One year after completing his probationary period with Millcroft’s Construction Division, Junior Estimator Bruce Spencer has seen his role evolve significantly, moving from office-based tendering to managing live projects on site.
Since March of this year, Bruce has been project managing Millcroft’s turnkey refurbishment of the external fire escape staircases at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.
The project, which he initially priced, is part of the hotel’s planned maintenance schedule. It involved careful phasing and close liaison with the hotel’s engineering and operations teams, as well as neighbouring properties. At peak times, Millcroft had a team of up to 12 operatives on site, with Bruce coordinating logistics to ensure works were completed smoothly and unobtrusively.
“My role involves managing the phasing of the project, making sure everything’s on track and liaising with the hotel’s teams and other parties, keeping them fully up to date on what we’re doing and when any noisy work will be done,” explains Bruce.
As Knightsbridge tube station is located adjacent to the hotel, Bruce also liaised with Transport for London (TfL) to coordinate temporary access adjustments near the hotel entrance to ensure public safety and enable Millcroft’s Scaffolding Division to erect the necessary equipment. He will shortly be arranging another closure as the scaffolding is about to be struck.
At the same time, Bruce is overseeing a residential refurbishment project on the Cromwell Road adjacent to Gloucester Road Tube Station. Working on a six-story private property, Millcroft’s team is carrying out pointing, installing new downpipes and refurbishing the rear elevation.
“I worked as a site manager at my previous company, so I was able to bring these skills to my role here and develop them. I’ve learned a lot about different areas of construction projects and processes, and I’d say I’m more confident dealing with clients now,” reflects Bruce. “I’ve gone from working with industrial clients like Procter & Gamble to working with a luxury hotel, private homeowners, TfL and the general public, so I’ve had to adapt how I communicate with different types of people.”
For Bruce, problem-solving and forward planning are the most rewarding parts of his job. He likes to plan work well in advance, not just days, but often weeks ahead, so he can anticipate any potential issues and make sure solutions are in place.
Managing risks and client expectations remain the biggest challenges. At the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, Bruce has had to ensure that work near private areas was carefully coordinated to respect guest privacy while completing the necessary refurbishment work.
Summing up his first full year with Millcroft, Bruce described it as “fun and exciting,” adding that he has particularly enjoyed the variety of jobs, working with different clients and managing contracts as part of a supportive team.
