Career Profiles

Philip Robins BSc (Hons) MSc Associate Director

I joined Gardiner & Theobald Management Services’ London office in October 2001, having completed an MSc in Construction Management at the University of Birmingham. Prior to my time at Birmingham, I graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc in geography.

Upon joining GTMS, I concentrated upon work within the Higher Education sector, initially becoming involved in the £20m National College for School Leadership (NCSL) project, acting on behalf the University of Nottingham and their funding partner, the Department for Education and Skills. This prestigious scheme benefited from an innovative design by Hopkins Architects and won a prestigious RIBA award. During the course of my involvement in the project, the scope of my responsibility was gradually extended and I gained a strong understanding of the relationship between design and on-site activity.

My time on the NCSL project developed my knowledge and competence to the extent that I was able to work in an increasingly autonomous manner, taking responsibility for significant elements of a project and managing client contact, without the involvement of my superiors. During the period following completion of the NCSL I became involved in the redevelopment of a grade 1 listed building in the King’s College Campus on the Strand. My knowledge of working in historically sensitive projects was bolstered by work I was also doing on the St Martin-in-the-Fields development project, on a prominent site at the corner of Trafalgar Square.

Having been with GTMS for 18 months, my experience had developed to such an extent, that I was promoted from the position of Assistant Project Manager, to a full Project Management level, with total responsibility for development projects. At this point I began work as lead Project Manager on the development of the University of East London’s Dockland’s campus. As well as being responsible for the implementation of individual projects, I developed a strategic plan for the University, covering estates disposals, new-build and refurbishment. Having Completed the £5m School Architecture, Art & Design in February 2004, I have has been managing the £29m Business School & Learning Resource Centre Development.

More recently, I have been promoted to the level of Associate Director and I have broadened my horizons through work with Wycombe District Council on the development of a prestigious new sports centre. Furthermore, I am now managing projects for the national regeneration agency, English Partnerships. Most notably, I am involved in the Gardiners Lane South Scheme, the mixed development of a 37 Hectare site in Basildon.

Having been with Gardiner & Theobald for only 3 years, I am now responsible for several multi-million pound projects, leading project teams and advising clients at all stages of the development process. I cannot think of many other firms that would have facilitated such rapid career progression or exposure to as many high quality construction projects as Gardiner & Theobald.