Gerald Beasley, major projects manager at the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) speaks to RICS East about his successful career to-date, his personal history and offers some tips for those just starting out in the surveying profession.
What is your current job?
My current job is Major Projects Manager within the Major Projects Office at EEDA. I am responsible for all land and property acquisitions and disposals and the estate management of EEDA’s property portfolio. I also work on large scale projects involving EEDA owned land or requiring funding from EEDA.
I am currently involved in the Watford Health Campus which is a £1 billion scheme to provide a new hospital, housing and commercial and leisure uses.
I am also involved in the Peterborough Carbon Challenge project which is the construction of some 400 zero carbon houses and apartments built to Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Career history?
Not a lot of people know this, but will now. For some 15 years I lived in the Tower of London where my father was a Beefeater, or more correctly a Yeoman Warder. I was surrounded by buildings, both ancient and modern, and looked for a career that would involve me in property.
I decided that I was not creative enough to be an architect but was practical enough to become a Chartered Surveyor. I have worked in Local Government; for a national food retailer; for a private sector developer; for English Partnerships and for Regional Development Agencies.
High and lows of the job?
Highs – for me the highs are working with professional people from all the disciplines involved in regeneration and property development.
The best reward is seeing a project though from inception to completion, delivering on time and within budget and creating something that will stand the test of time and be a lasting testimony to a great deal of hard work by many people.
Lows – not enough time in the day to do everything that is required and the e-mail culture that demands instant responses to everything.
Where are you from originally?
I was born and educated in London but then went to Sheffield to study full time for the RICS Examinations in General Practice. Whilst studying there I met my future wife and we have now been happily married for 32 years.
At the end of my studies I went back to London to take up a position in a Local Authority Estates Department where I stayed for about three years. During this time my future wife remained in Sheffield so it was a long distance romance involving a lot of travelling by each of us.
At the time when we decided to get married, an opportunity came up with a Local Authority in Chesterfield. This fitted in well with our plans as we had agreed that we would prefer to live in Derbyshire on the edge of the Peak District rather than in or around London. In hindsight, this was a very good decision as we have both thoroughly enjoyed living and working in that area.
Where do you live and work now?
About 18 months ago I secured a great position with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) based at Histon, just north of Cambridge. For various reasons we have not yet moved house so I am currently a weekend commuter.
During the week I rent a house four miles from the office. However, at the weekends I have a two and a half hour drive to get home. It all balances out as with my previous job I had a two hour return drive down the M1.
Do you have a family?
Yes, I have two sons. One is 26 years old and his brother is 23. The older one obtained his Degree in Computing and now works for a private company as a Systems Engineer.
My younger son has one more year to complete for a Degree in Psychology. He has recently decided that he wants to go into teaching so that will require a further year of studying for his teaching certificate.
How old are you?
I am 58 but often feel, and probably act, like a 28-year-old. I like to exercise as much as possible, by running and swimming, in order to stave off the inevitable paunch that results from too many working lunches and too much beer at my local rugby club.
You’re greatest achievement/project to date?
Whilst working for another RDA I took the lead role in the funding of a mixed use project involving housing, retail and office development.
The scheme was located on a derelict brownfield site at a major "gateway” to a town centre. I worked closely with the local authority, which was a landowner within the project, and together we worked with the developer to produce a scheme that was acceptable to all parties and that brought much needed quality jobs and economic benefits to the town.
Any advice for aspiring surveyors?
Get as broad a range of experience as possible before deciding on a specialism. Be focused on the objective and pay attention to the detail.
