18th Jan 2023
Team Spotlight: Paul – Contracts Manager
It’s time to go behind the scenes again as we bring you another team spotlight. This month, it’s our Contracts Manager, Paul Brown, here to tell you about himself, his role, and life at Blueprint Interiors.
Could you tell us a little bit about your role?
As a Contracts Manager you have multiple projects at any given time which are all at varying stages, so you have to spread yourself around different areas. In my role at Blueprint Interiors, the first thing I get involved with is the design and procurement process, as I support the team to estimate timelines.
Once the pre-contracts and design team hands me the finalised designs and the orders have been placed, I’m responsible for completing the project. I liaise with all the subcontractors and put together the construction phase health and safety plan. When this is completed, we make a start on-site and I review as things progress.
I also manage the cost variations and manage any unforeseen changes from the client or on-site, sorting the final invoices. Once the project has finished, I’m there for the client if they need anything.
What’s your favourite project you have been a part of so far?
I’m relatively new, so I haven’t been involved in too many projects as of yet, but I am involved in the Melton Building Society office remodel and revamp. It’s a huge job and Andy is leading it, but I’m also part of the team working on it. It’s the biggest project I’ve worked on and it’s an exciting opportunity to be a part of.
What is your favourite part about working at Blueprint Interiors?
I think it’s a combination of the people, the processes and the environment of the office. I work remotely sometimes but I enjoy going to the office because it’s a great place to work and everyone is really friendly.
What is your favourite area of worklife central to work in?
I generally split my time between two areas in WorkLife Central. I find the Project Lab is a great setting for collaboration, and we have some nice pieces of furniture, for example, the large ‘Co.Table’ is perfect for sharing with a number of colleagues and laying out drawings. Then if we need to present anything technology is on hand, with the large Click Share TV for screen sharing or video conferencing.
Secondly, I like to make use of the adjustable height desk in the quiet area behind the board room. This area is ideal if you want to get your head down in a spreadsheet for a few hours, with the ability to raise and lower the desk to mix up the working position.
What is your favourite part of the fit-out process?
I like how design-led Blueprint is and how our main focus is office design and workplace consultancy. When approaching a project, you can have your input at an early stage in the job, and this allows a lot of things to be ironed out. I like the collaborative approach as it helps us problem-solve more efficiently, helping the job flow through nicely.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The best lesson I’ve learnt is to always be honest with the client. Inevitably, you’re always going to have problems and being honest and straight up with a client is the best way to deal with it.
Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself that people might not know?
I’ve been to America nine times on road trips through 22 States. I love getting off the beaten track in America from cities to forests and I’ve visited different places from snow-covered mountains to the hottest place on earth in Death Valley. I also enjoy going to the theme parks and Cedar Point in Ohio which has some of the biggest rollercoasters in the world.
Meet the rest of the Blueprint Interiors team
Keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes content about our team on our social media. Or, take a look at our people page if you can’t wait until then!