Promoted to the board of directors are John Millward and Chris Harper to help lead projects and steer the company to further growth. Chris Harper has been with Russells for nine years as a senior estimator while John Millward joined the firm at the end of last year from Carillion. They join existing directors Andrew and Gareth Russell, Phil Jay and Lee Downs.
Four new quantity surveyors have also been brought in to assist with the management of projects from tender to completion, and a new design manager has been appointed to oversee the firm’s liaison with architects.
- Senior chartered QS Mark Kenyon is highly experienced having worked for ISG Construction for three years and Shepherd Construction for 16 years prior to that;
- Mark Turner is a senior QS who joins from Bilfinger Europa facilities management firm. Prior to that he worked for Miller Construction and Shepherd Construction;
- QS Patrick Moors joins Russells from Morris and Spottiswood where he worked for three years;
- Chartered project QS Jamie Oldland worked at Carillion for seven years before being moving to Russells;
- Design manager Mark Stocks has 27 years construction industry experience. Prior to joining Russells he spent almost eight years at Capita Symonds and two at GallifordTry.
Established in 1997, Russells Construction has grown its turnover substantially in recent years. Retention of longstanding clients and winning work in new sectors, such as health and student accommodation, and larger scale projects including recent new hotel developments in Manchester city centre, have contributed to growth.
Building on that with investment in new staff will help drive the company forward, says director Andrew Russell. “There is an upturn in activity which is extremely welcome. With forecasters predicting continued growth, we need to make sure we are able to make the most of it.
“We’re on track for another good year and that’s in no small part down to the team we have behind the planning and delivery of our projects. During the recession we took a decision to prioritise keeping hold of our skilled employees to make sure we would have the people with the right experience and expertise to help the company thrive come the upturn, and wouldn’t be hit by the anticipated skills shortage which is now becoming a reality.
“That strategy has paid off and now we’re investing in expanding that team to ensure we continue to provide clients with the quality of service and delivery they’ve come to expect. We want good quality people in our organisation and I believe we have the best team, they’re experienced, dedicated and pay close attention to detail.
“I’m pleased to welcome all our new starters and congratulate Chris and John on their appointment to the board. We are continuing to build the business and will be looking to recruit more experienced specialists and bring on trainees and apprentices as the number and size of projects continues to increase.”
Current projects underway include: the redevelopment of the White City Retail Park in Manchester and the Ellesmere Centre in Walkden for Derwent Holdings; the new 330-bedroom Motel One on London Road in Manchester’s Piccadilly area; the three-phase VITA Student accommodation project in Liverpool’s Crosshall Street; development of Baildon Business Park near Bradford; completion of the new Premier Inn Hotel in Harrogate.