Daniel Ward
NAME Daniel Ward
JOB Construction manager
EMPLOYER Bovis Lend Lease
QUALIFICATIONS BSc construction management, Salford University (2008)
I chose to do a construction management course because it seemed to suit my talents and long-term goals: I work well in a team and it offered good career progression. I needed to have an employer sponsor to get onto my course and was offered sponsorship and work placements by Bovis Lend Lease after going for an interview with them.
Ready for my close-up
I am working on MediaCityUK, a £500m development that includes a new home for BBC North, an additional campus for Salford University and a studio complex for Peel Media. It will house the largest high definition studio facilities in Europe, featuring seven HD television studios and two audio studios – as well as offices, retail outlets, apartments and a hotel. I work on a studio block spanning 250,000 square feet.
‘I am working on MediaCityUK, a £500m development that will house the largest high definition studio facilities in Europe.’
I supervise subcontractors, ensuring that programmes (schedules) of work are achieved according to industry standards and practices. It’s important to have an understanding of the technical side of things as well as methods and procedures; industry practices are ever-changing and keeping on top of them all is a challenge. However, I receive training from my employer and can rely on guidance from colleagues.
Although the hours are long, I enjoy being creative and finding alternative methods of carrying out works to prevent both delays to the project and extra cost to the client. Managing people is an enjoyable challenge and it’s great to see how areas under my control progress and how the building advances.
Professionally qualified
I am studying for chartership with the CIOB, and my employer supports me through this. I set up meetings with the CIOB representative and am able to use all the company’s resources to complete modules. It is also a focus of my quarterly meetings with the HR team to monitor my development, and my progress is included in my six-monthly performance targets.