Partner Article

Paul completes journey from apprentice to MD

A FORMER apprentice at an award-winning North Yorkshire construction company has been named the firm’s new Managing Director.

Paul Hammerton was Construction and Operations Director at Northallerton-based builder Walter Thompson, and took up his new role on July 1.

Previous MD Keith Caygill has taken up a new role as non-executive director to the F.T. Construction Group, of which Walter Thompson is part.

Paul began his career at family firm Walter Thompson as an apprentice joiner in September 1986. He became a Trainee Site Supervisor in 1990, working up to Site Manager. Ten years later he became a Project Manager at the company before being appointed Senior Project Manager in 2002 and then Construction Team Manager in 2003. Paul was made a Director in 2007, with responsibility for overseeing all construction projects and operations for the company.

“I left Northallerton Grammar School and applied for three jobs, two in joinery and one in plumbing. I was offered all three, but I chose Walter Thompson because they were the largest of the three companies and I felt that they would be able to offer the best prospects to further my career after joinery,” explained Paul.

His apprenticeship involved working for the company while studying at Darlington College. After winning the college’s Best Student Award, which was sponsored by Walter Thompson for Carpentry and Joinery in 1987-88, Paul went on to win a prestigious national award – the Building Employers Confederation National Joint Training Commission Award for Apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery – the following year.

Further regional and national awards were to follow, including the Crocker Award for Best Student, City and Guilds Silver Medal for the highest mark in the country for the Measurement & Costing examination in Construction Crafts in 1990 and the Wiltshire Cup Best HNC Student in 1992.

He is sure that starting as an apprentice and working his way up has made him a better manager: “I can understand the problems and the challenges of so many different roles because I’ve been there and done them. My long history here gives me an insight into the work everyone does as well as great knowledge about the company and our successes.”

“I know everyone here and respect them, and I think they respect me too.

“Our core values are at the heart of everything we do – quality and excellent project delivery. Everyone who joins us learns the Walter Thompson way – the right way to get the job done safely, on time and on budget.

“It’s very much a family firm with current members of the family involved. Our turnover of staff is very low because we look after our people and develop them. We also try to promote from within, and I’m an example of how that can work.

“We directly employ our own large workforce and we are one of the few employers who still offer trade apprenticeships for operatives and professional staff, we have a very experienced and talented work force which gives us an advantage over our competitors as we don’t have to rely on agencies.”

Paul has seen significant improvements in standards since he joined the industry in the 1980s: “Things have really improved since then, in terms of Health & safety and the overall image of construction sites. I think we’ve always been ahead of the game here – we won our first Considerate Constructor award in 2005 and became an Associate Member of the Scheme in 2008, the Considerate Constructors’ scheme has helped drive the industry forward and we are proud of the fact that our company has received a National Award for every Year since 2005, and the Considerate Constructor Awards are only handed out to the top eight per cent of performing sites.

“We carry out culture training with all our operatives and also always insist on them being dressed professionally and to be courteous to our visitors, clients and general public.”

Walter Thompson maintained its £20m-plus turnover even during the dark days of recession, and Paul believes the sector is slowly getting back on its feet.

“A few key markets are looking stronger, but we never forget you’re only as good as your last job.”

The company specialises in several areas, including education, health care, leisure, retail and restoration.

He’s also seen the company extend its geographical reach over his three decades with them: “When I started we didn’t go much further than York, Leeds or Middlesbrough, but we now work much further afield with projects from Kielder in the North to Doncaster in the South, and from East Coast of Scarborough to Lancashire in the West.

But he remains firmly settled in his home town, enjoying country town life with his wife Tracey and two sons aged 12 and 14.

As for the future, Paul wants more of the same: “We’re a family company that’s been around since 1920, the name and the business will survive long after I’ve gone, so we’ll keep growing steadily, providing jobs and livelihoods for the 200+ employees of the Group.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Walter Thompson .