Source: Northern Builder

Date: Monday 6. November 2017Page: 96,97 Circulation: 5300Size: 748

(CIT-488) Page 1 of 2

A not-so-traditional route to the top

PROFESSIONAL construction

KEN WHAN, A CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONAL WITH A STRING OF CREDITS TO HIS NAME, DEMONSTRATES THAT ABILITY, DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK CAN TAKE YOU TO THE TOP...

Ken Whan, Operations Director

at Heron Bros, has 37 years'

experience in the construction

industry, but his path to the top of his

profession was not traditional.

Leaving school with 8 O-Levels in 1980,

Ken admits he had no burning desire to

pursue a career in construction. While

he enjoyed working on site during the

school holidays, making teas and coffees

for the workmen, he recalls being on the

receiving end of tradesmen tricks.

"I was sent for everything - the long

stand, the glass hammer, tartan paint,

you name it!" he said.

His father, a charge hand joiner,

encouraged Ken to take up a joinery

apprenticeship when he left school, but

the idea of earning and learning did not

immediately appeal. Ken was young,

and more interested in short-term gain

than long-term investment in himself.

So he started working as a labourer,

earning £80 per week as opposed to the

£24 a week an apprentice might take

home.

Ken's first job in construction was with

H&J Martin, labouring on the site of

the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast.

Eighteen months into this job, Ken was

laid off due to a shortage of work.

MANAGERIAL PROGRESS Ken's first break in construction came

when labouring for Bellisle Building

Company based in Dromore, Co

Down, under Site Manager Charlie

1CIOB

Watson. From the outset, Charlie

recognised Ken's potential and gave

him the opportunity to read plans

and supervise sections of the external

works.

Taking on more responsibilities,

under Charlie's watchful eye, Ken was

exposed to many more duties than

the average site labourer. With this

experience, Ken's confidence grew.

After six months working as a Ganger,

Ken was promoted to Foreman on

the build of Euro Flowers on Boucher

Road. He worked at Bellisle for nine

years before moving on to RG Coulter

and Co with the aim of further career

progression. Here, Ken recognised

the value that construction-specific

qualifications could bring in climbing

another rung up the career ladder.

Ken pursued his Site Management

Studies through the CITB Nl,

“We have a very strong Operational Team in place who I believe have respect for my guidance and experiences.”

undertaking his Certificate then his

Diploma from 1992 to 1994. Ken

credits Allan McMullen, former Chief

Executive of CITB Nl, with being his

biggest career mentor.

"Allan has been absolutely instrumental

in fast tracking my career through

a focus on continual professional

development," Ken said.

CIOB MEMBERSHIP In 2000, Ken undertook his MCIOB,

gaining Chartered Construction

Manager Status under Allan's

guidance.

Equipped with more knowledge

of industry best practice, Ken was

promoted to Contracts Manager at

RG Coulter & Co, where he thrived

and developed. He was promoted to

Contracts Director, a position he held

for four years before seeking other

This cutting is reproduced by NIMMS under licencee from NLA No further copying (including the printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction or forwarding is permitted except under licensefrom NLA. www.nla.co.uk (for newspapers)

Ref: CITB 1701196

Source: Northern Builder

Date: Monday 6. November 2017Page: 96,97 Circulation: 5300Size: 748

(CIT-488) Page 2 of 2

opportunities to advance his career.

Ken moved to Heron Bros in June

2002, and taking up the role of Senior

Site Manager, he quickly excelled with

the company. Within a year, he was

promoted to Contracts Manager, and

by 2005 he became Senior Contracts

Manager. Ken advanced to Operations

Manager in 2007 and has been

Operations Director with the company

since 2009.

Reflecting on his achievements at

Heron Bros, along with the countless

legacy projects delivered throughout

the UK and Ireland, Ken is proud of the

role he had in the CIOB, promoting the

status of Chartered Building Company,

which the company has held since

2010. Ken has been instrumental in the

growth of the operational structures

within Heron Bros, with a focus on

training and personal development.

"We have a very strong Operational

Team in place who I believe have

respect for my guidance and

experiences. Having a mentor can have

a dramatic impact on your progression,

personally and professionally. I was

fortunate to have two fantastic mentors

who have helped shape my career.

I can only hope that I can provide

my team with similar guidance and

support."

As a Fellow of the CIOB from 2012,

the organisation is very close to

Ken's heart. Heron Bros broke CIOB

records in October 2016 when seven

of their employees were conferred

as CIOB members. Never in Ireland

had so many members from one

company been conferred in the same

ceremony. Heron Bros will have six

more candidates graduating in October

2017 and five engineers working

towards MCIOB through the PDP

route in 2018. Such success coupled

with achieving Platinum Investors

in People accreditation (the first UK

construction company to do so), clearly

demonstrates that Heron Bros is at the

forefront of people management and

development.

"The CIOB has opened many doors

for me through the attainment of

professional qualifications and the

commitment to Continual Professional

Development. At Heron Bros, we

encourage and support staff to

continually develop and progress as

professionals. By becoming Chartered

CIOB members, our employees keep

their job knowledge and qualifications

current and up to date and they

commit to abide by a strict code of

ethical conduct.

"My message to young people is that

you do not need to take the traditional

educational route to have a successful

career in construction. Now that is

not saying that education does not

have its place - it is just not the only

path. When experience is married with

ongoing CPD, it can present fantastic

opportunities for development."

With the industry moving at a faster

pace than ever in terms of modern

methods of construction, legislation

and technology, it is essential that

professionals keep up with changes

for the benefit of the public, their

employers and clients. The CIOB is now

considered the leading professional

body in construction management and

leadership.

Ken Whan FCIOB is a Fellow member

of the CIOB, and is Operations

Director at Heron Bros.

He can be contacted on

ken.whan@heronbros.com

This cutting is reproduced by NIMMS under licencee from NLA No further copying (including the printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction or forwarding is permitted except under licensefrom NLA. www.nla.co.uk (for newspapers)

Ref: CITB 1701196