Meet the Board - McPhillips

Building on solid foundations

When Jim McPhillips founded McPhillips (Wellington) Limited in 1963 he set the company on its path to occupying a unique position within the construction industry. Meet the six people charged today with maintaining McPhillips’ family values and driving the business forwards.

Paul Inions – Managing Director

Paul Inions began his career at McPhillips in 1990. Following an 18-month stint away from the company, Paul returned to McPhillips in 1998. “After leaving McPhillips I kept in touch with Nicholas McPhillips who I turned to for career advice. We met up and after discussing my options; he suggested I returned to McPhillips. I agreed and Nicholas kept his promise to help me build my career.”
Paul’s roles within McPhillips have ranged from trainee quantity surveyor through to commercial director. What does Paul think sets McPhillips apart? “The company gets under your skin, it’s easy to feel a valuable part of it, which is why people tend to stay here for a long time. It also helps that we work across several construction disciplines, we don’t see this kind of diversity with any of our competitors.” Paul’s main goal is to build the business ready for when the next person takes the helm… “We are here as custodians for a period of time. I want to make sure that the success of McPhillips goes way beyond our current stewardship.”

Andrew Dunham – Contracts Director

Andrew Dunham accepted an invitation to join McPhillips in 1996. “I had worked as a freelance site manager on a McPhillips project, when the job completed I was asked to join full time and look after a large infrastructure project.” Andrew later assumed the role of contracts manager for the North West. Finding solutions to technical challenges drives Andrew as much today as when he first started, but it goes much further than that…
“McPhillips still maintains the original feel of a family-owned business, we as a board have worked hard to ensure this culture is evident throughout. I’m proud that we still put much emphasis on our direct employment model, this is something we value wholeheartedly, it’s a model that you don’t see much of within construction today.”
So, what of the future for McPhillips? “Building new client relationships. A key advantage is our diversity of work streams, this is something I am keen to expand on, which will provide continuous opportunities for our employees.”

Stuart Mackenzie – Contracts Director

A recommendation from a mutual acquaintance introduced Stuart Mackenzie to McPhillips in 1996. “I was approached by the company, when we met I was impressed by the ‘family firm’ atmosphere, I felt this was an environment that I could grow within and gain lots of experience.” That experience covers a multitude of roles from site engineer to senior site manager through to department head and contracts manager.
So, what has kept Stuart at McPhillips for so long? “First and foremost, we’re a family, a team of professionals that genuinely cares about each other and our clients. I work with great people who like me thrive on the opportunity to make a real difference by shaping a better future. Stuart also believes that the strength of McPhillips lies in diverse capabilities… “Working across several sectors means that we offer a unique proposition to clients, our experience is wide-ranging, we’re not blinkered. This keeps things fresh and interesting for our employees too, so it’s win-win.”

Ian Roberts – Commercial Director

Ian Roberts joined the McPhillips team in 2004. “I joined McPhillips because of the excellent reputation the company has within the industry, the McPhillips ethos resonated with me.” Ian started life at McPhillips as a senior quantity surveyor, moving over to commercial manager before assuming his current role. “It’s an old adage but if you look after the company the company will look after you. The opportunities for career progression exist at McPhillips, you only have to look at the career paths of our board for proof.”
Securing enough work to maintain a direct workforce in the region of 300 people concentrates the mind, but for Ian success is down to a simple equation… “You’ve got to deliver on your promises pure and simple. We must ensure that our work is of the highest quality at every stage, carried out to the programme timescale and kept within budget. Our reputation has been built on a very healthy percentage of repeat business.”

Chris Walker – Building Director

Chris Walker also joined McPhillips in 2004. “I was looking for a new challenge in the design and build industry and felt that McPhillips were the right fit for me and my ambitions.” Chris started life at McPhillips as site manager before moving into project and then contracts management positions. “McPhillips is all about relationships, we go the extra mile for our clients. Sometimes projects change dramatically due to circumstances out of our control, you’ve got to be able to react and help the client achieve the best possible result.”
For Chris the key to McPhillips continued success is attributable to one important element… “We never compromise our integrity. Whatever we are building from structures to careers we don’t take short cuts and hope for the best, anything we design is built to last. So, what are Chris’ hopes for the future? I want us to continue to prosper, to carry on promoting from within and increase the flow of new people to McPhillips via our apprenticeships and opportunities for college leavers.”

Val Hardy – Company Secretary

Val Hardy accepted an invitation to join McPhillips in 1995. “I was working for the auditors who looked after the monthly accounts for McPhillips, I joined initially to look after the monthly accounts and sales ledger.” Val has been involved in all aspects of finance at McPhillips and is responsible for overseeing the HR, Administration and Business Finance functions.
Val believes that staying true to family values is what underpins McPhillips’s low turnover of staff… “We work hard to look after our people, so much so that our direct employment model for on-site labour is in contrast to the majority of our competitors. One thing we don’t build at McPhillips is ivory towers, if you want to share thoughts or ideas with our directors the door is always open”

Testimonials

"The site manager and assistant site manger did a fantastic job on the scheme, they were friendly, reliable, professional and their experience on managing the subcontract labour and technical ability was second to none."

Ian Lowe, BIT Group

"McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd undertook the construction of a recent public realm scheme in Shrewsbury, they provided traffic and pedestrian management to manage the construction of the scheme in a busy urban area, with high pedestrian footfall. All civils and re-paving works were completed to a high standard and in a tidy, productive and efficient manner. They were able to engage with Shrewsbury BID to aid in the planning of events, as well as liaising with local businesses and shops to minimise impact. They worked effectively and efficiently to complete works to the accepted programme and administered the contract well using web based management systems. There were good working relationships between all parties, and their on-site management of personnel was excellent."

Scott Hughes, WSP

"McPhillips were good to work with and they were always keen to resolve any issues or complications which obviously occur on such a large and complex project, probably the biggest S278 Worcestershire has ever dealt with."

Sally Everest, Worcestershire County Council

"Having been the first time we have used McPhillips as a main contractor we have been impressed at the ease at which we have developed a good working relationship to enable the project to be maintained to timeline and budget incorporating both additional work items and some more unusual occurrences on-site."

Richard Allen, London & Cambridge Properties

"We will most certainly use McPhillips again and we will have no hesitation in recommending you to other schools and colleges."

Sheena Hodgson, The Westwood Academy

"The site delivery team were extremely helpful. The site was clearly always orderly, fully resourced and well managed throughout. The workmanship was of the highest quality and the project was delivered on-time and within budget providing The Wrekin Housing Trust with a facility of which we are justifiably proud. Overall WHT is more than happy with McPhillips’ performance on Oakwood and wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again in the future."

Karen Lloyd, The Wrekin Housing Trust

"I will have no hesitation in employing McPhillips on other projects and therefore look forward to working with you again; it was a pleasure working with you and your team, demonstrating a positive approach throughout the project."

Mike Steele, Birmingham City Council

"The quality of the work provided is always of a high standard and every effort is made to accommodate the needs of businesses and residents impacted by the work. With regard to project management, I found the management team and site staff to be amenable at all times. I would highly recommend McPhillips to be considered for any highway regeneration projects or similar works."

Steve Hollins, Telford & Wrekin Council

"McPhillips carried out work for Adams’ Grammar School between May and September 2013. They did so under some stringent conditions imposed by the school and performed admirably to meet significant deadlines. Their work on site was also very impressive; their site manager was most professional and worked seamlessly with our own employee when there needed to be alterations/modifications. They worked very easily around children and kept an appropriate distance from our own work. When it came closer to the deadlines they produced work at an impressive speed in order that we were able to open on time. We will certainly use them again."

Michael Barrett, Adams' Grammar School

"I can truly say that I could not wish to have worked in conjunction with a more impressive and agreeable contractor than McPhillips. Many thanks for the experience."

Peter Oughton, Dogs Trust

"We’re delighted with the work carried out by McPhillips. Thanks to their excellent building and civil engineering experience and skills we’ve been able to create an enriched environment for our dogs."

Clarissa Baldwin OBE, Dogs Trust

"We have no hesitation recommending McPhillips and look forward to the opportunity of working with them in the future."

Pam Edwards, The Wrekin Housing Trust

"McPhillips and their team were professional and efficient from tender stage through to contract completion, with a can do attitude that brought the scheme in on time and on budget within tight constraints."

Bob Nicholson, Pochin Developments

"Everyone has commented favourably on the quality of workmanship and the professional, courteous and organised approach of the men involved. As a consequence, the work was completed to a very high standard, in a very short time with the minimum of noise and disruption to residents."

Diane Peacock, Pengrove Residents Association

"McPhillips performed extremely well with a high quality of workmanship and a professional approach in dealing with the public and businesses in a very busy part of the town. I can confidently recommend McPhillips as a competent and professional contractor and since this scheme, I have worked with them on various projects and would be pleased to work with them again in the future."

Karl Farrow, Cheshire West & Chester Council

"I would have no hesitation in recommending McPhillips."

Paul Harris, Shropshire Council

"The team from McPhillips remained positive and proactive throughout, working with the Council's team to find solutions and deliver an enabled site which was fit for purpose. Their can-do attitude and pragmatic approach has been essential in delivering a successful project for the Council."

Kate Turner, Telford and Wrekin Council

"McPhillips has an excellent understanding of the client's needs and works collaboratively to achieve a quality product."

Peter Parker, Birmingham City Council