Ever wondered what the job of a Construction Director looks like, what unusual projects they have worked on, or the real advice they would give to customers? Rich, the Construction Director at Hampton Group answers those burning questions;
Explain your role as Construction Director and what a typical week looks like for you?
A typical week for me is very varied. Every morning starts by visiting active sites from 7:30am, looking after the construction team including planning where they will be each week, and making sure everything is running smoothly. Most days I then have appointments, either going out to survey new enquiries or running through building plans and quotes with clients in our office. Part of my role requires checking quotes with the costing team, checking risk and method statements and making sure all site health and safety is up to date. Finally, throughout the day I’ll be working with the wider team, answering customer queries and supporting accounts, and then speaking with building control, inspectors, engineers and architects where required.
What has been the biggest change in your career so far?
Starting out as a bricklayer by trade, the biggest change for me was progressing to become Construction Director at Hampton Group. The move found me doing less hands-on labour and taking on more management responsibilities; organising projects and supporting a hard-working and skilled workforce.
What tends to make a project run smoothly?
Communication is the biggest part of any project. That paired with good planning and a good team can make a project run as smoothly as possible. At Hampton Group, we have dedicated teams that look after each part of the process, from customer relations managers, project managers, construction teams and accounts teams.
What’s the most unusual or memorable thing that’s happened on a project?
You won’t believe it, but we found a hand grenade at one project when excavating to prepare foundations. It was a very unusual and at first, we weren’t quite sure what to do. But we followed the safest protocol, moved everyone away from site immediately and informed the police of the situation. The police arrived quickly and tested the hand grenade which was deemed safe and taken off site. It was all sorted within the day but what a wild day it was.
Is there a particular project you’ve worked on that stands out or you are proud of?
There have been many exciting jobs that have come in over the years, but Lovelace house has to be the one that stands out the most. It was a one-of-a-kind bespoke build featuring so many elements with a schedule that spanned over 12 months. With a big project like this of course it came with a few challenges but to see the finished result from where we started was magnificent.
What’s one construction myth you’d love to put to rest?
One myth we hear often is that using more cement will make the mortar or concrete stronger. This isn’t always the case as a common issue like not using the correct mix can make it crack whether you’ve used a little or a lot. To prevent this from happening we ensure we are using the correct measurements and ratios of sand to cement, depending on the type of work being carried out and products being used. For concrete, the suppliers ensure that it is mixed based on the requirements of each job.
What’s one piece of advice you wish every homeowner knew before starting a renovation?
My advice to every homeowner who is thinking about renovating their home is spend the money now on what you can’t change later. By this I mean the footprint of your house; extensions, conversions, internal walls etc. Adding a new kitchen or bathroom is a great idea but if budget is tight, you can always get these at a later date and make do with the existing for a short time.
If you weren’t working in construction, what do you think you’d be doing?
I would have joined the army, I think. As a young boy straight out of school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so applied to join the army. I passed all the tests but didn’t join in the end. Instead, I headed to the careers office as I knew I wanted to go straight into work a find a hands-on job, outdoors, and they suggested bricklaying. Another option for 16-year-old me was to continue playing semi-professional football but this wasn’t quite a viable career at the time.
If you could renovate your own home without worrying about budget, what would you do?
As you can imagine I’ve done a lot of renovations to my own property. But if budget wasn’t a concern, I’d love to build an indoor swimming pool, complete with sauna, hot tub and lounging space.
What advice would you give someone who wants to future-proof their home?
The No.1 upgrade I would focus on is making sure you have all electrics, heating and plumbing covered. This could be upgrading your system to incorporate solar panels, changing from gas to a hybrid or heat pump only heating system, adding an EV charger and making sure all insulation is up to new regulations for the most efficient heat retention.
Have any more questions for our Construction Director? We’re offering free expert advice during our open week from 21st – 25th September. If you’re thinking about your home renovation options but don’t know where to start, pop in for a no obligation discussion with our expert team. Ready now? Give our team a call on 01675 442022.
