An Interview with Tom Walker
This year we are featuring blogs about our people and giving them a platform to share their stories.
We spotlight the Associate Director within our Building Consultancy team, Tom Walker in our new ‘Inspire Interview’ feature, where we hear from our team – what their professional journey has been like so far and their advice and inspirations.
Tells us about your career journey to date
At school I wanted to be an architect; however, I quickly found out I couldn’t draw so I thought a career in architecture might not be for me. Then when looking at possible university courses found building surveying and never looked back.
I was lucky to secure a year out placement at a small independent practice in York as part of my degree and returned to the company after university where I gained my chartered status. I then moved to a large multi-discipline firm of surveyors in Leeds where I have been for the last 9 years before joining Bowman Riley earlier this year.
What’s your favourite thing about Bowman Riley?
The people, I have been made to feel very welcome.
What was your first job?
Working for the press association, doing the live score updates for football which involved speaking to ex-professional footballers at the games and inputting the data which feed into the BBC website and Sky Sports Vidiprinter.
What attracted you to a career in the built environment?
Building surveying appealed to me as I didn’t want to sit at a desk all day. The range of different instructions we can undertake means that there is always a variety of work on new and existing buildings.
What’s been your career highlight to date?
I worked on the former BHS Store in Lincoln. I undertook the landlord enabling works of the 34,000 Sq. ft store ahead of new tenant taking occupation. It was a challenging project with the unit extending beyond the client’s ownership and a large amount of asbestos within the building.
What piece of advice would you give someone entering the industry?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Tells us something people might not know about you?
I have run a marathon.