Candidate Briefing Document - Home - Poole Dick · Candidate Briefing Document Trainee Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager 1. Practice Overview 1.1 Letter of Introduction Dear Applicant,

Trainee Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager

Candidate Briefing Document



Table of Contents

1. Practice Overview

1.1 Letter of Introduction

1.2 Our Culture

1.3 Our Core Values

1.4 Our Vision

1.5 Recent/Current Projects

1.6 Our People

2. The Role

2.1 Job Description

2.2 Skills Matrix

2.3 Selection Criteria

3. Equal Opportunities Policy

4. Summary of Conditions of Service

5. Appointment Process




1.1 Letter of Introduction

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for expressing your interest in our vacancy. I am pleased to enclose a candidate briefing pack which hopefully includes all the information

you need prior to making a formal application.

Poole Dick are determined to find excellent people and to encourage the widest possible field of candidates. As such if you have any questions,

queries or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We offer an exciting and rewarding challenge to join our team in Stoke on Trent.

We are therefore seeking enthusiastic people with the ability to work unsupervised, it is also essential that you have a clear understanding of our

culture including maintaining existing relationships and developing new contacts, generating income and supporting our vision.

You will be joining the Company at an exciting time in its history as we embark on our 2020 Vision, an initiative that aims to change the way

traditional services are delivered to the extent that The Poole Dick Way becomes the recognised method of managing a construction project.

I am keen that people benefit from their time with Poole Dick Associates and feel that they are involved in changing the future of the practice and

that they develop their business acumen as well as their technical ability during their time with us but most of all that they enjoy working for the

company.

Our business is successful and growing. We want to share that success with talented people and I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Connolly

Managing Director




1.2 Our Culture

At Poole Dick Associates we love the work that we do and we are passionate about

providing an excellent service above and beyond the expectations of our clients.

We believe that enjoying our work and our working relationships helps us to

perform better and that a sense of fun need not indicate a lack of commitment – we

work harder to ensure that projects are successfully completed and we understand

the importance of teamwork in problem solving and in reaching our goals.

Through a combination of dedication, professionalism and enthusiasm, we have

built many successful, long-term relationships (and friendships) with our clients,

consultants and design, development and construction team members.

That’s why we’ve been around for all these years and can demonstrate our success

through an impressive portfolio of work, in both public and private sectors around

the UK.

Poole Dick is a business based around certain Core Values, and it’s these embedded

beliefs that enable us to do what we do. Our employees are highly skilled but that

expertise is best applied when people are solving problems in an enthusiastic,

collaborative environment. This is what you can expect when you join Poole Dick

and we look forward to welcoming you into our culture.




1.3 Our Core Values

Our business is based around 5 Core Values which inform and inspire everything we do.




1.3 Our Core Values (continued)

World class communication

We want all our clients to pinpoint communication as a strength within Poole Dick, one of the main reasons they like to deal with us. It’s usually

ranks No.1 on the list of things that organizations struggle with, and that’s why we place great emphasis on communication, both within our

company and when liaising with clients and other partners. It’s about expressing ourselves well, in a language people can understand. It’s about

listening as much as talking and getting into the shoes of our clients and partners. And by communicating regularly, inside and out, we build the

trusted relationships which keep projects on track.

Encourage creativity

You might associate creativity with an architect, but when it comes to the QS…creative…really? The fact is, creativity comes in many forms and at

Poole Dick we pride ourselves in coming up with unusual solutions to knotty problems.

As a construction consultant we absolutely want to safeguard the client’s development, and provide the checks and balances they require. But we

don’t want to dampen enthusiasm for the vision for the project. That’s why we encourage a creative mind-set within the business – let’s find some

innovative ways to create the dream, but avoid it turning into a nightmare!

Share knowledge

The knowledge that exists within a business is its greatest asset, but it’s no good if it stays within each individual. That’s why we regularly share

knowledge, in multiple ways – not just spreadsheets and reports, but by sharing experiences and learning from them. We pool this knowledge and

regularly dip into the archive, so we can always learn from past projects. This process involves all the staff, resulting in a valuable cross-

contamination of ideas and perspectives, all of which enhances the service we give to our clients.




1.3 Our Core Values (continued)

Stay sharp

We recognise the need to regularly ‘sharpen the saw’ and our Internal Training Academy is part of our commitment to keep our standards high. This includes staying on top of legal and technical developments and trends within our industry, something which is made easier by our culture of curiosity, knowledge-sharing and personal development. We recognize that to effectively represent the interests of a client in the 21st century requires a more holistic skill set, including diplomacy, persuasiveness, big picture thinking, facilitation skills and an ability to communicate at all levels. Our Academy incorporates innovative, employee-led programmes in these areas. Inside-Out Approach Our commitment to knowledge sharing and personal development underlines a key Poole Dick belief – that you can’t provide great service on the outside unless you’re strong on the inside (our skills and expertise, but also our culture and internal processes). It’s the reason we’ve been able to sustain a high level of service for so many years, and have such a strong record on staff (and client) retention. In another sense, inside-out implies that our people have a great attitude. That desire to see a project through and do a wonderful job comes from inside. We have an enormous pride in our work and the building we leave behind is as much a legacy for us as it is for our client.




1.4 Our Vision




1.4 Our Vision (continued)

Everybody at Poole Dick knows what our vision is and all are aiming to achieve this one goal by adopting our Core Values in everything that they do

resulting in our own unique culture that we call ‘The Poole Dick Way’.

What is ‘The Poole Dick Way’?

The Poole Dick Way is based on a simple ‘inside-out approach’ that is expressed as:

“To be the best that we can on the inside in order to give a truly

remarkable service on the outside”

The quality of our service is entirely down to the skill, experience, passion and dedication of our people and everyone joining Poole Dick must

embrace our 2020 Vision and buy into our culture by living out our Core Values in practice.

We hire good people, and within Poole Dick they tend to get even better!

Many individuals have grown within the firm to become highly respected surveyors, project managers and leading business men and women in the

construction community.

Our new Training Academy is designed to develop both technical and leadership skills within all our employees.

Training is of paramount importance to Poole Dick, not just technical skills but those softer people skills of negotiation, communication, emotional

intelligence, etc., and we employ our very own business performance coach to help us stand out from our competitors.

People you can rely on - people you can deal with.




1.5 Examples of recent and current schemes (continued)




1.6 Our People

Catherine Pessagno Associate

MRICS, MCIOB

(Manchester)

Ben Hodgkins Senior Surveyor

MRICS (Stoke-on-Trent)

Paul Birks Senior Surveyor


David Berrisford Associate MRICS

(Manchester)

Paul Newman Regional Director

BSc(Hons), MRICS (Stoke-on-Trent)

Andrew Bayley Regional Director

BSc, MRICS, MapS

(Manchester)

Stephen Lowndes Director

MRICS, MaPS (Stoke-on-Trent)

Stephen Connolly Managing Director

FRICS (Manchester)

Martin Brownsill Director MRICS

(Stoke-on-Trent)

Catherine Newton Project Manager

BSc(Hons), MCIOB (Manchester)

Emma Howarth Surveyor

BA(Hons) BSc(Hons) (Manchester)

Deborah Davies Secretary

(Stoke-on-Trent)

Nicky Barrett Assistant Administrator

(Manchester)

Debra Potter Accounts Administrator

(Manchester)

MANCHESTER

STOKE ON TRENT

Martyn Tickle Trainee Surveyor

(Stoke-on-Trent)

Sean Whatmough Assistant Surveyor

BA(Hons) (Manchester)

Rob Kirkham Trainee Surveyor

(Stoke-on-Trent)

Christopher Heavey Assistant Surveyor

BA/(Hons) (Manchester)

William Charlesworth Assistant Surveyor

BA/(Hons) (Manchester)

Neil Cheadle Senior Surveyor


Neville Longbone CDM Coordinator

(Manchester)

Jack Landregan Trainee Surveyor

(Manchester)

George Tilley Trainee Surveyor

(Manchester)

Sen Ellor Trainee Surveyor

(Manchester)



2. The Role

2.1 Job Description – Trainee Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager

a) Qualifications

This role requires the employee to be studying for a qualification that leads to a degree course or equivalent in Quantity Surveying and/or Project

Management.

The employee should be a Student Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or at least the equivalent of a similar recognised

professional body within the construction industry.

b) Technical Knowledge

Must have a basic knowledge of the core skills of a Quantity Surveyor and/or Project Manager.

Must have a sound knowledge of the common IT software packages (e.g.Microsoft Office).

Should also have a basic knowledge of other services offered by the Company e.g. CDM Co-ordination, Code Assessment.

c) Person Specification

Must be a team person and be capable of operating in a team and/or individually.

Must be capable of planning, prioritising and organising tasks and activities, time management of self.

Must have excellent communication skills, empathy and mutual understanding.

Must be able to identify and agree tasks, measure and follow up.

Must be able to develop positive relationships including those between different departments, be a good listener who understands other people’s

needs and be able to establish a rapport with most people.



2. The Role

2.1 Job Description – Trainee Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager (continued)

c) Person Specification (continued)

Needs to have self development skills, demonstrate self control, compassion and humanity and be always striving for personal growth and

improvement.

Must be a good planner who can set targets and goals for self and monitor progress of same.

Must be able to recognise stress in self and manage conflict and pressure in a positive manner.

Must command the utmost respect from your colleagues and demonstrate integrity and an ethical approach in your judgement about work and

organisational issues.

d) Experience

Any experience of working in a professional organisation would be preferable but not essential.

e) Administrative Responsibilities

Must adhere to all Company policies and undertake all necessary action demanded by same (e.g. Health and Safety regime).

Comply fully with the RICS rules of conduct.



2. The Role

2.1 Job Description – Trainee Quantity Surveyor/Project Manager (continued)

f) Technical Responsibilities

Responsible for ensuring the services are delivered to a standard that is beyond the expectations of our customers.

Must ensure there is a consistency of approach to the delivery of our services at all levels.

Attain the required level of competence identified in the Skills Matrix (Standards) System Form ST 06-00 in the Company’s ISO 9001 accreditation

(see 2.2).

Must maintain own technical expertise through continuous professional development.

Must use Company Guidance Notes and ensure the service is delivered in accordance with the Quality Assurance Policy including ISO 9001, 14001

and OHSAS 18001.

Provide adequate support to members of staff on any given project.

Ensure all tasks within your responsibility are delivered effectively and on time.

g) Business Development Responsibilities

Must project and promote the excellent reputation of Poole Dick Associates in the business and construction communities at all times with a

professional well mannered approach.

Must embrace the Company vision and adopt and practice its Core Values at all times.



2. The Role

2.2 Skills Matrix

Skill Matrix Competence Level Descriptions

Level 0 No Knowledge May have heard of the concept but cannot adequately describe it.

Level 1 Basic

Knowledge

Has a basic knowledge and understanding of the concept. Can

adequately describe it and may have utilised the concept within a

worked example in an assistant capacity.

Level 2 Sound

Knowledge

Has a sound knowledge of the concept and have the ability to

comprehensively describe it. Will utilise the concept on a regular basis

without assistance.

Level 3 In-depth

Knowledge

Will have in-depth knowledge of most of the facets of the concept.

Can provide sound advice on a strategic level through practical applied

knowledge. Can explain the advantages and disadvantages of the

application of the concept for any given situation and give advice to

suit that particular situation.



2. The Role

2.3 Selection Criteria

Your selection will be based on your suitability to fulfil the role as outlined in the job description and based on the following:

1. Qualifications - Academic and technical

2. Experience - in accordance with job description

3. Knowledge - eg. IT systems Technical knowledge

Industry awareness Skills matrix

4. Skills - eg. Communication Negotiation

Customer service delivery Cultural/social awareness

Business acumen Ambition

Personal skills People skills

Flexibility Presentation

5. Culture - Ultimately we will select someone who we believe will fit into our culture and able to adopt and operate in

“The Poole Dick Way” including alignment with our vision and able to adopt and practice our Core Values.



3. Equal Opportunities Policy

A copy of our Equality & Diversity Policy is available on request.



4. Summary of Conditions of Service

Our passion for people will be evident from day one. We invest in your development and provide generous incentives, benefits and

rewards, such as:

Salary

Competitive salary dependant on individual experience

Holiday Entitlement

22 days per annum plus statutory holidays

3 additional days over the Christmas/New Year period

Pension

A contributory pension scheme is in operation

Private Healthcare

Private healthcare is provided via Vitality Health

Insurances

Life assurance benefits are provided should the employee be a member of the Poole Dick Associates group pension scheme

Permanent Health Insurance is provided should the employee be a member of the

Poole Dick Associates group pension scheme



4. Summary of Conditions of Service (continued)

Working Hours

Normal working week 36.25 hours

Sickness

Supplementary sick pay dependant on length of service

Maternity/Paternity Leave

In line with statutory regulations

Health & Safety Policy

Documentation can be issued on request

General Comment

The exact details of the contract of employment will be discussed and agreed at the final stage of recruitment

Other Benefits include

Extensive in-house training

Support with technical courses/qualifications Team building and events

Ride2Work scheme Childcare support



5. Appointment Process

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

In the first instance candidates are required to submit their CV to Deborah Davies by:

Email

[email protected]

Post

Private & Confidential

Mrs D. Davies Poole Dick Associates

Home Farm Keele University Science and Business Park

Newcastle-Under-Lyme Staffordshire

ST5 5AA

Telephone

Additionally, candidates may wish to telephone Martin Brownsill on 07970 709346 for a confidential discussion.

mailto:[email protected]

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