Gerald Birch
16, Green Lane, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2AP.
01889 620396
07975652769
gerald_birch@sky.com

D.O.B: 15.09.1966
Nationality: British

Personal Profile

• I have over 30 years experience within the construction industry. My experience ranges from managing planned maintenance, major work programmes, cyclical programmes, general property repairs, day to day maintenance reactive works, void works from key/survey to completion, compliance work and insurance work from first contact to completion, managing internal operatives and main contractors, and I have also been a contractor.
• I have experience of carrying out pre surveys, structural surveys, diagnose defects, raising bill of quantities, write schedules delegate and oversee works to completion, I can also carry out stock condition surveys, compliance management of gas, electric, and fire risk assessments, I’m asbestos aware.
• I can coordination and plan work for operatives and contractors. I was responsible for twenty four operatives, one supervisor, one surveyor and one admin staff and one contractor at a previous place of work. I can carry out regular 1 to 1’s so I can identify shortfalls, and suggest improvements, also carry out annual appraisals. I’ve also been a contracts manager which involved KPI monitoring, budget control and suggesting improving areas so that we achieved best value for money and improve performance.
• My past employment required me to coordinated cyclical painting programmes with a budget of nine hundred thousand pounds, planned kitchen programme with a budget of half million pounds, major works to completion, adaptation works from plan to completion, fencing programme, roofing programme, fascia, soffit and guttering programme and window replacement programme and also compliance work. I was also successful in winning further adaptation work for the company of a value of 80k. This involved me organizing access, surveying, drawing up the plans and submitting.
• I have good organization skills and can delegate works to direct operatives, and contractors, on day to day works, programmed work, planned work, voids and cyclical programmes, this also included me contract managing contractors, monitoring performance, ensuring first fix on works allocated, carry out post inspections and auditing cost of repairs.
• I can communicate well with the general public, managers, colleagues, contractors verbally and by written instructions, I also have good organization skills.
• I’m self-motivated, focused and have a can do attitude, I’m flexible in my approach to works and willing to cover for other colleagues, I’m always willing to pass on my experience and knowledge to others, as well has listen and learn from other people’s experiences, and knowledge. I’m always looking for ways of improving services, getting value for money, challenging contractors etc. to get a better service for stakeholder’s and customers.
• I’m commercially aware a look for opportunities to increase work, cut down on material costs etc.
• I’m P.C literate and can use Microsoft word, excel Proteus, Active H, Cyclops, NATFED 6.2, Ebis, Northgate and other bespoke systems.
• I’m always willing to undertake further training to expand my experience and knowledge.

Education and Qualifications

T.P Riley Comprehensive,
Lichfield Road,
Bloxwich.

7 GSCE’s including English and Maths level 2.

Institute of Occupational Health and Safety Certificate past 2016
TRADA Trained
Gas and Plumbing up to level 2 (city and guilds)
Ladder Association Inspector

Work Experience

June 2017 – Present
Walsall Housing Group
Project surveyor- Responsible for the Quantity/Project surveying of the programmed work within the group, carry out compliance inspections when required and submit full reports and costing.
I’m responsible for the contract management of the M&E replacement programme because of my past experience in dealing with gas and electric in previous positions. The central heating programme has improved since I took ownership of it and the KPI return is over 96%, I also procured the contractor for electrical rewire, consumer units and smoke alarm programme and manage the contractor. This included compliance with H&S, monitoring budgets, variations etc.
I also carried out feasibility surveys on BISF’S and overseen the pilot BISF to hand over and final invoice. I have carried out surveys and costing on the 2018/19 EWI programme, also assisting in kitchen, bathroom, windows replacement programme, flat roofing and estate improvement work when require. I also chair regular contractor meetings to ensure that we are within budget, achieve best value and within time.
I also QS the programmed work as and when required and omit or agree variations. Raise the required orders.
The work requires me to deal the public; managers from other areas, external contractors, being a point of contact for the resident and contractors, auditing the work and contractors will the works are in progress to completion. Carry out post inspections and arrange the snagging if required, also dealing with any complaints if they arise.

January 2017 – June 2017
Gelder Group
Temporary Contracts Manager – Responsible for the managing of insurance and restoration claims from pre starts to completion, responsible for the management of sixteen operatives, I would also oversee surveys carried out by our internal surveyors following their visits, highlight issues regarding the surveys and work required, arrange work for internal operatives, various sub-contractors, costings, negotiate variations, final invoicing etc.
The job required me to attend the property to assess the work and arrange start dates, etc. I would source the materials for the work, negotiate and purchase the required materials, delegating work to the internal trades and contractors. I would negotiate costs for the work and materials and raise the required works order for the required contractors.

July 2015 – January 2017
East Midlands Housing Group – Restructure
Temporary Planned Property Coordinator – Responsible for the planning of the regions kitchen replacement programme, adaptation programme, ramps, cyclical programme. Re roofing, window replacement programme, re modelling works, quoted works, day to day and voids for 20+ operatives.
The job requires me to liaise with clients and customers from concept, site visits to completion/hand over of the works and final invoice. I can write specifications, quote for works using NATFED codes, attend meetings, and carry out quality checks while works are in progress.
I also review teams and restructure them if required, carry out team meeting, 1 to 1’s, monitor performance and budget as well as assist in the recruitment process and the disciplinary process.
I also won extra work for the association through winning two out of the three contracts for further adaptation works. The two programmes were worth eighty thousand pounds. I was responsible for the purchasing of the materials; arrange start dates, operatives and contractors from concept to completion.

April 2010 – July 2015
Sanctuary Housing Association
Area Planned and Reactive Maintenance Surveyor – Responsible for the management of the planned and reactive programme, I would carry out pre repairs surveys, scheduling the required works, send and review the tender returns and delegating works to the contractor. I would attend the pre contract, progress and post inspection meetings, dealing with variations, final invoicing. I would also Project manage the re investment programmed works within my area when required, I would also carry out Stock Condition Surveys to Sanctuary’s stock, Fire Risk Assessments, asbestos management, day to day inspections, replacement air and ground source heating, mutual exchanges, complaints and assist in recruitment.
I can identify defects, put into place remedial works, delegating work to internal operatives, contractors; I also carry out post inspections once works have been completed.
I also deal with site improvement works, major works, I can also deal with complaints from delegation to completion this involves me investigating the complaint, reviewing, and concluding the complaint. I would then review and put into place any improvements to limit any further complaints. I was also responsible for the contract management of two contractors.

Trade Supervisor – Responsible for 12 operatives and contractor in the running of reactive repairs, void works, planned works to completion, ensuring works are carried out safely, within time, budget, and complying with company policy. I would also be first point of contact regarding any issues that may arise while carrying out the required works. I Carry out 1 to 1’s, and appraisals, I’m responsible for the fleet, tool and material audits, pre and post inspection of day to day repairs and voids, scheduling works, monitoring of performance and advise managers of any short falls and put in place plans to improve services, attend meetings as and when required, I also deal with complaints from first contact to completion.

August 2009 – November 2009
Sub Contractor Nottingham – Temporary
Temporary Technical Officer – Responsible for the technical advice etc to colleagues, policyholders, clients, and contractors. Review insurance surveys before submitting them to clients. Co-ordination of trades and surveyors, booking in works, sourcing and ordering of materials, allocation of works to internal operatives or contractors, updating of claims to managers and clients, Overseeing the works allocated from start to finish through to invoicing.

September 2008 – August 2009
Homeserve Property Repairs – Made Redundant
Operations Estimator – Responsible for the building of works schedules after the surveyors site visits, and forwarding to the loss adjusters for approval.
I would then be responsible for the sourcing of materials, the allocation of works to internal tradesman or external contractors. I was the first point of contact if clients, policyholders, trades or contractors required any information, advice regarding the claim.
I was also responsible for the negotiations of any variations that arise with loss adjusters, clients etc. I would update managers of performance, income etc.

March 2008 – September 2008
Trident Housing Association – Agency
Void Surveyor – Responsible for the pre and post inspection of all housing stock regarding voids, scheduling of works, budget control allocation of works to contractors and overseeing works to completion. Training of colleagues regarding the void process from pre to post inspections, scheduling and ordering of works. Also assist in the surveying of day to day surveys, identifying defects, ordering of works to rectify defects.

October 2007 – April 2008
Contractor for Homeserve – Self employed lack of work
Contractor – Responsible for the insurance surveys of properties, identifying cause of damage, also subsidence claims, scheduling of works, sourcing and ordering materials, organizing tradesman, contractors to carry out the work, overseeing works, liaise with lost adjusters, post inspection of works and invoicing.

July 2003 – October 2007
Bromford Housing Association
Property Surveyor and Direct Team Leader – Responsible for the pre and post inspection of work required to Bromford stock, this included day to day, planned works and void works. I would schedule the works, and allocate to the direct operative or contractors. I would oversee the works to completion. I was also responsible for the management of Bromfords direct maintenance team. I would also allocate and organize the day to day works, and ensure all works are completed with time and budget. I would manage the fleet, tool and materials required to carry out the repairs, carry out 1 to 1’s and appraisals.

2002 – 2003
King Design and Build Contractors – Company moved to Devon
Insurance surveyor/manager – Responsible for the visiting of properties to carry out insurance surveys. I would identify the cause of the damage and send a report back to the client, I would schedule the works, source the materials, organize the trades to carry out the works, oversee the works to completion, liaise with policyholder, clients and loss adjusters. Post inspection of completed works and invoice.

2001 – 2002
Steve Armstrong Contactor – Lost contract
All Rounder/Foreman – Responsible for reactive works, and planned works to void properties, I would supervise direct operative and contractor when on site, liaise with suppliers, mangers and surveyors.

2000 – 2001
W.M.B Restoration – Moved Location
All Rounder/Foreman – Responsible for the restoration repairs of church’s, public and private building up to the value of ½ Million pounds. Supervise tradesman and contractors.

1995 – 2000
Steve Armstrong Contractor – Lost Contact

All Rounder Maintenance Foremen
1990 – 1995 – Sub Contractor

All Rounder Painter and Decorator
1989 – 1990 B and D Contactors

Painter and Decorator
1987 – 1989 Len Butler Contractors

Painter and Decorator
1985 – 1987 Joe Alcock Contractor

Trainee Painter and Decorator
1983 – 1985

YTS and Walsall College of Art

Skills

Good all round knowledge of building trades and procedures
H&S aware
Good communication skills, written and verbal
Good organization skills
Work well within a team or on my own
Use my initiative
IT skills
Adaptable
Flexible
Self-motivated
Focused

Interests and Activities

Family orientated we go walking, horse riding, fitness training, days out etc.

Karate student for over 14 years of which I have 2 black belts in two different arts in my spare time which has helped me with my focus, confidence, setting goals and focusing on the goals set.

Reference

Available on request