25 Nov Tim Hall – Construction Career Story

How did you get into Construction?

I had finished GCSEs at school and decided to carry on studying at 6th form until I could decide what I wanted to do with my life! I have always had an interest in construction and came up with several ideas of how I could turn this into a career, but nothing turned into a credible pathway.

Having spent about 4 months reviewing different roles in the industry, I noticed a job advertised in the local paper for a trainee Quantity Surveyor. At first I didn’t really understand what Quantity Surveying involved. My qualifications were a match so I did some research and quickly realised that this could be an exciting role and future career for me. I applied and got the job, starting with WWA in 2005.

Tell us about working in the Middle East?

After my initial training and gaining some broad experience, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work on major projects in the Middle East. Initially I was based in Saudi Arabia and later spent time in Abu Dhabi working with both contractors and consultancies.

The construction market in the Middle East continues to grow and imports many of their skilled professionals from overseas. I therefore, found myself working with a mix of people from almost every construction market across the world. I learnt swiftly that communication was key and adapted to incorporate different processes and ways of working.

The trend in the Middle East is for large scale buildings with lavish finishes and I am proud to say I have contributed to the success of a number of these projects as part of dynamic and innovative teams. I learnt so much during my time in the Middle East and gained valuable experience in the delivery of large and complex projects and most importantly working with a broad range of professionals.

What’s the day job?

I returned to the UK from Abu Dhabi as a Senior Quantity Surveyor in May 2016 and re-joined the WWA team in Truro where I had completed my initial training. I am working with an extensive and varied client base delivering commercial advice from concept through to completion on projects across Cornwall.

Why should young people go into construction?

From my experience, you have to consider what job you will still enjoy in the long term. After all, you spend 5 days out of 7 working!

Construction as an industry offers a variety of roles and there is something to suit most people; from onsite trades, to materials and equipment suppliers, to design professionals and developers.

There are also so many different sectors within the industry, so the choices are endless. The construction industry makes up around 6.5% of all industry within the UK, which is huge and makes it a worthwhile and exciting industry to be involved in.

What are your aspirations for the future?

I’ve been away from the UK and Cornwall on and off since 2011. My immediate aspirations are to remain in Cornwall with my family and friends and take some time to enjoy life.