Our new spotlight series gives an insight into the skills, experience and daily lives of the talented people behind Vale Southern Construction. First up is our MD, Oliver West.
Have you always wanted to follow a construction career path?
My dad worked in the building trade, so I guess I was always destined to work in a construction. I originally thought about training to be an architect and then did a complete U-turn and considered becoming a golfer - I began playing from an early age, achieving a low handicap while at school.
At the age of 16, my dad chucked me onto a building site and that marked the start of my journey into construction. After gaining experience on site labouring, I trained as a junior quantity surveyor, then became fully qualified as QS, then joint commercial manager at Vale Southern and was appointed MD last year.
What would you say are your main strengths?
I’ve always been good at maths and that’s given me the foundation to deliver strong financial management and budgeting. I also have a passion for interior design, so much so, that I’ve designed our new head office!
People skills are important in my role, so I’m easy going while leading decisively and directly to make sure we meet our business objectives.
What are your plans and hopes for the business?
I want to keep building on the success we’ve achieved over the last 30 years. In the current climate, that’s going to be tough, but I have a strong team around me with an excellent reputation, so I’m confident we can keep making strides in our industry, particularly the high-end residential market.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Every day is different, so I love the variety and particularly enjoy working on projects involving bespoke homes. It’s really rewarding to help a client create their dream home and to see it develop from the planning stages right through to handover. Receiving positive feedback is the icing on the cake.
What sets Vale Southern apart from its competitors?
Our family ethos is a big differentiator. Our values mean we deliver all projects with care, and strive to go above and beyond what’s expected from us. Our clients are investing a huge amount in a construction project, not just financially but in terms of their time, so we’ll do whatever it takes to deliver the brief.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I still love playing golf and as a new dad, I’m enjoying making memories with my family.
Comments