Ross Burwell

Ross originally joined Mace in 2011 as part of a 12 month work placement from university. He returned upon completion of his degree in 2013 and has since completed the Mace Graduate Development Programme. Ross started working in construction but has moved into consultancy and is now undertaking his first international project in Vietnam.

How did you get into what you do?

A lot of my family work within the construction industry, so I realised from quite a young age that I wanted to follow in their footsteps. When it came to choosing what to study at university, a construction related degree seemed like the obvious choice. I was given the opportunity to complete a placement year with Mace, which taught me so much and gave me a hunger to get straight back working on site after my degree.

What do you enjoy most about your role at Mace?

I really enjoy the variety it offers and the opportunity to constantly learn new things. I’m always exposed to new challenges as the projects we work on progress and evolve on a daily basis. The fact that I’m not simply doing the same thing day in, day out is what keeps me motivated!

What has been your favourite piece of work at Mace?

Phase 2 of the City Gardens project in Vietnam, which I’m currently working on. The six residential towers in Ho Chi Minh City is the first project that I’ve worked on outside the UK and it’s been really demanding but rewarding at the same time. The challenges have allowed me to gain and develop new skills that are vital in furthering my career.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into what you do?

Do some research and develop a five to ten year career plan. Working for a company like Mace offers you the opportunity to work within a number of different sectors and all over the world. If you truly want to take advantage of every opportunity, you must be proactive and not be afraid to challenge yourself.

What do you see as the big trend for your specialism in the next five years?

Providing the construction industry continues to grow and remains busy over the next five years, I anticipate that main contractors will become far more risk averse and selective in terms of what projects they bid for. Companies such as Mace could be forced to reevaluate how projects are procured as a result of contractors being unwilling to operate in a high-risk, low-margin environment. It’s likely to result in a more integrated approach whereby contractors play a far more prominent role in the early design stages.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Definitely sport. I’ve been into boxing from a very young age and I try to go to the gym when I can, but football is my favourite. My earliest ambition was to become a professional footballer but I quickly realised that my ability didn’t quite match my ambition!