As Greyfriars Project Management prepare to take another multi-million-pound project they manage into construction, Jon Barnard finds it hard to believe it’s just five years since he established the business.
“With construction starting on the site of the Great Yarmouth Operations and Maintenance Campus, it’s incredible to be able to look back at the scale of projects which we’ve helped deliver in just five years” says Jon.
Begun in 2018, Greyfriars Project Management specialise in the delivery of major development and infrastructure projects.
Greyfriars have solidified their position as a key player in East Anglia’s project management industry, providing their services for a number of high-profile programmes across the county and beyond.
With a focus on managing projects which create genuine community value, they predominantly work with local authorities, charities, academy trusts and similar organisations, and have supported works ranging in budget from £250K to £500M.
“We’re proud to have made projects which deliver real public benefit our focus and specialism. As an East Anglian business, it’s so rewarding to be part of developments which deliver such a positive impact on our community” adds Jon.
Notable projects Greyfriars have been involved with include: the delivery of the Operations and Maintenance Campus which is in construction, a revamp of a community area for Great Yarmouth’s Middlegate estate, a £500M development of the A46 Newark Bypass, a redevelopment of Angel Road Schools in Norwich, new facilities for the National Trust at Horsey Windpump and Morston Quay and two of the ongoing A47 dualling projects.
Despite celebrating just their fifth anniversary this month, Greyfriars have benefitted from Jon’s twenty years of experience in project management.
With a background in civil engineering, Jon started his career with May Gurney. He completed his apprenticeship before then working in a number of local authority roles, including leading sustainable transport project delivery in the Greater Norwich area and managing one of the first projects to go through the Planning Act 2008 Development Consent Order process – the Norwich Northern Distributor Road.
“Leading Greyfriars has been a new challenge, particularly leading a new and growing business through the pandemic. We’ve built a strong presence in the local business and construction communities, including becoming a committee member of Norfolk Constructing Excellence, invested time in training and development, benefitted from outsourcing elements like marketing – and created a great team which I am incredibly proud of” says Jon.
Greyfriars have experienced rapid growth in their first five years and now employ 15 highly-skilled project management staff, with more set to join before the end of 2023.
“The Project Manager is a very specialised role and we’re privileged to have found some of the very best in our region to join our team. In a construction industry dominated by men, I’m also very proud of our 60% female team” states Jon.
As the Norwich-based consultancy looks ahead to the next five years, they’re focusing on growing the business even further:
“We’re looking forward to the successful and timely delivery of all our current projects, as well as taking on additional exciting contracts. We’re eager to continue playing a part in delivering projects which boost the regional economy, and expanding our presence across the local community. Next steps for us include taking on an apprentice to help the next generation develop their skills” concludes Jon.
Greyfriars provide full project management services, including programme management, procurement, cost management, masterplanning and more for clients in the public, private, education and charity sectors.
For more information about their extensive service offering, visit: https://greyfriarspm.com/