Find out what it is really like to work for us...
Q: What were you doing before you joined Watts and how long have you been with the firm?
A: I joined Watts in February 2005 from GVA Grimley, where I had worked for three and a half years since graduating from University. Prior to that, my Uni sandwich placement and summer months were spent working at Scottish multi-discipline firm Graham & Sibbald. I gained broad commercial building surveying experience at GVA, mainly weighted towards contract administration, particularly office fit-out and refurbishments for OGC, The Crown Office and The Scottish Executive.
Q: Why did you decide to join Watts?
A: I needed a fresh challenge, and Watts are a commercial building consultancy providing varied services, from core building surveying to pre-acquisition advice on projects. I was particularly interested in the pre-acquisition and development monitoring roles while keen to continue my previous involvement in contracts. Watts also offered more opportunity in terms of career progression and project management experience.
Q: What kind of projects are you currently involved in? What has been your most interesting job to-date?
A: To date, my workload has been mainly on the pre-acquisition side, undertaking purchaser and vendor building inspection reports, along with development monitoring. Over the past year and a half I have had the opportunity to travel to Europe on at least a dozen occasions to work in Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic and France.
Recently I have enjoyed gaining project management experience from being involved in a nightclub development, office refurbishments and M&S store remodels.
Q: How has your career progressed since joining Watts? Where do you see it going?
A: I have been delighted with my career progression at Watts to date. I joined as a Senior Surveyor and the workload, responsibilities and opportunities within the company have allowed me to progress to Associate as of May 2007.
The clients and workload are varied enough that I can concentrate on my preferred service areas of pre-acquisition and development monitoring without losing touch with other roles, while my colleagues can also specialise if preferred.
Sponsored by the firm, I am currently studying towards a Post-Graduate Dipolma in Project Management, leading to an MBA in Real Estate. This has been complemented with PM work within our established projects team in Glasgow.
Q: How would you describe Watts as a company?
A: Watts are recognised as one of the largest building consultancies
in the UK and recent expansion into Europe has increased our
presence. We are a progressive, commercial, client-led firm,
with a high quality of clients and workload and service provision
which is responsible and detailed. Through the Watts Academy,
there are excellent opportunities for learning, and vast resources
for knowledge sharing. There are very good opportunities for
career development, and we don’t forget to enjoy ourselves with
staff parties and Friday beers.
Q: How would you describe the social side of your team?
A: Over the past two years staff numbers in my office have increased from six fee earners to eight, however we are still a relatively small and close-knit team and recognise that Friday beers can be as important as the Monday morning meetings. Buffet curries and pub lunches are not infrequent and five-a-side football and golf provide regular office debate.
Q: Do you have any advice for people wanting to join Watts?
A: Browse the web pages, flick through the Watts Handbook and Bulletins, and search recent property publications, and you will have a good idea of the level of clients, the services provided, the varied workload and the quality of service.
I chose building surveying and the property industry as a career because it is so diverse and varied; always changing, and always challenging. At Watts this is particularly relevant.
Watts is one of the leading UK building consultancies at the forefront of the profession, and a high quality, diverse and commercial workload is guaranteed. Ambition and performance are rewarded; opportunities to work abroad are frequent; and the team ethic is maintained throughout the firm.