Wakemans extends a warm welcome to the latest member of the team Liam McKenna who joins us in the role of Divisional Director in our Residential, Retail and Public sector division.

Joining us from Real Estate company Avison Young where he had worked within the Building Consultancy and Project Management team since 2011, he brings to us a wealth of knowledge developed over his career in professional construction and property consultancy, working across all market sectors.  Liam has specialised in residential, commercial and public sector developments in particular. He brings his experience in these fields as he looks to widen our service offering in his new role with Wakemans.

Shaun Baugh – Joint Managing Director Shaun comments “Liam joins us as a key member of the senior management team, we are delighted he has chosen to work with us and drive our ambitions in the Residential, Retail and Public sector forward”.

Liam comments “I am delighted to be joining such a well-respected practice as Wakemans as Divisional Director.  There is already a very capable and experienced team in place to build upon.  I am looking forward to this amazing opportunity to contribute to the company’s vision and success.”.

Moving on up! –  April 2024

April has seen no less than 8 members of staff promoted as they progress their careers with Wakemans.

The Building Surveying Division has seen three of its members promoted; congratulations to Peter Wadley who is now Divisional Director, to Luke Burns who has been promoted to Principal Building Surveyor and Anthony Hayward who has gained the position of Building Surveyor.

Luke Burns, Peter Wadley and Anthony Hayward.
L to R – Luke Burns, Peter Wadley and Anthony Hayward.

Bradley Taylor who heads up our Principal Designer and CDM Advisory team has been promoted to become Divisional Director.

Our Project Management Division sees the promotion of Charles North, to the position of Associate Director.

Matt McWalter and Charles North
L to R – Matt McWalter Head of Project Management congratulates Charles North.

In our Accounts department Donna Caesar is promoted to Senior Accounts Manager.

Dylan Evans based in Caernarfon has been promoted to the position of Associate Director and Peter Berndes based in our Bristol office has been promoted to Senior Project Surveyor.

Chief Executive Dean Watson comments “Congratulations to all those who have been promoted, their achievements reflect the hard work, energy and ability that they have all shown. These promotions strengthen and support the growth of the business and the quality of service delivered and recognises the dedication of all of those concerned.”

Familiarisation with Health & Safety topics in the Construction and Property Industry are a priority and the first week of April marks Global Asbestos Awareness Week.  Something we should all be mindful of as construction and property professionals.

Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2024, aims to raise awareness of the risks of asbestos exposure and the need for prevention measures.

During Global Asbestos Awareness Week, organisations, support groups, medical professionals, and individuals unite to inform others about the risks associated with asbestos exposure, share information about asbestos-related diseases, and promote measures to prevent exposure.

Asbestos remains a hidden danger and has been the main cause of occupational health problems since 1950. The HSE reminds us that:

•  “Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the road.”
•  Around 20 tradesmen die each week as a result of past exposure.”
•  “Asbestos is not just a problem of the past. It can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.”

Current statistics, as provided by Mesothelioma UK, are that each year as many as 2,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer where 9/10 cases are caused by exposure to asbestos. Ultimately meaning that the majority of these cases could have been avoided through better asbestos management. A shocking statistic is that unfortunately up to 60% of people die in the first year after diagnosis!

The HSE provide an extensive amount of guidance and factual information regarding asbestos on their website, Asbestos – HSE, including the risks, duty holders and the law, common identification information, various control measures suggestions and much more.

By supporting Global Asbestos Awareness Week more lives can potentially be saved.

Resources:

https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/dontletthedustsettle/

https://press.hse.gov.uk/2024/01/15/keep-people-safe-from-future-dangers-of-asbestos-regulator-warns/

https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/dangerous.htm

https://www.ukata.org.uk/news/global-asbestos-awareness-week-1-7-april-2024/

https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/dontletthedustsettle/

Anyone for Cricket

Wakemans assist Travelodge to deliver Travelodge London Oval

The latest hotel opening for Travelodge is the London Oval, situated opposite to the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, ideal for avid Cricket Fans and tourists alike with its close links to Central London and the underground tube network.  The hotel represents Travelodge’s 600th hotel in its extensive portfolio.

Hotel - The Oval, London

Wakemans feel proud to have been retained by the hotelier on this project in the role of Tenant’s Agent.  The hotel has 95 rooms on offer and includes the latest Bar 85 option offering an attractive food and beverage venue for its guests along with the hoteliers SuperRooms offering it is bound to be popular.  Notably the hotel has been developed and is situated on land owned by Surrey County Cricket Club also plays host to a cricket themed display of memorabilia.

Bar Café 85
Travelodge – Bar 85

London’s Northern Underground extension line runs underneath the new building and a vibration specialist was retained to ensure that the structural foundations of the building are suitable for the hotel’s situation.

Hotel can be found at Travelodge, and Travelodge Property Development Site

We are delighted to announce that Steven Allen has been promoted (January 2024) to the role of Project Manager within our dedicated team of Project Management professionals.

Steven joined Wakemans in May 2022 as a Graduate Project Manager and has worked diligently to gain his promotion.  Originally, Steven came from a background in topographical surveying and project coordination in the utilities and infrastructure industry. Whilst with us Steven has honed his skills and is currently working on a wide range of construction projects with a number of our developer partners.

Matt McWalter Head of our Project Management Division comments: “Steven has demonstrated a high-level of versatility easily fitting in with the team and progressing within his job to achieve this promotion, I am really happy to see him develop within his role”.

Matt McWalter congratulates Steven Allen
Matt McWalter, Head of Project Management congratulates Steven Allen on his promotion to Project Manager.

Steven adds “I am pleased with my promotion. I am looking forward to the year ahead having established my role with Wakemans and gaining a broad range of experience thus far”.

Congratulations to Steve from Wakemans and the team!  

The team at Wakemans would like to offer huge congratulations to Emma and Jordan entering into 2024 in their new roles following promotion within the company.

Emma Bridgewood re-joined Wakemans in 2022 as a Senior Quantity Surveyor / Project Manager, she has been promoted to Associate Director and works within the Industrial and Logistics sector team. Dean Watson, Chief Executive comments “Emma is of considerable value to Wakemans, she is a highly effective communicator at all levels and highly respected across the company, we were delighted when she returned to us and equally delighted to have rewarded her hard work and dedication with this well-deserved promotion”.

Emma comments “Thank you to everyone who welcomed me back in 2022 and I am pleased to be back with the team, some of whom I have known for many years. I am delighted to have received this promotion and recognition. Working within the Industrial and Logistics sector throws up its own set of unique challenges and I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues to achieve successful project outcomes and forge strong working relationships”.

Jordan Hughes came to Wakemans in 2017 as a Graduate Project Surveyor and it was his first job working full time as a Quantity Surveyor. Jordan works within the Industrial and Logistics team and has gained a significant amount of experience whilst working with us in this sector.

Jordan was promoted to the role of Senior Surveyor in December 2023. Divisional Director Andrew Hancock says, “We have seen Jordan progress his career whilst working for us, and we are pleased to see him achieve this senior role. May I extend my congratulations to Jordan – a well-deserved promotion”. Jordan is seeking to pass his RICS APC next year and become a Chartered member of the RICS. Jordan comments “I would like to thank Wakemans for the opportunity to develop my professional career with them, their support has assisted me to grow in confidence to effectively manage projects and teams as a part of my responsibilities, I look forward to continuing to grow in my current role”.

 

Photo: Jordan and Emma recent promotions Wakemans.
Jordan Hughes and Emma Bridgewood pictured here after being recently promoted.

Wakemans say farewell to Dawn Archer

At the end of September, we waved farewell to our colleague Dawn Archer, who decided to retire after serving 21 years.  Beginning her long tenure working part-time in our reception before joining the accounts team, Dawn was a much-loved member of staff.  We will certainly miss her smiling face and happy demeanour around the office.  We wish her all the best in her future adventures touring Europe with partner Tony.

Dean Watson, Dawn Archer, John Woodhall and Michelle Woodhall
Pictured here (left to right): Dean Watson Chief Executive and Joint Managing Director raises a glass to wish Dawn well alongside our now retiring Executive Chairman John Woodhall and Finance Director, Michelle Woodhall.

Wakemans laid on an informal retirement party for all of Dawn’s colleagues and friends at our offices in Birmingham.

Bon Voyage Dawn!

 

Wakemans welcome Yanique Beckford

We welcomed Yanique Beckford to the Accounts Team in October. Yanique has previously worked in a range of Client-facing roles and is an enthusiastic addition to Wakemans.

Yanique has always loved mathematics and having completed accountancy training she exclaims that she has always wanted to work with figures. Yanique is fitting in well with her colleagues and having landed her ideal job she is looking forward to progressing her career with Wakemans.

Yanique says ‘I am so pleased to have finally achieved my dream of working in an accounts role and everyone at Wakemans has been so welcoming.’

Welcome, to the Accounts Department Yanique!

 

Read more about recent our news on LinkedIn.

Current vaccancies can be found here ….

 

Wakemans Strengthen its Building Surveying Team

We are delighted to welcome new colleagues to Wakemans, as Assistant Building Surveyors Kate Tatchell and Naomi Pulfer join our Building Surveying Division.

Since graduating with a degree in Property Development and Planning Naomi had gained around 2 years of experience in the property and construction industry before spending a year out travelling in Central America. On her return to the UK Naomi secured a position with Wakemans with the aim of continuing to gain experience in her chosen profession and to attain Chartership with the RICS.

Naomi is settling well into her new role and states, “I am looking forward to developing my career with Wakemans, I am already busy with a variety of projects across a range of sectors, and I enjoy the variety of work with every day being slightly different”. Naomi is based at our Birmingham Headquarters.

Kate has approached her career from a completely different angle, as she started out working as a Personal Trainer – Strength and Conditioning Coach. Kate took a graduate diploma to convert her degree in Interior Architecture and move into the Building Surveying profession where she has worked within the residential sector for the past four and a half years.

Like Naomi, Kate is also looking towards gaining chartership via her APC with the RICS. “Wakemans have a history of successfully seeing people through the APC process and I liked the idea of working within a larger team of Building Surveyors, on a varied portfolio of work”. Kate is based in our Bristol office and strengthens the team working in the Southwest region.

Peter Wadley MRICS, Head of the Building Surveying Division would like to extend a warm welcome into the team, and we wish them every success with their careers.

Wakemans are delighted to have been retained by St. Modwen Logistics on Phase 2 of St. Modwen Park, Derby.  The remit for our professional expertise includes Cost and Project Management, Employer’s Agent, Principal Designer and Health & Safety Advisor services.

The £59m industrial and logistics development comprises of c.350,000 sq ft delivered across five industry-leading warehouse units, commencing with a new 145,000 sq ft warehouse which has already been pre-let.  The units will be constructed to St. Modwen Logistics’ ‘Swan Standard’ for sustainable construction, meaning they will be highly energy efficient and come with an EPC A+ rating. All five units will also benefit from the installation of enhanced rooftop solar panels, thereby helping occupiers to reduce their operational costs and have been designed to BREEAM Excellent accreditation.

Team Photo St Modwen Derby
Pictured above Wakemans Project and Cost Managers include: Second from left: Ben Pugh – Associate Director, eighth from left Alex Burton – Graduate Surveyor, tenth from left: Jordan Hughes – Project Surveyor.

St. Modwen Park Derby will also see the ongoing creation of a new riverside nature corridor with the planting of thousands of trees and shrubs to surround the park, an initiative that forms part of St. Modwen Logistics’ commitment to providing biodiversity as a part of its development strategy, assisting its occupiers to achieve their own sustainability goals, whilst providing a green and pleasant environment for occupiers and their employees at the Park.

Other members of the development team include Architects – Stephen George & Partners; Contractors: Winvic Construction; Geo-Technical & Geo-Environmental Engineers – Atkins Limited; Structural Engineers – Rodgers Leask; M&E Engineers – Hopkins Coats Associates and Ecologists – SK Environmental Solutions.

The project has an estimated completion date in Spring 2024.

Wakemans Bristol office has re-located to a new larger office at 4 Grove Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6UJ.

We are delighted to announce that our Bristol division is continuing to grow from strength to strength, and we have completed numerous extensive projects in the Southwest, including significant re-development sites, infrastructure and mixed-use builds.  Our team of experts have an in depth understanding of the ever changing local construction and property markets, assisting our Clients to achieve cost effective, quality solutions tailored to their individual project requirements. Working on behalf of major developers our schemes are making exciting changes to the face of Bristol and the surrounding areas which have included Bristol Temple Quay, Skypark Exeter, St Modwen Park Gloucester, Portside Park to name but a few.

We will continue to offer our excellent services as Construction and Property Consultants, our multi-disciplinary services include Cost and Project Management | Employer’s / Tenant’s Agent | Expert Witness | Principal Designer and Health & Safety Advisor services | Building Surveying Services.

 

Further exciting news from our Bristol Office

Our Building Surveying team is growing and expanding in the Southwest.  The team work nationwide from both Birmingham and Bristol and our new improved offices will offer a local service serving the South areas of the UK. Our Building Surveyors offer a comprehensive service offering including:

Building Condition Surveys | Defects Diagnostics and Reports | Contract Administration | Design and Specifications | Design and Development Feasibility Studies | Development Monitoring | Technical Compliance and Quality Assurance | Pre-Acquisition and Due Diligence | Dilapidations / Landlord and Tenant | Planned Maintenance and PPM Surveys | Asset Life Cycle Assessment Surveys | Fit Out and Refurbishment Works | Party Wall Services and Disputes | Expert Witness | Access Consultancy | Access and Over-Sailing Agreements

From 1 November 2022 we are now working from:

4 Grove Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6UJ

T: 0117 973 0077