Chris Jamieson, from Whitley Bay, has become Galliford Try Partnerships North’s youngest ever site manager.
At just 28, Chris is one of four employees to recently progress up the career ladder at the leading construction and regeneration specialist.
He said: “I have been told the company’s average age for a site manager in our region is about 43 – so I suppose I’m a little ahead of schedule! It’s a big challenge but I’m really enjoying it.”
Chris joined Galliford Try Partnerships North through its Graduate Training Programme four years ago – after completing a degree in Construction Management at Northumbria University.
He was working as assistant site manager on a new housing project in Morpeth, called Saint George, being developed under the Linden Homes brand.
Now managing another Linden Homes scheme, North Farm in Blyth, Chris knows he has high standards to live up to. He adds: “I was working as assistant to Steve Bellamy when he became the only site manager in Northumberland to be awarded a Seal of Excellence Award from the National House Building Council. This national award recognised the exceptional standard of his work. Being part of that and learning such a great deal from Steve in the process, has spurred me on to hopefully achieve similar success on one of my own sites in the future.”
Also progressing in the business is Phil Hunter, 37, from Newcastle, who has taken on the role of Commercial Director. Responsible for all commercial aspects of the business – including the surveying, estimating, and buying departments – Phil joined in 2013 as Quantity Surveyor.
He said: “I arrived at an exciting time and have been able to advance as the company has grown. I look forward to being part of continuing this growth and helping the company become a major player in the development of new homes for sale, shared ownership and rent, throughout the region.”
In addition, Ross Sanderson, 28 from Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, has stepped up form a graduate position to become Design Co-ordinator. With a BA honours degree in architecture, Ross previously worked at an architects practice and also has experience in the recruitment and event promotion industries.
As Design Co-ordinator, he is responsible for controlling a development’s design process, from planning right through to project completion.
He said: “The Galliford Try Graduate Training Programme offered me the chance to hone my business skills through a range of courses and training opportunities. Due to the increased number of contracts being won – and the work I had undertaken on the progression of existing schemes – I was at a level where I could comfortably take on more of the workload.
“An attraction of the role is how varied it is and that allows me the opportunity to interact with people from a number of different professions throughout the lifecycle of a project.”
Finally, Joe Wilson, 25, from Wickham, has been promoted from an Assistant Quantity Surveyor position to the role of Quantity Surveyor.
Joe joined the company as a trainee back in 2014 and is now relishing the extra responsibilities that the promotion has brought. He said: “The new role has been a challenge but one that I’m enjoying. I have taken on additional responsibilities – such as cost reporting – and it has been interesting to be involved far more in the commercial side of managing our projects. I’m now working much more independently, with less support from senior members of the team.”
Galliford Try Partnerships North has boosted turnover from around £9 million in 2009 to more than £50 million this year and profits are also increasing as it forges strong allegiances with the region’s housing providers. Projects include the construction of 40 homes for Riverside, on the edge of Killingworth village; 25 bungalows for Coast & Country Housing at Brotton; 50 properties for Home Group at Esh Winning and 40 for County Durham Housing Group at Crook.
Linden Homes also continues to expand and develop more homes for sale across the North East with sites at Birtley, Blyth, Saltwell and two in Morpeth.