the few roles you start before a project is even on a piece of paper, it’s a long term relationship that you get to see from start to finish.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I love being on site, it’s the best place to learn and you get more of a feel for what’s going on as well as working with people from all kinds of backgrounds.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
I really enjoyed working on the Project One Campus for Warwick Independent Schools Foundation. I initially took over from someone who left the business and as a large scheme there was a lot of variety.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
It’s got a very family feel right across the company and there’s always a network of support you can reach out to without any hesitation.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I like to unwind by playing football on the weekends and keeping fit. Being based in Birmingham I try and get out for hills walks in the Malverns and the local area for some countryside respite where I can!
How did you become a Project Manager?
Straight out of school I took bricklaying and plumbing qualifications where I worked as a plumber for a year before deciding on an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery. I joined a carpentry firm and then did a surveying and levelling qualification, followed by a Level 2 and 3 NVQ in carpentry. I started running my own jobs at the age of 21 and following an ONC and HNC in Construction Management, started as an Assistant Site Manager.
I joined Speller Metcalfe after doing a project for Worcester College where someone I knew had applied to the company and recommended me. After a call to Bill Cave I started in 2006 and have worked my way up to Project Manager running schemes for the Small Works division.
What does your job involve?
As a project manager I take responsibility for forward planning operations and overseeing the project. This includes identifying the programme, dealing with finance, placing orders, undertaking meetings with the project team, overseeing all health and safety risk assessment and method statements, delegating tasks and responsibilities and managing the team.
It varies from a Site Manager who is more involved with the day-to-day running of the project.
What’s the best thing about your job?
For me I really enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, and all areas of construction, as well as working on a range of projects. It keeps things varied and interesting as each project comes with its own set of challenges.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
It has to be the Master’s House in Ledbury, which was a very significant restoration of a Grade II* Listed building that dated all the way back to 1487. It was such an interesting project, the whole team learnt a huge range of skills and the community buy in was incredible, with so many people involved. It also became Speller Metcalfe’s most awarded project to date.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
The family ethos where everyone knows everybody, we help each other out and you know that you have a good team around you.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I am a keen match angler, fishing all over the country in lakes, rivers, the sea… you name it! I’m also a keen gardener and have been enjoying doing up our family house over the last few years which is now home to the world’s coolest man cave!
How did you become an Assistant Estimator?
After leaving my last job I was looking for something local and was offered three interviews in one day, one of them as Receptionist at Speller Metcalfe. I was lucky to be offered all of them but I took the one here with no hesitation after chatting with Andy Metcalfe for an hour in my interview!
I had no experience of construction but soon came to realise the array of career opportunities and became particularly interested in pre-construction. I spoke with Andy and moving into a more technical role and he gave me the opportunity to assist the senior estimator for six months, before starting college one day a week to do an HNC in Construction and the Built Environment. I became a Trainee Estimator and was also given the opportunity to work on site once a week, which was so important and really helped me when I began college.
After two years of part time study / part time work I began working full time for the pre-construction team on various projects, assisting the Senior Estimator and then taking on the role of lead estimator on some of our smaller projects, before becoming an Assistant Estimator a year later.
What does your job involve?
I currently assist the Senior Estimators for both the Living and Construction divisions, preparing cost estimates, reviewing invitations to tender from potential clients, assisting with in-house take offs, formatting bills of quantities and inputting relevant information into our costX estimating software. I also compare sub-contractor quotations, negotiating and liaising with the supply chain throughout the tender/preconstruction period.
Other responsibilities include visiting site, taking part in tender meetings and interviews as well as in-house meetings such as tender launches and adjudications, which is reviewing the tender as a team, bringing all elements of the bid together to ensure we are happy with our bid before submitting to the client.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I really enjoy that every project is different so I’m constantly learning – it requires a lot of team work to successfully pull a tender together and I really enjoy being part of that team, especially on tender submission day! Another thing I really enjoy and what caught my interest in pre-construction is the satisfaction of seeing a job you worked on at tender stage being used by the client and end-users, taking it right from the concept idea to its completion.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
I think Northway Infants School, which was a Gloucestershire County Council project who I really enjoy working with as a client. It was also my first project as a trainee estimator and I built up such a good relationship with the end user team, and as I was also at college it was just a really exciting time for me.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
The people and the opportunities. There’s always someone there if you need them – nothing is impossible if you have the right attitude and resources. Speller Metcalfe have given me the upmost support from the start and they continue to do so.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I love the usual things like being with friends and family, spending time outside, holidays and food! Drawing is also a really great escape from the numbers and I’m trying to practice the art of meditation.
How did you become a Buyer?
After doing my AS Levels I realised I didn’t want to be at college and began looking for work. My older brother is an estimator and told me about a job opening with a local contractor where I could spend a few months working across a variety of departments to learn the ropes as a trainee.
I joined the company and completed a BTEC in Building Studies, doing one day a week over two years, and decided I wanted to work as a buyer. I joined the team and studied part time for an HNC for a further two years before joining Speller Metcalfe who then sponsored me to do complete my degree in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management, doing this part time over the course of five years.
What does your job involve?
I support a variety of projects when they get onto site, usually around 4-5 at a time (although when the pressure is on it grows!). The site teams send all their material and plant requests to myself as a buyer and it is my job to go out and get the best deal, whether it be the best quality, the cheapest or the fastest product, making sure the cost comes within the bill we have priced for.
Sometimes what we’ve priced for isn’t available or has changed in price, or sometimes it can work out cheaper to buy a product rather than hire one so it is my job to find alternatives and the best deals. When we put in an order the invoice is raised with the accounts team who match the invoice with the price and if anything needs to be queried it comes back to the buyer to rectify.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I really enjoy building relationships with the suppliers and trying to get the best deals, talking to lots of different people is the best thing about my job.
What’s has been your favourite project or achievement?
I was really proud of the Kidderminster Medical Centre project as it was the first job I had undertaken by myself.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
I’d say the people that work here. I spend a lot of time on the phone dealing with all sorts of people every day and it’s the people that make the job.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I really enjoy socialising and going to the pub, and I’m also a season ticket holder for West Brom FC.
How did you become a Trainee Site Manager?
I’ve always been fascinated with property and buildings and like the idea of one day having my own property business, so when I left school I did a BTEC Level 3 in Construction and the Built Environment at Gloucestershire College. While I finished my course I was desperately looking for a job and ended up working as an Architectural Technician, however I found that working in an office was not for me.
Fast forward a couple of months, one day I found myself chatting to Andy Metcalfe who said if I ever wanted to come in for an interview to get in touch. I decided to go for it, and following my interview I was on site two days later as a trainee site manager with Speller Metcalfe paying to support my Level 4 qualification, which I did part time over two years.
What does your job involve?
It varies quite a lot which I enjoy, currently I work a lot of the quality aspect for sites, ensuring that when we hand the building over everything operates as it should, from the hot tap running hot to the windows closing properly. You become someone who nit-picks the little items to allow the project managers to see the bigger picture.
My aspiration now is to progress onto the complete build, working on site from scratch to understand the whole process.
What’s the best thing about your job?
My favourite thing is how every day is different – the project is forever changing. One day it can be a hole in the ground and two weeks later you’re looking at a second floor structure. It’s very fast paced.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
My first project was a residential Passivhaus development on North Street in Bristol, which I did with Rich Bullock and Corey Hone. I remember being so nervous having never really been on a site before, and it felt like my first step into the adult world as before that I was working at Tesco’s! It was a very interesting project technically and I was like a sponge soaking up all the information I could.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
I think it’s a common response but it’s everyone else who works for the company. You can’t fault the people here, everyone has so much time for one another and they try to do their best for you whenever they can. It also feels like a very safe environment to make your mistakes and learn from them, which as a trainee is vital.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I love to travel and explore and although we’re more limited during a global pandemic, I’ve been lucky enough to get out to Snowdonia last year – kayaking and walking the trails up to the top before swimming back down!
How did you become an Assistant Site Manager?
My dad has worked at Speller Metcalfe for many years but the idea of going into construction was never on my radar. But leaving school I was a bit at a loss of what to do so I joined as a labourer for the Small Works team and decided to pursue an HNC in Construction, studying one day a week while working.
After my course I was moved into a Trainee Site Manager role which I did for a year before starting an apprenticeship degree at the University of Wolverhampton in Construction Management, which Speller Metcalfe has sponsored. With an HNC under my belt I’ve been able to do this in three years rather than the usual five (working and studying part time). I’ve actually surprised myself as I thought I would end up going down the quantity surveying route but I really enjoy being part of the site management team.
What does your job involve?
As an Assistant Site Manager I help out with general duties, which also includes carrying out site inductions, managing paperwork – in particular taking the lead on health & safety and environmental issues. I also assist with making sure site is safe, everyone is wearing the correct PPE for different tasks, completing site diaries, organising and requisitioning site equipment and plant and I’ve just started learning about the materials aspect.
What’s the best thing about your job?
At the moment I’m really enjoying learning about all the groundworks, as previously I’ve joined projects where this aspect has already been completed. So now I’m working somewhere where I’ll get to see the project from start to finish, and learning how the whole project works together.
What’s has been your favourite project so far?
Project One Campus was such a big project where I worked across three different buildings over two years, and I learnt a huge amount there.
What’s the best thing about working at Speller Metcalfe?
This has been the first company I’ve worked for but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the people and building up close relationships. I’ve been with the site and project manager for the last three years, and it has helped build my confidence as well as having consistency in my training getting to know them really well.
Tell us something about you we don’t know…
I enjoy being active and going to the gym as well as playing football for Ledbury Town FC.