This month, we spoke with Tom Vince, Business Development Director at Merit, as part of our ‘Meet the Team’ series!
In the conversation below, Tom shares his insights on the significance of customer relations, offers his top career advice and highlights what sets Merit apart from its competitors.
Tell us about your career journey and what led you to your role as Business Development Director at Merit?
I started in the construction industry as a trainee engineer in 1999 for BAM Nutall. My career progressed through the ranks at BAM Nutall as I gained my Civils Engineering Degree in 2003 and Chartership in 2009. I left Bam Nuttall in 2014 as Project / Framework Manager, having had a varied career delivering projects such as reservoirs and infrastructure upgrades for Southern Water and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Following this, I joined Jacob’s field services arm which provided the turnkey delivery solution to their design services. Initially joining as Project Manager, I also spent time as Commercial Manager to straighten out commercial issues on projects, implementing and managing a CVR procedure within the business.
I joined Merit in 2017 as Project Director and managed the delivery of projects such as Gosnell’s Cosmetics Factory, CGT’s Phase 2 Cleanroom fit out and UKBIC.
Customers relations have always been central to my career and I believe that developing pragmatic and collaborative relationships with clients is key to the delivery of successful projects. In my role at Merit, I became more involved in tender site meetings, which involves establishing a productive relationship with clients to understand their key deliverables and concerns in order to provide Merit with a strong bid. Following this success, I was asked to join and expand Business Development team focusing specifically on the NHS and Health sector.
What excites you most about working in the offsite construction industry?
Merit’s product platform is truly unique and we are able to set ourselves apart from the traditional build and modular contractors.
How does your role contribute to Merit’s mission of delivering innovative and sustainable construction solutions?
By obtaining honest client and stakeholder feedback from the market and using this feedback for the business to further improve and innovate our offering.
Can you share a project or moment at Merit that you found particularly rewarding?
The delivery of the CGT project on time, to a high-quality and a strong client relationship which subsequently transformed the business. We were then able to bid and win projects such as Autolus and Piramal Pharma Solutions.
If you could describe working at Merit in three words, what would they be?
Energetic, innovative, challenging.
What single piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in your profession?
Your career is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy every step along the way and embrace challenges; they are opportunities in disguise.
Do you have a life philosophy?
Stoicism teaches the development of self-control as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. Being a clear and unbiased thinker allows me to understand the universal reason without biased.
Favourite book and box set?
I like a good thriller. Both the Dan Brown and Games of Thrones series are a great way to escape and relax.
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