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The Experts

Dr. Philip Ashton, 41, Project Manager
Phil left school with a handful of 'O' levels and an enthusiasm for carpentry. He became an apprentice and is now a project manager on multi-million developments and he also teaches construction at Brighton University. He has a PhD in risk management.

Career History
Phil started out as an apprentice in a small joinery practice where he was taught carpentry and joinery. From there he went on to become a joinery foremen, finishing foremen, site manager, construction contracts manager and finally a project manager running multi-million pound developments.

In 1994, Phil returned to education in order to move into senior construction management. He completed a BSc(Hons) undergraduate degree in Building Engineering and Management, a MSc(Distinction) postgraduate degree in Project Management, and finally in 2003 was awarded a PhD (Doctorate) in Risk Management at the University of Brighton, where he now lectures as Head of the Construction Research Team (CResT).

Bricking It Interview

Dr Phil may have reached the top of his tree, managing multi-million pound budgets and armies of tradesmen.

But how did he start out, and what does his job as a Project Manager really involve?

How did it all begin?
I loved Meccano as a boy, but when I left school I was more interested in drumming in my band. I played most nights. I rode motor-cross too, and surfed and skate-boarded. That was more important than studying.

I had a very clever brother and sister, and didn't think I'd get as far academically as I would in a trade. And I was always good at crafts, and technical drawing.

Why construction?
I was good and enjoyed carpentry at school (I went to a traditional building secondary school) and realised that at that stage of my life, I was not academic and enjoyed playing music in a band more that academic study. It was better for me to be a very good carpenter, and know that it could lead to other things, rather than to be a poor student and end up with disappointing poor grades.

What was your first job?
On my first ever job my boss and I went to an old lady's house. A weather-board had come loose and needed replacing.

I was standing around like a spare part but so keen that I asked my boss what I could do to help. He thought for a while and finally said that I could carry the dust pan and brush from the van.

It wasn't even a proper dust-pan and brush. It was a miniature dustpan and brush designed for a child and I felt a complete idiot. I remember it had 'Just Like Mummy' written on the handle.

What was your big break?
I got an apprenticeship in a joiner's shop. The people there were great. I was given fantastic training. When the foreman retired I was given his job. I was only 19 years old and I was running a successful joinery practice.

So how did you get to be a Project Manager?
After a few years at the joiner's I left to get some site experience. And from there I climbed the ladder:

Trade Foreman
General Foreman
Finishing Foreman, my first experience of a management role
Site Manager
Project Manager / Contracts Manager

What are your hours / wages like now?
My own hours are as long as it takes – sometimes as much as 65 to 70 hours a week. Wages really vary depending upon past experience, the state of the job market, qualifications, professional memberships etc.

Typically in the United Kingdom a senior project manager can earn between £60,000 and £80,000 a year. However, this can go up to £120,000 in central London with a high profile project with political and media interest and pressure.

What do you do?
I plan, control and monitor the construction process.

Typically my day starts on site at six in the morning when I go through any emails that came in overnight and then plan out the morning site diary: weather, team on site, trainees on site, who's doing what and by when and how.

Then I'll prepare notes for the morning design/information required meeting with the main contractor (MC). In the case of Bricking It, the MC was Berkeley Homes. This is my opportunity to spell out to the MC what materials I need from them and when I need them by.

Having briefed my team and checked that they understand fully what their aim is for the day, I begin checking and monitoring work carried out to date, seeing if the materials we've ordered have arrived and if they are correct.

During the day I always try and make time to speak to every member of the team, offering words of encouragement and helping them to understand the process and procedure of what it is they are doing. Ultimately my role is managing people and people need a wide range of input to realise their true potential. More then anything I enjoy knowing that I can make a significant contribution to someone's development.

As they day progresses the focus of my work changes to what's coming up the day after. I begin the setting up, ringing to check that materials (promised faithfully) will actually be delivered, that workers booked in for work actually know they are supposed to be with me that day. Without this forward planning don't be surprised if no-one turns up!

What's great about being a Project Manager?
Ultimately my role is managing people. I enjoy probably more than anything else I enjoy knowing that I have made a significant contribution to an individual's development.

I love making decisions, and I enjoy the buzz of a busy site. You're like a conductor controlling 200-odd people, massive machines, million pound budgets. It's very exciting. I'm a kid in a toy-shop.

Most towns I drive through with my wife I look out the window and say 'I built that'. I'm sure she gets tired of hearing it. It's also nice when I overhear other people talking about buildings I've worked on, or managed, like the Royal Pavilion in Brighton or the BA arrivals lounge at Gatwick Airport.

Constructing is a very satisfying line of work. At the end of the day you stand back and see a building growing day by day.

Name three personality traits needed to do your job well
Excellent negotiator and communicator – a manager only achieves through the efforts of their team members.

Remain very calm and analytical under pressure and in stressful situations.

Be fair and consistent in every aspect of management

What advice would you give someone trying to get into your line of work?
Read, read, ask questions and read.

If you've got an enquiring nature and like problem solving, then this job is for you. Contact people involved in the industry. Speak to friends or relatives in the industry. Make the time and effort to meet them, at their convenience, and show willing to listen and learn. People like me are always looking for keen young people who want to help themselves. Remember we all started somewhere and without somebody taking an interest in me I would hot have been as successful as I have been. But don't be fooled, it's up to you to go and seek out those opportunities.

What qualifications do you have?
City & Guilds and Advanced C&G Carpentry & Joinery
City & Guilds and Advanced C&G Shop-fitting
TEC I, II, III Building Studies
BSc (Hons) Building Engineering & Management
MSc (Distinction) Project Management
PhD – A System Designed To Improve Site Investigation Procedures and For The Reduction of Risk Associated With Uncertain Site Conditions
MSc (Distinction) Project Management
Member of the Association for Project Management (MAPM)
Member of the Architect and Surveying Institute (MASI)

And finally…
Construction can be one of the most exhilarating experiences you are likely to encounter. To be part of a huge or fast moving project, working with teams of professionals who are at the top of their game, to stand back in amazement at a radical building achievement and say I was part of that. I hope one day you can say the same. Good Luck.

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