For the latest Lord Combustion Services staff profile, we speak to contracts manager Peter Drew about his work for the company, the experience he has built up in the commercial heating industry and his hot footed pursuits outside of work.
When did you join Lord Combustion Services and what are the main responsibilities in your role?
I joined Lord Combustion Services in March 2021 and have been learning about the company as I get into the role. My responsibilities include building the repeat business from clients, working on new contracts and tenders and then supporting the staff who are working on contracts on site.
When did you work before you joined Lord Combustion Services?
I worked in consultancy for Stewart Associates for 16 years. At the start of my career, when I left school I was planning to go into a career in IT but after college I was not sure whether it would allow me to achieve what I wanted in life. I went into an apprenticeship in building services engineering for a large company which led to four years there, then on to a small consultancy where I worked for two and a half years before moving to Stewart Associates.
How has the industry changed during your career to date?
Early on in my career you would be putting in the “same old” equipment into places but the technology has changed a lot in recent years. We are now more involved in delivering bespoke solutions and more environmentally friendly renewable energy systems. We still replace and repair legacy equipment but for clients who want to reduce fuel consumption and use renewables, there are a lot more options out there which we can deliver.
What qualifications do you draw upon in your work?
When I was on day release with college early on, I got an HNC in building services engineering. On top of that because I had applied to be a CAD operator working in computers, I have got CAD qualifications to do electronic drawings.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact your work?
In my previous role there had been a degree of home working. When I started at Lord I was back into an office environment, which has been nice as we all work together and by being side by side we help each other out.
What advice would you offer someone starting their career in the industry?
Construction is not really a 9 to 5 job. It is one of those sectors where if you get given a job or task you often need to take as long as it needs to be done. There are always so many deadlines so there is pressure but it is not the sort of job where you can walk away. With Covid, there has been few normal days and it has not been unusual to be working well outside the normal hours to help customers who rely on you. It can be a time-consuming job at times but if you put the effort in you will get so much out of it.
What are your interests outside of work?
I am normally out and about running, often as part of a running club. I have done 5k runs, 10K runs, half marathons and marathons but I recently had a setback with injury. I like to set myself challenges that are achievable with hard work, which helps to motivate me. It is good to down tools and get out running, where you do not think about much more than just putting one foot in front of the other. My girlfriend has joined me in running so it has become a sociable activity for both of us.