Whether it’s propping up a bridge or retaining a listed building façade, structural support systems are a common example of temporary works, used on construction and civil engineering projects around the country. Recognising this need, we’ve invested in a dedicated structural support team, on hand to help you and your projects.
Read on, as we caught up with the team to find out more…
Can you introduce yourselves and tell me about your previous experience?
Matt Quatrello – Sure, I’m the Head of Structural Support – Sales. I started my career in the manufacturing and mechanical engineering sector, with around 14 years in engineering before moving into construction and sales – including a previous stint at Mabey Hire. With 20 years in construction now, a lot of my time has been spent around propping and structural support, I’ve managed site installation teams and worked on a broad range of projects. I use this experience to manage a team of structural support specialists providing nationwide expertise in propping and jacking.
Mark Gent – I’m the Structural Support Sales Manager for the Midlands. I am a qualified Mechanical Engineer. I’ve been working in the civils industry for around 19 years now, with 12 of those years spent at Mabey Hire between 2006 and 2018. Pretty much all my experience has been within the propping and structural support field.
Grant Williamson – I’m similar to Mark but I cover the Scotland region. I actually came from a PPE background originally and ended up working in the construction and mechanical plant sector, before continuing my career in temporary works.
What made you want to join the Mabey Hire team?
Matt – Mabey Hire’s reputation and expertise really makes it a leader in its market. There’s a great admiration for our brand and the Mabey Hire name, which is something we’ve all been a part of. Now, under the ownership of PERI, there’s exciting potential for the future of the company, which is something I wanted to be a part of.
Mark – Echoing what Matt said, Mabey Hire’s market presence is very strong. Having spent time here and possessing an understanding of how the business operates and its customers, we knew that structural support was a key target area for growth.
Grant – I think Mabey Hire is coming into a very exciting period, with the PERI acquisition and our strong standing in the industry. So, when I got the call to see if I’d be interested in taking the role, I couldn’t say no!
Why was the structural support team formed? What value will it add for your customers?
Matt – It’s all about providing our customers with dedicated, specialist support. Temporary works can be complex. We’re here to try to simplify the process for customers, ensuring things get done right first time and their projects run as smoothly as possible.
For all our customers, whether it’s a Tier One contractor or SME, collaboration is key. They want someone who will visit their site, provide advice and be there to offer project support whenever it is needed. Our team provides them with just that.
Mark – As a dedicated team focusing solely on structural support, we’re able to respond to customer queries faster, helping them get their projects up and running more efficiently.
We work across local and regional levels, from small to major projects. We’re well integrated into the business at Mabey Hire, allowing us to call upon support from other teams when it is needed and better streamline the overall customer experience with us.
Grant – One of Mabey Hire’s biggest strengths is its people – we all work together to help our customers. This adds massive value to client projects, giving them the confidence that we’re going to help them through every step of a project.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Mark – It’s a really mixed bag every day. There’s so much technicality that goes into temporary works, which makes each day a unique and interesting one.
Matt – There isn’t a job or day that’s exactly the same and that’s what’s so interesting about our industry. We’re involved on everything from listed bridges and cathedrals to civic buildings, sports stadiums and more. Each job has its own unique challenges and problems to navigate, which keeps things fresh day-to-day.
Grant – The phone rings and you never know what you’re going to get! It’s such an interesting field and you get access to areas that the general public likely won’t ever see. The work can either be complex or straightforward and you don’t know which one it’ll be, something I find exciting.
What do you enjoy most about your jobs?
Mark – I enjoy helping people, it gives me a real buzz knowing that my work and actions will take away someone’s problem. Not only this, but we know that what we’re suggesting is going to be engineered and safe, which is massively important for us. I like knowing that we give our customers confidence when we’re on site.
Matt – When you’ve helped someone and are able to progress the job, it’s really rewarding and can even lead to repeat business, which is great to see. I can see the relationships Mark and Grant have made over the years and it’s like they are a part of the customer’s team. Often, our customers won’t have the specific temporary works expertise within their own team and we’re in a position to give them that.
Grant – Much like the others, I like being able to provide customers with a solution to their problem, pointing them in the right direction to get the job done and helping to build trust.
Find out more about our structural support offering, here.
