Name: John Hastie ICIOB
Employer: Kier Scotland
Project: Loch Primary School, Rutherglen
Contract: PPC 2000
Leaving school without any qualifications, John Hastie enlisted in the army for three years. The experience marked him for life, as this project demonstrates. Precisely planned and smoothly executed, it unfolded very much like a military operation. John achieved all the project milestones with such ease that he was able to hand over to the client five weeks early, with zero defects, and a healthy profit notched up for his employer.
Recruited specifically for this project, he brought meticulous preparation, disciplined organisation and strong leadership. He initiated the early involvement of the package subcontractors, reviewing their scope of works, understanding the key interfaces, agreeing key dates − and then bettering them. His take on construction management was to begin dialogue early, create meaningful relationships before works started, and then to follow through with building the project.
He made the best possible use of the pre-construction lead-in by undertaking detailed planning that got the early site operations away smoothly and efficiently. It all went so well that he was able to drive on towards his key goal: early completion of the envelope to gain an early start on the internal fit-out. Once more, his early development of relationships with the fit-out subcontractors minimised issues onsite and resulted in efficient site operations and co-ordination of trades.
John set early objectives and key areas of responsibility for each site team member. It was a plan of action that engaged the team and cultivated individual skills. His weekly team meetings were briskly regimented, with key targets reviewed and realistic goals set, winning the buy-in of the subcontractors.
He skilfully controlled all aspects of the project. To avoid indiscriminate parking in the area, he negotiated the use of a local church’s car park, handing over a cheque to support the church’s work. He deployed high-visibility signage around the works, and kept his site clean, tidy and clear of obstructions.
Night classes, a part-time HNC and a degree course in construction management have all figured in John’s drive to improve himself. The same determination to improve everything and everyone he interacts with are clear from the overwhelming success of this project.
Value: £5.1m