In 1990, Roger took his first steps in the Defence sector when he worked on two projects at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. He then got involved in other Defence projects building facilities at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall as part of the UK secure IT network.
After spending some time working internationally on projects outside of the sector, in 2000, Roger joined the team working on the refurbishment project of the MoD Main Building. His role included designing and installing enhanced security systems within high-security confines such as the Old War Office.
A highlight of my career so far
One of Roger's career highlights includes working as Project Manager on Skanska’s Bristol Schools project, which was secured in 2005 as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF). The first new build secondary school took 67-weeks and was opened by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown on time in September 2007.
Leading major Defence programmes and delivering long-term benefits
Since 2014, Roger has played a leading role in Skanska’s major Defence programmes – first as Construction Director, then as Project Director at Worthy Down to create a state-of the art tri-forces training facility. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing safety, wellbeing, quality, environmental design programmes, cost-effectiveness and successfully completing this major transformational project without disrupting any military training on the live site.
Projects
Currently, Roger is Project Director delivering the c£275 million Vehicle Storage Support Programme (VSSP) at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury. This mammoth project is consolidating 56 spaces into 12 modern, sustainable buildings to store and maintain the British Army’s land equipment fleet for the future.
Personal insights
Commenting on his work in Defence, Roger says:
"Working within secure environments such as Defence sites presents unique challenges that push me to innovate constantly. The need to work around residents', due to many sites doubling up as homes for military personnel, adds another layer of complexity to my job.
"Despite these challenges or perhaps because of them, I relish my job. The variety of projects across different locations keeps me engaged and passionate about my work in supporting the UK’s frontline services."