Martin Sudweeks

UK Managing Director, Cost and Commercial Management

From the day I started at Turner & Townsend, the business has consistently challenged itself and I have never stopped learning. As a business, our mantra has always been that there is room for development, and that’s what I love.

As Managing Director of Cost and Commercial Management, I oversee a team focused on delivering concise commercial and procurement strategies to help clients obtain the best value for money from the industry on forthcoming and live projects.

A key part of my role is to evaluate market trends, movements and opportunities, and create better solutions for our clients as a result. For example, against a backdrop of digital transformation across the construction industry, there is an increased demand for digital solutions. We have already created a set of innovative digital tools to remain at the forefront of the digital agenda, including our embodied carbon calculator, which allows us to control the twin currencies of cost and carbon.

I’m forever finding new ways to expand our capabilities and cross-sector presence. Having taken lead on joining forces with London cost consultancy TTalinea, in recent years, we have been able to strengthen our knowledge and expertise in other markets such as commercial developer and tall buildings.

Last but not least, it is our people that drive the business forward. With an industry-wide skills shortage and digital innovation becoming an extremely competitive space, I am always searching for new talent who can bring fresh and alternative ideas to the table.

Having left school at the age of 18 (and my first ever job working on a handbag stall at Hitchin market), I graduated from Anglia Polytechnic (now Anglia Ruskin) to become a fully chartered surveyor via the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

It was also via the RICS that I found out about an apprenticeship programme at Turner & Townsend, so I applied and over 35 years later I am now the longest serving member of staff across our global business.

During that time, I have been able to travel the globe, around Europe, the Middle East, Australia and North America, fulfilling multiple managerial roles and working with some of our international clients and their major projects and programmes in real estate and energy and natural resources.

I returned to where I started in London, and I now head up our real estate cost and commercial management division.

Career highlights

Took on the role of Managing Director, Cost and Commercial Management
2020
Returned to Real Estate division
2015
Promoted to UK Managing Director, Energy and Natural Resources
2012
Returned to London as Head of Global Programmes
2010
Moved to Houston to take on role of Managing Director, North America
2006
Promoted to Partner
2004
Promoted to Associate Director
1998
Joined Turner & Townsend as one of its first apprentices
1987

Q. What attracted you to join Turner & Townsend?

A. Although the London team was small in 1987, the ambition was clear. The business was willing to invest in my training and development which really appealed to me and made the role so fulfilling.

Q. How has your career at Turner and Townsend developed?

A. I spent the first 18 years of my career at Turner & Townsend based in London as part of the cost and commercial management team. I then travelled around the globe fulfilling multiple managerial roles, including regional Managing Director for North America, global Head of Major Programmes and Head of Natural Resources (UK and Europe), before returning to my homeland to become head of London Cost and Commercial Management and finally Managing Director of Cost and Commercial Management.

Q. Which project are you most proud of being involved in at Turner & Townsend?

A. It’s got to be the Imperial War Museum North! I was captivated by the design. Daniel Libeskind said “the building will be formed through man’s continued conflict and the explosion of the earth’s crust to form a building made of water, air and earth shards” – and it did just that. I had the honour of being Lead Cost Manager on the project throughout its lifecycle. Seeing the vision come to life was incredible.

Q. Detail any specialist skills or experience for which you are known

A. My skillset and expertise mainly lies with the development of digital solutions, cost and commercial management, and new propositions and services.

Q. What is the emerging trend in your industry specialism and how are you responding to this?

A. Having begun my career with the early models of a fax and a phone, I’ve already witnessed multiple technological advancements and the need to adapt. I have always been a firm believer that we should not fear change but embrace it and use it to our advantage.

With technology and AI currently driving transformation across the industry, now has never been a better time to embrace that change. My team are encouraged to become pioneers and provide solutions to changing requirements which has already led to the creation of our latest digital tools including our suite of digital apps, our embodied carbon calculator, and our new client portal.