Chris Nickolls
Job title: Senior Planner
Joined: 1989
Project: Kodak – Worldwide Reduction Programme
What do you think differentiates Balfour Beatty Management from other employers in your marketplace?
Being part of a multi-national organisation means better job security and more opportunities. When the sector faced difficult times, I was still able to move around the Balfour Beatty Group and progress my career.
What do you enjoy about your current role?
The variety. As a Planner I provide a support service to lots of different projects so I don’t get locked into one long-term assignment. This means I’m sometimes on-site liaising with project and design teams, while other days are based in head office helping with submissions and tenders. I also feel it’s a very exciting time to be with BBM. As a relatively new company they have big plans for the future and real growth potential.
What key challenges do you face in your role?
Managing expectations is the most challenging part. This is not just with clients but internally too. Supporting lots of different projects can mean lots of demands for my time. I have to be careful to ensure that all the internal people I work with know what can be achieved in the time I have available. This is particularly important as I work part time.
How would you describe the culture at Balfour Beatty Management?
The culture at BBM is changing and developing. I’m keen to be a part of it and contribute ideas and initiatives.
Describe a typical day in your role.
On a day when I’m on-site, I’ll liaise with the Project Manager of Kodak to get an update on progress and requirements. At the moment we’re establishing the project’s scope and putting the strategy and procedures in place to ensure things get up and running successfully. If I’m having a ‘tender’ day, I’ll often visit different sites, attend meetings to review issues and react to a number of requests for advice on live projects or tender submissions. For example, I was part of the bid team for the Brunel University project. Now that the project is underway, the team often call me for advice and require information to be turned around within a matter of hours.
What has been your biggest achievement or proudest moment to date at Balfour Beatty Management?
Being a part of successful bid teams. I helped with the submission and presentation for both the Brunel University and Kodak projects. I get real satisfaction from taking an initial enquiry through the bid process and winning a live project.
What do you think are the most important personal attributes for someone who wants to work at Balfour Beatty Management?
As a Planner you have to have the flexibility to work in lots of different areas – both in terms of location and types of project. The expertise of BBM is wide ranging, so as a planner you support transport, utilities and building projects. You also have to be prepared to be on-site for part of the week and travel to the different project locations.
