Getting the buzz from construction

When walking around London, Galliford Try’s Barry Kingscote encourages people to look up, taking in the combination of old and new, the historic and modern that dominates the London skyline. “If you take the historic buildings and the new buildings together, they work, it’s exciting,” he says. “It gives you a buzz.”

For those within the construction sector, there is another level of appreciation for the work that has gone into each project, the techniques used, and the specialist knowledge required. Barry counts himself lucky to have been involved in many of these projects, including 1-4 Marble Arch, for which he was awarded both the gold in the Commercial category at the 2024 CIOB Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA) in April, and the overall Construction Manager of the Year Award.

The initial feeling on hearing his name announced as the winner was one of surprise, he says, because he had been so focused on winning his category that he hadn’t considered that his success there put him up for the top prize. 

“We were still back-slapping and shaking hands around our table and the tables around us when that presentation started, so you almost don't have time to process that you're in the final category,” he says.

As well as raising his personal profile, winning the award has also raised the profile of the capability within Galliford Try. Once people were aware of what the project involved, it prompted them to ask questions about whether Galliford Try could replicate the same success on their projects.

“It demonstrates the way we as a company approach work and the way that we can deliver a difficult and fantastic project,” he says. “I'm not the only one who can do this stuff in Galliford Try, we've got a lot of good managers. So in that respect, it just endorses what we do already.”

Pride in the work of the construction sector 

Asked what it is about the construction sector that makes people so proud of being a part of it, Barry says there are a number of reasons. Every project is different, with its own levels of complication and scope, which means the nature of the role changes year by year. There is a level of comradery within those who work in the sector, while the complexity of the work also makes it more attractive for those who wanted to push the limits of what is possible. 

“We want to challenge ourselves, and we want to stretch our knowledge,” he says. “People outside [the industry] don't fully understand the complexities of what we do. It's ever changing, and you work hard, but you produce a legacy every time and that gives you an element of pride.”

He encouraged those starting out in the industry to broaden their understanding of just how many career paths were available to them within construction, and to then ask as many questions about it as possible. 

“When a question comes into your head, don't be afraid to ask or suggest a solution. Engage with your team and draw on their experience. Go for it and enjoy the journey in this exciting industry,” he says.