Meet Sam, a Commercial Lead on our framework with Heathrow.
Sam is the youngest person in the world to have become a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) via the QS and Construction Pathway.
What led you to your career at Costain?
"I have worked on a range of road and rail projects in infrastructure and soon became aware of Costain thanks to its involvement in a major highways project, where I was impressed by its approach to managing the delivery of such a complex project. I soon applied to join Costain and was offered the opportunity to work on the Preston Western Distributor Road (PWDR) scheme, which Costain completed in 2023. I have since progressed to my current role as Framework Commercial Lead at Heathrow, where Costain is part of the H7 Framework."
How does your role contribute to improving people’s lives?
"Working as a Commercial Lead means I am embedded within delivery teams, ensuring that the works progressing on site remain within budget. This helps to guarantee that the entirety of a scope’s scheme is delivered and making sure the end-user benefits from the works. For highways schemes such as the PWDR, this means that communities are better connected through a more reliable, resilient road network."
What’s your biggest professional achievement and why?
"Personally, I am incredibly proud to have become a Fellow of the RICS in the time I have, as well as holding the position of Commercial Lead on the Heathrow Framework.
Beyond personal achievements, I enjoy being a team leader and helping others to progress in their own careers; it has brought me immense pride to see others progress, be that in moving to the next role within or Costain or achieving chartership themselves. I think sharing your own experience to help others progress is hugely fulfilling."
What do you enjoy most about working at Costain?
"Having worked for three major contractors in the industry I can comfortably say that Costain genuinely cares about its people. Costain also provides so many opportunities to progress in your career, meaning that a fresh challenge is always available!"
What have you learned / what has inspired you during your time at Costain?
"The senior leadership within the business are approachable and willing to share their own experiences, whether that be from Costain or their career as a whole. This provides hugely valuable context on what experience is needed to progress within the business and wider industry, whilst also offering comfort that the leadership themselves have had to work hard to get to where they are now."
What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career?
"Don’t be afraid of a challenge. I have been placed in quite daunting situations throughout my career where it would have been understandable for me to have said no to the opportunities presented. However, it’s important not to shy away from a challenge or be afraid to fail. It’s about putting yourself outside of your comfort zone and challenging yourself: that is how we all grow and develop as individuals.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. One of Costain’s values is being curious, and wanting to understand the ‘why’ behind something is a great quality you will only ever learn from asking those around you."
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn or search our careers page to learn about our current job opportunities.
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