Name: Geoff Kempt
Employer: Willmott Dixon Construction Limited
Project: HMP Swaleside "H" Wing, Isle of Sheppey
Contract: PPC 2000
The peculiar constraints of a prison can be a nasty surprise and an impossible burden for the unwary construction manager. Having completed a previous wing at this prison, Geoff Kempt had no excuse. Then again, given that the client wanted him because of his success in a prison environment, he didn’t need any.
Perfect, precision planning was Geoff’s best friend on this project. All personnel had to be vetted at least eight weeks before site start, and Geoff’s co-ordinated subcontractor procurement successfully identified every conceivable person involved in the project delivery.
He made sure everyone properly understood what was required: the checking, listing and accounting for every single tool before work commenced, when it finished and at the start and end of every single break. His effective management of the workforce helped mitigate the unavoidable impact of the stringent security checks on site productivity.
The depth and accuracy of Geoff’s strategic planning was key. By correctly sequencing and marshalling all operations in advance, he avoided the all too common fate of seeing critical works unable to proceed.
He appreciated that even the slightest disruption to the prison’s operations could have serious consequences for inmates, prison staff and subcontractors. As a result, he raised and worked through upcoming issues in weekly meetings with prison staff. It helped build an excellent relationship of trust, understanding and openness with the client.
Underpinning his communications were his own integrity and hard work. He favoured the direct approach of face-to-face meetings with client, consultants and subcontractors, and reserved the emails for admin matters only.
Value: £21.4m