Member Article

Former trainee returns to Walter Thompson as director

A FORMER trainee at a Northallerton-based construction firm has returned to the company as Commerical Director.

Richard Salt, 45, left school to join family-owned Walter Thompson on a YTS scheme aged 16 in 1987. Starting as a trainee Quantity Surveyor, Richard progressed through the company’s training programme, gaining qualifications at Darlington College and then Northumbria University.

“I left Northallerton Grammar School – now Northallerton College - and came straight to Walter Thompson’s. The company paid for my studies at Darlington where I gained a national certificate in building studies and then Northumbria University where I completed a Chartered Institute of Building qualification.”

Richard stayed at Walter Thompson for 17 years, becoming an Assistant Quantity Surveyor), then a Qualified Quantity Surveyor and then a Senior Quantity Surveyor.

He then left the company to work at three other building firms, before being appointed Lead Quantity Surveyor at Shepherd Construction, where he stayed for eight years. It was from Shepherd’s that Richard rejoined Walter Thompson’s.

“It’s great to be back – I worked my way through the ranks here before deciding I wanted something different. There are many former colleagues and friends still here, which has made the transition into my new position a lot easier.

“Managing Director Paul Hammerton and I grew up here and I’m very much looking forward to making a contribution as Commercial Director.”

In his new role, Richard will be responsible for all the commercial aspects of the business: “I’ll be looking at systems and the way we work, looking to make us even more efficient and able to deliver even more for our customers.”

Richard, who lives in Northallerton with his wife and teenage daughter, said Walter Thompson’s reputation for excellence and desire to put the customer first were among the reasons why he has returned.

“The insistence on quality, on doing things the right way and not just believing ‘it’ll do’ comes from the top of the company, and it’s the culture here. It’s instilled in everyone.

“I know I’ll also really enjoy working in what still is very much a family environment.”

MD Paul Hammerton said he was delighted Richard had returned to the company: “It’s a real coup that we’ve attracted someone of Richard’s experience, talent and calibre back into the business.

“We’ve kept in touch and once I became MD last year I was looking for the right role to offer him at Walter Thompson’s. We’re an ambitious company and he shares those ambitions and I’m sure will help us to grow while retaining our reputation for quality and excellence.”

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