Meet the Team: Richard Jones, Assistant Building Control Surveyor

Meet the Team: Richard Jones, Assistant Building Control Surveyor

Richard has recently joined the Canterbury office as an Assistant Building Control Surveyor, bringing valuable support to both the team and the wider business’s growth ambitions.

With a remarkable 18 years of hands-on experience in the construction industry, Richard brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the team. His transition from a builder to ensuring buildings meet the highest standards of safety and compliance is a testament to his expertise and dedication.

We caught up with him to hear more about his career shift – from working with tools to navigating building regulations, his new role, and why he recommends the job to others.

Firstly, welcome to the team! Could you tell us a bit about your background and what you were doing before you joined Harwood?

I have spent many years working in the construction industry. I ran my own building company for a while, doing everything from paving jobs to full extensions and refurbishments. I learned a lot of it working with my dad in swimming pool construction. Eventually, I set up on my own and managed projects.

What made you decide to transition from the tools to a technical role in building control?

Honestly, the physical demands of carrying out the construction work were beginning to take their toll on my body. Construction has always been something I’ve been curious about, and I knew I wasn’t ready to give up working on construction projects.

One day, while working on one of my projects, I began chatting with the building inspector, and that’s when it clicked that this was the job for me. I’ve always had a genuine interest in how buildings are constructed and the methods used to assemble them.

Working as an inspector has allowed me to stay close to the site while also providing an opportunity to view the projects from a different perspective.

How did you find the change from builder to surveyor?

It was a significant change from what I had previously been doing, especially moving back into a structured learning environment. I joined the local authority building control in December 2023, which meant diving into formal study and assessments. But once I got stuck into it, I began to realise very quickly that I really enjoy the technical side of building control.

How have you found your first couple of weeks? And what’s it been like since joining Harwood?

Really positive. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect moving from the local authority into the private sector, but from day one, everyone at Harwood has been incredibly supportive. People are quick to offer help, and you never feel like you’re on your own. I’ve been working closely with Martin Reavey, Senior Project Manager, and Adam Dodd, Operations Director both of whom have been brilliant and helpful.

I also enjoyed participating in a staff training day, which allowed me to meet most of the team in person early on. That really helped. There’s a lot of remote work in this job, so it’s essential to have moments to connect face-to-face. They’re a really good bunch here.

This role differs significantly from my previous local authority job, which primarily involved residential projects. In comparison, joining Harwood has allowed me to work on a much broader and more varied range of schemes. That was a massive draw for me – I wanted to grow and get exposure to different kinds of work, and here I can.

Have you had the chance to work on any interesting projects yet?

It’s still early days, but I’ve already issued my first plan check, and it went really well. Just a single-storey extension, but I was pleased with how it turned out – and so was Martin. I’ve also been on a few inspections with Adam that’ve been more complex than what I was used to seeing at the local authority.

Where do you see yourself heading in your career?

I recently passed my application to become a Class 2A Registered Building Inspector, and I’m just waiting for the certificate to then register with the BSR (Building Safety Regulator) but my goal is to reach Class 2F within the next five years. This will allow me to work on more complex schemes. I’m still learning what type of projects I enjoy most, but I’m leaning towards getting more involved in commercial projects.

As someone who has moved into the building control profession, would you recommend the job to others?

Some people love being on the tools, and that’s great. But if you’re someone who’s interested in the “why” as much as the “how”, and you don’t mind putting in the study, it’s a brilliant career path. It’s challenging, but really rewarding. For me, I feel like I’ve finally found the thing I should have been doing all along.