Jose is an RC Site Supervisor at Howard Civil Engineering, bringing 34 years of experience in the construction industry and more than two decades of experience managing reinforced concrete projects. He joined HCE in 2017 and has since played a key role in delivering a wide range of complex reinforced concrete schemes.
Over the course of his career, Jose has worked on some major and technically challenging projects. Prior to joining HCE, his experience included managing the construction of 5m-high water tanks in Madrid and supervising the complex suspended fifth-floor swimming pool at the LG Arena Hotel in Birmingham.
Since joining HCE, Jose has continued to work across a diverse range of reinforced concrete projects, including Leeds City College, Leeds Bradford Airport, York Gateway – Hudson Quarter, Bradford One City Park and Scarborough Hospital. His work has involved everything from complex structural elements and specialist waterproofing to large-scale concrete frames and demanding site conditions.
Q&A with Jose
What’s been one of your proudest professional achievements?
One of my proudest achievements was working on 1 Blackfriars in London. It was a 50-storey tower and a very busy and complex job, so being part of a project of that scale was something I was very proud of.
Is there a project you’ve worked on that stands out to you most and why?
The World Resort at the NEC Birmingham stands out to me. It was a major development including a casino, hotel and shopping centre. The project required five tower cranes, three mobile cranes and various spider cranes, and I was managing around 200 staff. It was a big challenge, but a great experience.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career?
Always be solution-focused. Never see a problem as unsolvable. I’ve also learned a lot from working with different people and different perspectives.
What aspect of your role do you enjoy most?
I love a challenge. Taking on a complex job or managing large teams of more than 100 gives me a lot of satisfaction. I enjoy the responsibility of making sure everything comes together.
What’s the most challenging part of your role?
Making sure everyone is working together. On site, people working on different elements of a project can sometimes have different priorities. Making sure everyone is pulling in the same direction is really important. Unity is key to success.
Are there any emerging trends or technologies in the industry that excite you?
I’m very impressed with the DOKA slipform system. Its ability to use slipform construction to efficiently build large, vertical reinforced concrete structures is very impressive.
What skills do you think are most important for success in civil engineering today?
Understanding the people you work with. When you understand your colleagues, you know how to get the most out of them. Good teamwork is essential to a successful project.
How would you describe the company culture in three words?
Great, supportive, responsive. When you ask senior management for the resources you need, they never refuse or say there’s no budget available. They are very supportive when the site team needs something.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy fishing, football and online gaming. I also enjoy having a drink with friends.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?
Health and safety comes first. It’s one of the most important pieces of advice I could give to each new generation of construction workers.
What motivates you professionally?
Pride in the work I do. I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing a job well done and knowing that I’ve played my part in delivering it successfully.
What are you looking forward to most in the next year?
Continuing to grow and develop professionally.
What’s one thing you couldn’t get through the workday without?
The rest of the team on site. It’s always good to see everyone each day and have a chat. When the atmosphere is good, a job flies!
