Paul Humphrey
Client Role: TWA & Consents Manager
Schofield Lothian Role: Assistant Operations Manager
Sector: Transportation
Myself
I’m Paul and I’ve been with Schofield Lothian since 1999 following a late stint at University (I was classed as a mature student at the tender age of 21!) where I studied Business Management and Financial Accounting.
I was born down on the South Coast just outside Portsmouth but moved up to the Midlands in the early 80’s where I stayed until I finally decided to move down to the Big Smoke.
The move has given me back my spare time as I now no longer have a 4 hour commute each day which has meant that I have resurrected my faltering football career by playing for a local side on Saturday’s as well as setting up a 5-a-side team which plays every week. I have also signed up to do the London to Paris cycle ride and the Windsor Half Marathon in September 08, so I’ll be doing lots of training over the coming months!
I opted to join Schofield’s after working with a number of their staff on the West Coast Route Modernisation project for Network Rail. I saw how professional and forward looking they are and how they wanted to develop their staff and business opportunities. I liked the idea of working for a company that constantly strived to be the best and who looked to develop business in various sectors of the market. This has lead to plenty of opportunities to experience new and challenging roles. My goal is to be a director of Schofield’s by 2012 so that I can help to develop the business for the future.
My Role
I work in the Transport & Works Act and Consents (TWA) division of Schofield Lothian, where I am currently heading up a team of Schofield Lothian staff who have been seconded to Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited to manage the third party consents and communications for the Docklands Light Railway 3-Car Enhancement Project. The role involves various interactions with stakeholders from general communications with residents to negotiating compensation claims with affected businesses and landowners, I enjoy how one day I can be sat discussing possible noisy night time activities with a resident who lives close to the works and then the next day I am meeting a major stakeholder such as Network Rail to discuss and agree method statements, asset protection and land use. There are always burgeoning issues that require different approaches to resolve them satisfactorily; as such no two days are the same.
I also have a secondary role within Schofield Lothian as an Assistant Operations Manager.
My Work
The work on the DLR 3-Car Project varies from day to day but in general I am responsible for ensuring that the Project strictly adheres to the Contract conditions relating to 3rd party obligations and the TWA Order functions. I liaise directly with the Client (Docklands Light Railway) in respect to contractual obligations relating to property use and statutory compensation, and advise the Project Team in relation to the proposed occupation and use of third party land. My team manage the relationships with all affected 3rd parties including internal and external stakeholders, landowners, residents, businesses and local planning and highway authorities to ensure that any approvals or consents required by the Project are secured in a timely manner so that construction activities can commence on programme.
In addition to managing the other Schofield Lothian personnel on the DLR 3-Car Project, as an Assistant Operations Manager I look after the Schofield staff within TWA & Consents division, acting as a conduit between staff and Senior Management to ensure that the interests of the individual and business are aligned.
Both roles require you to be able to understand and process information quickly. You also need to employ good people and communication skills to ensure that the information is effectively relayed to the correct people or organisations. Each role requires commitment as the hours can be long and tough, but there are definite rewards.
