patrick walsh

I was responsible for the management of the national surveyor network (circa 100 surveyors) working with a team of area managers to ensure we met client SLAs and KPIs, continually looking to improve service by means of training and use of new technology as well as trialing new ways of working to improve the customer journey.

Following the success in winning the contract with the Royal Sun Alliance, I became responsible for its delivery. We developed an in-house workforce to suit client requirements complementing our sub-contract network solution. I worked tirelessly to ensure we offered a market leading solution. I gained great experience in a difficult contractual situation whilst maintaining the client relationship throughout.

Following consolidation in the insurance market, we were left with one major client. I took this role on in order to investigate the market, our competitors and source one or more new clients. We were successful in winning a major contract with the Royal Sun Alliance for delivery of 30,000 building claims per annum.

I successfully managed team of 7 contract managers in North West England, eventually taking responsibility for teams in the midlands, North East and Scotland. During this time, I was part of a project team who won the “Investors in People” award for the Aqumen group.

As one of the initial team who set up Mowlem’s Building Insurance Division, my initial role as contract manager necessitated sourcing and vetting a team of suppliers in Northwest England. Once in place I was responsible for surveying, specification and placing of all contracts, contract management, health and safety and the production of final accounts, working for several insurance companies; contracts varied up to the value of £30k, many running in conjunction.

I qualified as an Architectural Technician, firstly working with McMahon and Hickey, Architects and Structural Engineers (Limerick, Ireland) on private housing and commercial projects. In January 1987, I relocated to London and worked as a self-employed Architectural Technician with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on several housing refurbishment projects, including surveying, design, planning and building regulation approval, appointing contractors, site management to completion. I also worked with Hunter and Partners (Architects and Building Surveyors) as senior technician on an £8 million warehouse conversion to offices, Alan May and Company (Building Surveyors) on both private housing and commercial building contracts, London and Quadrant Housing Association and as a contract maintenance surveyor with Muir Group Housing Association following relocation to Chester before joining Mowlem.

This role was developed as a result of collaboration between Norwich Union and Carillion to provide a market leading solution for NU’s customers. I managed an office in Manchester with 25 office staff, and 25 home-based field surveyors. We worked to develop approved suppliers to help deliver a sustainable claims solution. I was responsible for profit and loss, operational management, delivery of financial and commercial targets as well as business development.

This role involves managing a number of projects, relative to improving operational performance among office and field staff. One of the notable projects was working in conjunction with Cunningham Lindsey to help develop and deliver a residential course to improve the validation skills of our surveyors, leading to the present high level of expertise in the field. I am also responsible for developing knowledge of Fraud and Recoveries for all Asprea staff.