01. Who are you, and what is your role?
I am Ben Marwood, a Contracts Manager predominantly working on projects within the Special Projects department. My role is to work on projects from the earliest stage, taking them from tender through to delivery and ultimately handover of the scheme.
I work with the team to produce a tender pack and issue to the Client Team and if selected, we would attend interviews to present our offer. Then, if we are awarded the project, I produce Construction phase health and safety plans, set up site logistics and brief the construction team prior to starting on site. I’m then responsible for delivering the project through to completion.
02. What has your journey been to get to SDC?
I started out as an apprentice carpenter with SDC. Once I had completed my training, I then moved to be a Working Foreman. Generally working on the smaller projects we deal with, we worked on a lot of small care home projects and then, by accident really, found myself in the role of a Site Manager when my Contracts Manager at the time asked me to step into the role. Later, I left SDC for 18 months to work for a flooring subcontractor, where I learnt a lot, but found I missed being involved in all build aspects on site. I had a couple of offers from other companies, but ultimately found I wanted to be back with the team at SDC, who welcomed me back as a Construction Manager. From there, I moved to the role I am in now.
I think my route of coming from working ‘on the tools’ helps me in how I deal with people. I find dealing with everyone on site from the clients, design team, to the operatives carrying out the day-to-day tasks comes quite easily.
My path to what I do now is slightly different to a lot of the management team on site so it also helps me look at tasks in a different way and offer alternative solutions that may not have been considered.
03. What projects are you currently working on?
I work on multiple projects at once; usually five or six at one time. Generally, we are assigned to repeat clients we have existing working relationships with. I look after all the Special Projects work at Red Bull Racing, Northampton College, Bruntwood, Uppingham School and Unilever. I have also worked on projects at Babraham, Cambridge Science Park, Addenbrookes Hospital and Oundle School. I am currently also working alongside a larger Mains Works project in Cambridge which is enabling works as part of a bigger scheme.
I also look after the team at Bedford Blues, organising the sponsorship projects we complete with them.
04. What motivates you?
I like working with people first and foremost. My strengths lie is dealing with different people in different situations, from clients such as someone from the University to the person who has come to do some site labour.
I enjoy getting involved in some of the trickier projects, where we can assist in solving the problems at design stage or dealing with them on site alongside the design team.
I like the variety of the job of Contracts Manager for Special Projects as I am not based on one site; in a day, I can be in multiple places or doing multiple jobs. I prefer being really busy, that’s where I thrive.
05. What does working at SDC mean to you?
SDC is a different type of company to the bigger contractors which we compete with. We offer something different; we are much more user friendly, which I prefer. We are really client focused. The message from the Directors is that we will always work with clients to solve any problems.
On a personal level, I love working with the SDC team, some of which I have worked with since I was a carpenter. We have a good set of clients and a great team throughout the company. The people are what makes SDC.
