Sweett move for Paul Nash

Why did you move to Cyril Sweett?

I was attracted by the opportunity to join a business going through a period of dynamic change and growth, but with a strong culture based on valuing people. I felt I could make a difference and my contribution would be valued. It also gave me the opportunity to move back into the commercial sector, where I had spent most of my career, and combine this with my recent experience in hotels and leisure.

Is Cyril Sweett planning to grow its hotel and leisure sector business?

Part of my job is to build on what has already been achieved with some leading names while expanding our service offering to other leading operators, developers and investors.

Looking back, which projects stand out?

The new office campus in Reading for Oracle. Although HBG Construction was initially appointed to undertake the construction of the headquarters building, we eventually designed and constructed all five. And a fit-out and relocation project for Daiwa Bank in the City of London. It was the first project Citex undertook on a one-stop shop basis, a consultant taking price and performance risk.

Are you working on anything interesting right now?

We are in discussion with a leading leisure operator about a number of projects in the UK and overseas, and have recently been appointed by a major banking group to manage a portfolio of projects throughout the UK.

What issues are facing project managers in the leisure/hotels sector?

One major change in the past couple of years is the move away from large operators developing and owning hotels. Our challenge is to respond with services and skills that meet the needs of all of parties. Unlike commercial offices, there are no institutional standards for hotels and operators have their own requirements.

And the commercial sector?

I think the emergence of large mixed-use schemes linked to regeneration has meant that project managers involved in these schemes must be able to understand and respond to the needs of a variety of different stakeholders and draw on expertise from different sectors.

Describe your ideal project.

A client who wants to do something original and has the imagination, determination and budget to realise their ambition. To be involved from inception to translating an idea into a tangible product would be my ideal project - and it wouldn't have to be a building.

Do you think QSs remain wedded to the old cheapest price mentality?

Not the ones I've worked with! I can honestly say that the QSs I have worked with at Cyril Sweett are as far removed from this image as it is possible to get. They recognise that cost and quality are inextricably linked and the skill of modern quantity surveying is about driving value, not lowest cost.

What makes a good project manager?

The ability to get the best from people. It's about qualities such as empowerment, vision, leadership and keeping an open mind.