Morganstone, the award-winning Llanelli-based construction company, has hired seven experienced professionals.
The new recruits will help the fast growing company cope with its rapid expansion as it reaps the rewards of its good reputation and a recovering construction sector in South Wales.
Louise Harris joins the company as Technical Co-ordinator, Andrew Liddell as Senior Quantity Surveyor, John Durkan as Managing Surveyor, Stuart James as Procurement Manager, Craig Edwards as Site Manager, Bleddyn Watts as Senior Technical Co-ordinator, and Paul Drummond as an Operations Manager.
Ian Morgan, Managing Director of Morganstone, said:
“Taking these seven highly skilled individuals on is a clear indication of where we see the company going. We have enjoyed rapid growth in recent years but we still feel there are many more opportunities for the company to continue to grow.
“We are very proud of the team atmosphere we have here and I’m sure our new starters will feel that too.”
As site manager, Craig Edwards’ responsibilities will include the day-to-day running and management of various construction sites. He started his career as a carpenter. He worked his way up within former employers to become site supervisor then contracts manager then finishing manager and finally a site manager in his previous job.
Bleddyn Watts, who joins as senior technical coordinator, takes overall responsibility for the technical co-ordination of new build housing schemes and commercial developments from inception to completion and handover.
Bleddyn joined Morganstone with 40 years’ experience in the construction industry working in both the both public and private sectors. His previous roles were within local authorities, housing associations and a range of major developers and volume house builders in South Wales.
As the operations manager of Morganstone, Paul Drummond will be responsible for ensuring all information required for a new project is collated with each relevant discipline contributing. Once the project starts, he is responsible for the operation of the construction phase, liaising with surveyors, site managers, technical coordinators and consultants.
Paul started in site management in 1990. During his career, he has won eight NHBC Awards culminating in winning the Regional Award for Wales. He has held senior construction management positions with both National PLCs and smaller developers since 1998.
As technical coordinator, Louise Harris will focus on ensuring that each client’s design and specification requirements are fully met. She will manage and coordinate the design & technical process liaising with the team at all stages from planning to project handover.
Louise’s qualifications include a BSc (Hons) in Construction Management and a HND in Business Admin & the European Union. Previously, she has delivered residential projects, high rise apartments and care homes specialising in accommodation for people with dementia, the elderly and individuals with high dependency needs.
Andrew Liddell joins Morganstone as a senior quantity surveyor. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in the construction industry covering sectors including local authorities, housing, retail and the care sector.
Andrew’s new role will include taking commercial responsibility for managing projects, preparing valuations, liaising with clients and providing them with procurement.
John Durkan joins as a managing surveyor. He has extensive experience in the South Wales social housing sector. He was previously been commercial director and an operations manager/managing surveyor with his previous companies.
John’s new responsibilities will include the commercial management of projects along with developing the quantity surveying team.
Stuart James has joined as a procurement manager. His responsibilities will include supply chain management and implementing procurement structure and strategy. His role will cover materials, plant and account management including material specification, orders, scheduling and reconciliation and the management of key commercial agreements to meet the business objectives.
Photo: Front Row left to right; Paul Drummond, Ian Morgan, John Durkan
Back Row left to right; Craig A Edwards, Stuart James, Louise Harris, Bleddyn Watts, Andy Liddell