Member Article

New site managers appointed by fast-growing construction company

Two former apprentice joiners are among three new site manager appointments created by an expanding North Wales construction company.

Mark Wilson and Andy Lea joined Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction as school leavers more than ten years ago.

Now, along with new recruit Dan Winterbottom, they have been appointed to run their own project sites for the company.

Mark, 29, first encountered Wynne Construction when he undertook a joinery work experience placement as a Year 10 pupil at Eirias High School, Colwyn Bay. He then secured his joinery apprenticeship with the company and completed his three-year course through Llandrillo College while also gaining site experience.

In 2012, he accepted the role of assistant site manager at the Ysgol y Bont project in Llangefni, followed by a temporary role as site manager for the Welsh National Sailing Academy project in Pwllheli. This role involved co-ordinating seven-day week working in order to complete the job on time.

Mark is now a permanent site manager, working at the Gwenfro Community Primary School in Wrexham.

He said: “I was a good joiner but I knew I wanted to get into management. I enjoy working for Wynne Construction as they look after their employees and believe in staff development.”

Andy Lea, 27, joined as an apprentice joiner in 2005.

He said: “My head of year at Ysgol Bryn Elian, Old Colwyn, told me about the joinery apprenticeships, so I applied and was lucky to get one.”

After completing his NVQ level 3 in carpentry and joinery, Andy worked on the “tools” before being offered site management experience. He said: “I was offered promotion to site manager five years ago, but felt I wasn’t ready for it. Now I’ve got more experience and am enjoying the new challenge.”

Andy is managing the construction of the £12m Ysgol Hafod Lon Newydd in Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd.

New recruit Dan Winterbottom joined Wynne Construction in May 2016. After leaving Ysgol Bodedern in Anglesey he worked in a variety of roles before deciding to study engineering. Initially an apprentice mechanical engineer, he then switched to civil engineering. Qualifying in 2013, he then gained experience with a construction company as a site engineer.

Dan, who is due to site manage the new Ysgol Glancegin project in Maesgeirchen, Bangor, said: “I’m enjoying my new role and have received further training since joining the company. I’m looking forward to developing my career at Wynne.”

Managing Director Chris Wynne, whose late grandfather, Charles, founded the company in 1926, said: “We have a very buoyant workload, and having secured several new projects through the North Wales Framework for Schools and Public Buildings, needed to expand our site management team. Mark, Andy and Dan have been well trained for their new roles as site managers and bring both energy and enthusiasm to the team.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .