Martin started his career as an engineer with British Rail Engineering Ltd in their Swindon workshops, attending college in Swindon. After 11 years at BREL, Martin joined Tarmac Construction. In the 13 years Martin worked for Tarmac/Carillion he worked on major projects – such as Swindon’s Great Western Designer Outlet Village (£18.5m) and Windmill Hill Business Park (£20m) – and progressed to the position of project director. On leaving Carillion in 2001, Martin joined Mowlem as a contracts manager working mainly in the London area. He joined Beard in November 2004.
What made you join Beard?
After meeting Mark Beard and John Youle, I had no hesitation in joining Beard. Having spent so many years working for large national contractors, where you have very little input into the company other than the particular projects you are involved with, it was refreshing to find that Mark and John had a vision of where the business was heading and a plan for how it was going to achieve this. I felt that my skills and experience of major contracting could help fulfil the company’s strategic ambition to become one of the region’s major contractors.
What skills and knowledge do you need to do your job?
The role I currently carry out demands a high level of man management and soft skills. When dealing with customers and site teams, I need to look at the big picture and not just the small day-to-day issues. I have gained a wide range of experience in delivering fast-track construction projects, including office developments, hotels, shopping centres, housing and education projects, and I have experience of many different construction methods. Whilst working for Carillion and Mowlem I gained a great deal of knowledge of working with – and auditing – quality, safety and environmental systems.
“I felt that my skills and experience of major contracting could help fulfil the company’s strategic ambition to become one of the region’s major contractors.”
Martin Nash, Construction Manager
What are the most enjoyable parts of your job?
The most enjoyable parts of my job concern the development of people and policy. Helping people to develop to their full potential is very rewarding, and I also enjoy helping to produce new procedure manuals. I get great job satisfaction from working closely with customers – both at the tender stage and during the construction phase – to enable a project through to a successful completion.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Ensuring projects are managed to maximise returns, whilst also maintaining the highest standards of health and safety, quality and customer satisfaction.
If you could change one thing about the construction industry, what would it be?
The image of the contractor. I feel we still have a poor image, both with the general public and some customers. Many of our customers still do not recognise the benefits we can bring to projects through our experience, our supply chains and the great value for money we can offer. It is sometimes very difficult to convince customers that the lowest price is not always the best price.
