Meet Ray, a programme director in the water sector.
Ray joined Costain in 2015 and has had a range of roles across our water and rail sectors.
What led you to your career at Costain?
"I was initially drawn to Costain by a former colleague, who mentored me for several years when I worked in Australia. That said, I was also aware of Costain’s reputation for delivering complex infrastructure projects and soon became familiar with its emphasis on innovation, collaboration and sustainability, which all align with my own values and professional goals. I later joined Costain as a site agent to help deliver Crossrail, Europe’s largest infrastructure project."
How does your role contribute to improving people’s lives? Please include an example of a specific project or initiative that you’ve been involved in and the difference it has made.
"As programme director for CMDP+, a joint venture between Costain and MWH Treatment, I lead the delivery of Southern Water’s wastewater portfolio for AMP8, which is seeing a record level of investment in water and wastewater infrastructure.
We seek to embed principles of production thinking – which combines modern methods of construction (MMC) with new technologies, lean techniques and digital tools – into our approach to delivering projects on the framework. This is helping us to deliver essential improvements to infrastructure that supports a more resilient water network for the millions of Southern Water customers reliant on a clean, reliable water supply each day."
What’s your biggest professional achievement and why? Examples include a person/team you have helped develop, an environmental or social impact achievement or a delivery performance target that was achieved above and beyond expectations.
"My greatest achievement throughout has been developing high-performing, collaborative teams that deliver excellence across complex and challenging programmes. Seeing people grow in confidence is incredibly rewarding.
I’m also proud of how we’ve embraced digital transformation and sustainability within CMDP+. We have used digital rehearsals to support the complex lift of three siphon pipes, each 30m long and weighing 29 tonnes, into Bewl reservoir, supporting a more resilient water supply and a better environmental outcome for the region."
What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?
"Without question, the people. Joining Costain has provided an opportunity to work alongside exceptional, talented and passionate individuals who are driven by a shared purpose, and I have met some great people in all capacities in the ten years since I joined the business. The culture of continuous improvement makes it a great environment to work in."
What have you learned / what has inspired you during your time at Costain?
"I’ve learned that true progress comes from collaboration and openness. Working with diverse teams within Costain, as well as with clients and across our supply chain, has shown me the power of shared purpose and how innovation flourishes when we create the right environment for it. The passion and commitment across Costain to deliver meaningful outcomes is evident inspires me to continue learning."
What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career?
"Be curious, be collaborative, and be open to learning from everyone around you. Costain offers huge opportunities to grow and make a real impact. If you bring enthusiasm, initiative, and a willingness to challenge yourself - an approach which has always stood me well in my career - you’ll thrive here."