Thomas Machin
Role: Assistant Project Manager
Sector: Transportation
Myself
I joined Schofield Lothian’s graduate training programme (GTP) in the summer of 2005 after completing a BEng in Construction Management at Kingston University. The variety of Schofield’s business and the scope of the GTP has meant I have taken on a variety of roles including bid management, site engineer, commercial and project management.
Schofield encouraged and supported me to take the Chartered Institute of Buildings own professional development programme (PDP), providing me with a senior member of staff as a mentor. As well as being able to get full membership to the Institute, I feel this has provided me with added technical ability and skills in communication, information handling and decision-making.
In the future Schofield Lothian will give me the opportunity to continue my education with an MSc.
On a lighter note, I have just started my new years to regularly attend the gym next to my office. I am also always actively involved in trying to get people out on a Friday night for drinks!
The varied projects that Schofield’s gets involved in has certainly increased my knowledge of the industry due to the different roles I have taken on and this has given me a more sound knowledge of the construction process as a whole.
My Role
My current role is as an Assistant Project Manager with Transport for London. My primary responsibilities cover the successful implementation of the Victoria Station Upgrade Project.
Victoria Station Upgrade is a proposed major infrastructure scheme to relieve congestion and increase capacity at one of London’s busiest tube stations. Following many years of feasibility studies, the project commenced in April 2005 under the Sponsorship and management of London Underground (LU) and is one of TfL’s top-25 projects.
This role demands a particularly pro-active stance and has helped me develop my technical, re-sourcing and leadership skills, all of which I rely on greatly in the role.
My Work
Primarily I support the Senior Project Manager on various activities and workstreams. Most recently this has included:
- Development of the Project Execution Plan including a review of our contractors
- Management of the Project Risk Register
- Interfacing with various stakeholders for the advanced utilities works
- Developing project controls and authority for Contractor deliverables
The atmosphere within Schofield Lothian is great and my line manager is very supportive. The social side keeps on getting better to. Recently our southern based staff went to a Comedy night in central London, which was anything but politically correct!
Schofield Lothian has a friendly, approachable management team and they have offered me a rewarding career to date, with a variety of roles and locations. The most memorable has been the reconstruction of the Waterloo and City Line with Balfour Beatty Rail.
This industry is ideal for someone who is methodical, a good communicator and likes a challenge (bit of a cliché, but true!). And the advantage of working for a consultant is that you also get to work with a broad client base on varied projects.
