Pre-Cast Story:
I have always been interested in how things are made, and I love problem solving. At school I enjoyed every single subject, so I was always going to end up in a career that was a mix of being both technical & creative. As a Scot, I grew up learning about the architecture of Charles Rene Mackintosh, and years spent singing at Chester Cathedral fuelled an interest in architecture and engineering. I went on to study architecture at Cambridge, followed by an enjoyable career as an architect, predominantly in London. I then moved in to Project Management and Strategic Advisory, as I was keen to move away from drawing and design work and closer to problem solving and a wider project overview.
Your Career Journey at Cast & Current role:
I have really enjoyed working at Cast, I have been lucky to be involved in a wide range of projects. My role includes both Project Management and Strategic Advisory. I worked for the client Guild living, working as a PM on their later living projects in Walton-on-Thames, Bath and Epsom. I also worked on a strategic piece of work for them, helping them structure their development processes, from land acquisition through to the sales and marketing process. I am currently Project Manager for the Vaux Housing project in Sunderland, which is a fantastic project focussed on good quality design, sustainable construction and green living. As part of Cast’s Strategic Advisory work I have worked on consultancy pieces around encouraging the uptake of MMC in social housing for Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, Sheffield City Region, and the Scottish Futures Trust. In other parts of the market I have also worked with manufacturers and funders, consulting on business strategy. At Cast I have also been able to continue using my design skills, be involved in our social media and discussions around brand direction.
What are your ambitions:
Cast is constantly changing and evolving, and it feels like a company where there is space for me to grow and change with it. I have been lucky to be involved in complex projects with interesting clients who are trying to do things differently, and I hope this will continue. The Strategic Advisory team has also gone from strength to strength and continues to pick up interesting commissions. I look forward to many years of interesting challenges and problems to solve.
What would you say to someone thinking about joining Cast?
Cast is a unique business, and there are lots of opportunities to explore your interests beyond the basic fee earning work. In a working environment where everyone needs to be multiskilled & constantly learning, Cast is a great place to develop both a core skillset and also branch out and develop your own unique selling point. Whether that is in MMC, the sustainability agenda, digital construction techniques, the circular economy, or anything else you can think of!
