Name: Jon Folly
Age: 29
Job Title: Senior Project Manager
University Attended: Cardiff University
Degree Obtained: BEng (Hons), PhD, ICIOB
Brief career history: I have a first class civil engineering degree, as well as PhD in how to bury nuclear waste underground! After leaving University I worked as a geotechnical engineer before joining MPM Capita (now Capita Symonds) as an Assistant Project Manager in September 2002.

What have you been up to?

I’ve had the privilege of working for a number of high profile projects including the 2012 Olympics (pre and post bid), Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, BBC Television Centre, and the landmark £750m redevelopment of Battersea Power Station.

My current pride and joy is Chelsea FC’s 1st Team Training Academy in Cobham, which achieved Practical Completion at the beginning of May 2007 and was officially opened by Roman Abramovich at the start of July. It’s designed with all the players in mind, from the youngest academy player to your Lampards, Drogbas and Cechs, and contains all the latest in training and rehabilitation equipment. One of the most distinctive aspects of the new design is a moat around the main building to allow light into the basement – very state of the art!

Why Capita Symonds?

The company offered me immediate responsibility, which as a new graduate was novel and extremely challenging and fulfilling. They also had a decent sports portfolio…which I am now championing!

What other projects are you working on at the moment?

Besides being Project Director for Chelsea FC’s 1st Team Training Academy, I’m Project Manager on a feasibility study for a Community Sports Hub in Warrington, a Big Lottery Fund PE & Sports portfolio in Lambeth, the Westminster Academy near Paddington and an office fit-out for Network Rail in York.

What opportunities have you had to train and develop your skills at Capita Symonds?

I’ve found the biggest training opportunity to be the responsibility to run your own projects and develop new business opportunities. Formal courses are always available to support on-the-job learning and development.

What are the specific benefits of working at Capita Symonds?

The work is varied, interesting and always a challenge - you can work on every type of project from a housing estate to Wembley, and clients range from commercial organisations to public bodies. The people are also great and I’ve really made a lot of friends here. We also get a host of benefits such as performance-related pay, share schemes, shop discounts and flexible working hours.

What’s one of your key challenges for the future?

Sustainability and the environment are key issues in the building industry with the drive to reduce carbon footprints affecting every aspect of our work. As a project manager I need to be aware of how a building’s emissions can drive up costs and the benefits of using eco-technologies such as solar power and water recycling.