Brian Impey

Role: Operations Director

Myself
One of the elder statesmen; I have been in the construction industry since 1972, when I began my career as a trainee Quantity Surveyor with the then prominent contractor, Walter Lawrence & Son Limited. I was there for almost six years and acquired experience, qualifications and entry to the CIOB studying (day release) at Chelmsford (technical college as was). My career continued with long stints at three further contractors until I joined Schofield Lothian as a consultant Quantity Surveyor in 1993.

London born, I now live in Hertfordshire with my wife and daughter. Outside work I really enjoy watching and playing sport (mostly watching these days!), particularly football and cricket, although when time permits two activities I relish are sailing and hill walking. And, so as not to be left out of my musical family, I have just begun to learn how to play drums (a great stress buster!)

My Role
Having started at the coalface with Schofield’s, I developed myself as a consultant working on a diverse range of assignments delivering commercial management and contractual services to many of our significant clients. Showing initiative and active team leadership paid dividends, as in 2000 I was asked to join the management team and become involved in the daily operational side of the business. Then in November 2007 the opportunity to take the leading position presented itself and I was appointed Operations Director.

My current role consumes almost all of the working hours available, although I do like to keep my hand in with key clients and still provide advice on contractual and commercial matters.

Obviously as the title implies I am responsible for leading the business operationally, but also have a free hand to set the strategic agenda for the development and growth of the business going forward.

My Work
Being a Consultancy, this is a people business, so my focus is on managing the expectations of staff and clients, empowering the former so as to ensure they can deliver for the latter. To make this work, I have to be available and willing to deal with a range of issues at the micro as well as the macro level and be able to resolve them with an equal level of professionalism and honesty.

Much of the time I am based in our Temple office, but I break out as often as possible to visit staff and client’s throughout the UK.

I am very proud to be leading a business such as Schofield Lothian, where I have the benefit of working with a highly motivated and professional group of people, many of whom I have known for a long time and whose company I enjoy in both a work and social context.

This business is a great platform for any construction professional with commercial or project management skills to develop themselves and reach their maximum potential without encountering sector pigeon-holing or the barriers usually associated with the more traditional business structures found in construction today. Schofield Lothian has always promoted from within, rewarded entrepreneurial initiative and achievement. I am pleased to say that I am not a lone benefactor of that policy.