Name: Simon Owen MCIOB
Employer: Leadbitter Group
Project: Newport High School. Newport, South Wales
Contract: NEC
Simon Owen’s can-do attitude was a million miles from the ‘that’s not what it says here’ response. He always took bad news with a smile and resolved countless challenges speedily and professionally.
He was determined to deliver a high-quality project on time, to budget, with an excellent safety record, and win repeat business on the strength of that achievement. He led by example and passed the message down through his team. He ran a clean, efficient and safe site, and led as good-natured a construction team as has ever been assembled.
His community engagement was exceptional. He involved pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community and created a sense of ownership and excitement. There were regular site visits and school events, including topping out and burying a time capsule. Local apprentices were taken on, work placements given and local firms employed. It was an effective strategy: the site hoarding wasn’t vandalised once during the entire construction period.
Simon struck fast with an aggressive target programme and the shell of the building shot up. He then used the gain to benefit the fit-out, adding quality and easing the handover. Some elements of the project were completed eight weeks before handover, then snagged, cleared and locked up.
He released the true value of the shared pain/gain contract. He insisted on strict controls on cost, correct procurement processes, high-quality product, and swift action to minimise delay. It resulted in a build cost reduction of 8% that will directly benefit the client’s next project. And who will be leading that project? That’s right: Simon.
Value: £25m