GLM Hosts Final Seminar in Grand Designs Series
The final instalment of our highly successful seminar series, Grand Designs not Grand Disasters: Learn the Secrets to Successful Building Projects, went out with a bang at RICS headquarters on Friday, 15 April. Our fantastic panel of speakers investigated some of the most critical components of project planning and execution while shining a light of common pitfalls that can trip you up along the way.
Pierre Puyrigaud, Head of Project Management at GLM, started the afternoon off with a fascinating session on non-traditional but highly effective approaches to project planning. A highly experienced property professional with an extensive background in development, Pierre talked attendees through the LEAN principles approach to project planning and systemisation – a technique he used to revolutionise pre-production processes at Applecross Property. The learnings continued with an introduction to the Line of Balance project management approach that GLM is currently utlilising for the refurbishment of the Fife Arms Hotel. Attendees received a fascinating insight into project management approaches that break with tradition, but ultimately make much more sense.
Switching gears a bit, we were delighted to have Charles Hayward of Griffiths & Armour present on risk management and the common pitfalls that property professionals often encounter during this stage of the building process. As an expert in construction professional indemnity insurance after 23 years on the professional indemnity claims team in Liverpool, Charles has seen it all. His session gave a personal view, illustrated with fascinating (and sometimes terrifying!) anecdotes, of how construction professionals can avoid problems, above all by managing client expectations.
Finishing up our session and the entire Grand Designs series was an inspiring presentation from timber specialist and architect Peter Wilson of Timber Design Initiatives Ltd. TDI’s mission is to deliver new, Europe-wide approaches to education, innovation and demonstration of best practice in the use of wood in architecture, design and construction through applied research collaborations between academia and industry. Peter explored modern methods of construction set to take the industry by storm – specifically the incredibly versatility and practicality of timber.
Thank you to all of our speakers that came on board for the entire series. There are endless secrets to successful building projects to explore and discuss so watch this space for updates on upcoming GLM seminars.
