Four Decades of Design with Lyndon SGB

#LyndonSGB Design Manager Chris Rogers has been with us 40 YEARS ????

Huge congratulations sir ??

It just goes to show what great #careerdevelopment there is within BrandSafway & what dedication to a job achieves.

Here's a little Q&A to celebrate Chris' epic #career milestone ??

NAME: Chris Rogers?

AGE:?60

JOB TITLE: Lyndon SGB SW Design Manager?

WHEN DID YOU JOIN US?

I joined Lyndon SGB in 24th October 1983 when it was Scaffolding Great Britain (which became SGB and now Lyndon SGB).

WHAT WAS THE COMPANY & INDUSTRY LIKE BACK THEN??

Very different to now. Health & safety was not as much of a factor as it rightly is now. I guess the job seemed simpler then as well. The design was requested by the main contractor, the design was completed and then the scaffold was built. Nowadays, completing paperwork seems to take longer than the scaffold design, but it’s all in the name of safety, which BrandSafway is superb on.

AND NOW YOU HAVE DONE 40 YEARS WITH US. CONGRATULATIONS! HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

Worn out! But seriously, I am very proud of achieving what I have with one company. My guess is that doesn’t happen very often nowadays…

WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL ROLE & HOW HAS YOUR CAREER PROGRESSED WITH US OVER THE YEARS?

I joined as a Junior Scaffold Designer in Bristol following my apprenticeship as a Steel Detailer with my previous company.

In 1989 I became Assistant Regional Engineer for the South-West Region.

In 1992, at the start of the recession, I was given a choice of taking redundancy or moving into the operations side as an Estimator. The latter was an easy decision.

I stayed in this position as well as providing designs for the South-West region and carrying out some supervisory roles also until Dec 2005. I then went back into full time design and in July 2008 I became Design Manager.

In March 2013 I became Northern Design Manager looking after Scotland along with Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and retaining the South West.

And following the acquisition by BrandSafway in 2019 I became Design Manager for the South-West.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN THAT TIME?

I did start with a full head of hair –?but that disappeared over time! I am not sure if that’s due to the job, or my genes!

In the past, designs were generally only required for what I would refer to as specialist scaffolds, i.e: temporary roofs, shoring, bridging etc. and were rarely drawn for general access scaffolds.

However, with the changes to Health & Safety and the paperwork required to satisfy the auditing process, virtually all scaffolds now will have design input.

HOW IS THE ROLE OF SCAFFOLD DESIGNER CHANGING WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY?

I started on the drawing board with a pencil and a rubber. When computers arrived, along with AutoCAD, I thought I wouldn’t get used to it after the initial training. But now I couldn’t do without it. New software is currently being rolled out in the BrandSafway Engineering Department which will enhance the accuracy of designs and ensure that we remain at the top of our game, with #moresafety & #moreproductivity.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF SCAFFOLD DESIGN?

3D designs appear to be the way the scaffolding industry is heading, although I am not sure at my age if my brain will cope with this change! Undeniably, there are definite advantages of 3D for the right job.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU WITH US??

With just over six years left before I am due to retire, I want to continue enjoying the role, seeing my designs built and the company growing in strength.

WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU EVER WORKED ON & WHY?

There have been many as you would expect in four decades of design work. However, one of the most challenging and satisfying when it was finally built was a very large mainly free-standing temporary roof at Wentworth House near Rotherham. The roof plan was 84m long x 42m wide and 26m high to the scaffold roof eaves and included a public walkway to three sides of the scaffold at 16m level combined with passenger lifts and public staircases. This was a very challenging design for lots of reasons taking just over four weeks to complete – and it looked amazing when it was erected. The client (Woodhead Group) was very happy with the scaffold and it proved to be very popular with the public – so gave me immense satisfaction.

Read about that project here: https://www.lyndon-sgb.co.uk/projects/wentworth-woodhouse-country-house/

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK??

Most of my time on the weekends are looking after my two grandchildren (two and four years old), so they are keeping me young at heart – although the body at times has a different view!

AND WHAT HAS A FOUR DECADE LONG CAREER WITH US MEANT TO YOU? ?

My career with the company has had many ups and downs and changes and I have worked with a lot of good people. I am proud to have made it to 40 years. The firm has been a good company to work for – which I guess explains why I have stayed with them for 40 years. So I am hoping the remaining six years are the same.

Congratulations Chris!