Andrew Doran is a Senior Clerk of Works involved in our Build to Rent projects across the Midlands and the North. Currently, he is bringing his expertise to our appointments by international investment firm Starlight, including Lighthaus, Liverpool, and Michigan Tower, Manchester.
Can you share a little about your professional background and how you arrived at your position at Rund?
I have been in the construction industry for around 25 years, in roles including site management and 8 years as a building inspector with the NHBC.
What drew you to the construction industry?
I have always enjoyed learning how things are put together, right from being a child.
What are some of the key responsibilities of your role?
As a Clerk of Works, I produce reports for clients to provide assurances during a project. My key responsibilities include ensuring the workmanship, quality, and specification are adhered to throughout the project.
What project have you most enjoyed working on and why?
The project I have most enjoyed working on was a multi-use housing development across West and South Yorkshire for a national provider of rental and shared ownership properties. This scheme had tight deadlines, and I enjoyed the fast pace of the handovers. There were multiple challenges with this project, including differing specifications on different developments, even though it was the same company. I ensured that all the sites on the project were working to the client’s specifications by holding meetings with the project and site management teams. Another challenge on this project was the differing standards between developments. Again, we held meetings and shared good practice across every site to ensure that they were of a consistently high standard.
What has been your proudest moment at Rund?
My proudest moment at Rund came about at practical completion of a housing scheme involving the creation of new apartments in Leeds. When we took over the site, there were multiple issues, so it was gratifying to finally see the development in excellent condition, providing assurance to the client and ensuring residents have a wonderful experience.
What has been your most challenging project and how did you overcome this?
The most challenging project I have undertaken was also the housing scheme in Leeds. Through collaboration with the team on-site and others within Rund, I used my previous knowledge of construction and building regulations to ensure that the issues with fire safety and end-user safety were fully addressed without compromise.
Rund has a no-nonsense approach to quality within all our BTR developments, whether it be a large apartment complex or a single dwelling. This aligns with my own standards in which I expect a right first-time mentality and I would much rather be proactive than reactive. All of our BTR developments are thoroughly inspected to ensure that defects and maintenance issues after handover are kept to a minimum.
What do you think sets Rund apart from other consultancies?
Rund has a culture of collaboration and working as one. Due to our One Rund philosophy, if you encounter an issue, you’re encouraged to ask someone within the team who has the right knowledge and is willing to help, which builds a positive culture around teamwork.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I am a chairman of our local cricket club and with others, have helped transform the club from one that was close to folding 10 years ago to a thriving community club with junior, women’s, and men’s teams enjoying the game.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Listen and talk to people on site. Tradesmen can be difficult to converse with sometimes, but find a common interest and be willing to listen to the issues that they encounter on a daily basis, which will help you understand why they arise. You will learn a huge amount from the trades who are carrying out the work.
How do you stay up to date with changes in building regulations, materials, and construction methods?
I ensure that I keep up to date through our internal Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses which have updates on changes and developments in the industry. I also have a network of colleagues within the industry, including within the NHBC, which is the leading warranty provider in the UK.
How has the use of technology evolved since first starting out in the industry?
When I started on site, there were no mobile phones or laptops. We had to have paper drawings to hand, and any updates from the project team, or even wider industry, took time to reach us. Now we’re lucky to have instant access to digital drawings and specifications on our tablets, meaning we can verify details on-site, cross-reference reports, and compile electronic inspections in real-time – improving accuracy and cross-team collaboration.
What’s an underrated aspect of the Clerk of Works role that you think more clients should know about?
One of the most underrated aspects of a Clerk of Works for me is communication. We are the client’s eyes and ears on-site. I pride myself on building relationships with the site’s teams, as well as everyone working on a project. These relationships are hugely important in enabling me to carry out my role to the best of my ability and ensure the final product is to the client’s expectations.