Managing Director – Alex Jones
My role as the company director is to do all the jobs the other team members do not have the time to do! In all seriousness, everybody within the business work closely with each other and so I am often providing advice on various surveying matters, helping support the finance function of the business, working with clients on their bids, pricing work to our clients or a whole raft of small jobs that seem to be never ending.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Typically I will start the day by looking through emails whilst sat down eating a slice of toast and having a cup of tea and responding to the ‘easy to answer ones’, and delegating tasks to others. Then, depending on the days schedule, I will either be out on site/inspections helping the surveyors with their workload, attending client meetings (with the associated travel required) or I will be spending the day in the office with the rest of the team. I am usually the last one out of the office, rounding the office day off by desperately finishing the tasks that had been started but subsequently interrupted. Then home for supper, and a final check of the emails before hiding the phone for the evening.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Whilst I enjoy the surveying elements of it, after all it was why I made a career of it, I actually really enjoy seeing the team working together and delivering projects and programmes to our clients. It is always great to see teams working closely with not only their colleagues, but also our suppliers and our clients to ensure that we deliver what is required, to the standard that is required and on time.
If you were to provide a brief description of the ‘day in the life of’, what would you say?
No two days are the same, that is for sure. A day in my life is one filled with telephone calls, video conference calls, emails and helping and supporting the team. However that is also what makes the job so great, it is always different and it is always challenging.
Acquisition Surveyor – Simon Hawksley
As well as negotiating with landowners to agree terms for land acquisitions I take a managing role across a number of acquisition and Town & Country Planning projects for Nunn Jones. I also maintain customer databases and reporting as well as attending client meetings. A lot of time spent out on the ground meeting landowners, clients and other stakeholders to ensure the right sites are chosen and progressed.
What does a typical day look like for you?
After checking e-mails, I usually settle to prioritising the site discussion and work on them in priority order to keep all negotiations on-track. On at least 2 days of the week, I will attend client meetings online to update on progress and receive instructions for any new or ongoing work. I am often out of the office on surveys or face to face landowner meetings as this is the best way to achieve proper engagement from stakeholders.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
The chance to meet interesting landowners and to strike up a rapport with them to try and achieve mutually agreeable terms.
If you were to provide a brief description of the ‘day in the life of’, what would you say?
Every day tends to be different and one of the hallmarks of my role is to deal with the unexpected. Fast balls come from landowners and clients alike and often require immediate attention. Often the best part of the day to deal with correspondence and the more mundane tasks is out of hours when the phone and e-mail quieten down and I can settle to dealing with the in-depth stuff. As I am the main point of contact for any project that has not yet been handed to the build team, I find myself having to constantly jump from one discipline to another while maintaining the momentum on everything so it’s a bit of a juggling act at times, but that is part of the challenge.
Drone Surveyor – Tim Atherton
As an aerial photographer my task is to acquire required images from sites previously identified by surveyors.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I have no typical day, so it is easier to describe the workflow for one job. Upon instruction I start researching the site. I look at maps, both of the ground and the air. I contact the site provider to get permission to access the site. I also research maps for Flight Restricted Zones, take-off and landing points, obstacles or obstructions, risk assessment, flight separation distances and weather forecasts. If necessary, I talk to Air Traffic Control and the police. Once I am satisfied that I can fly a drone safety and legally I travel to the site, perform final safety checks and launch the drone to acquire the necessary image data. Upon landing I check that I have the photographs I need and head back to the office. At the office I process the images and produce what the client needs. Sometimes when on site, actual conditions or circumstances dictate alternative action. A quick call back to HQ usually sorts issues out.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I enjoy travelling around the country and seeing the world from a different perspective. I like the autonomy of the work; I get a list of instructions and it is up to me to organise and plan them. I get to do some map-reading and planning, some travelling, some walking to remote sites, some drone flying, some photography, some computer time afterwards … I am not stuck doing just one thing - my tasks are varied, interesting and sometimes challenging. I like working with a compact, integrated, knowledgeable, reactive and happy team.
If you were to provide a brief description of the ‘day in the life of’, what would you say?
I spend bad weather days planning, then when the weather is good, jump in the car and head off to new and interesting places and take photos.
Paralegal – Lizzie Simcock
My job role consists of negotiating Heads of Terms with site providers and agents, striving to reach a consensual agreement for the installation of telecommunication apparatus. The majority of my job is reviewing terms, and ensuring I reach the best outcome for my client. In the event that the outcome of negotiations is negative and has reached a halt, I revert to my client and discuss the option of pursuing the Code route. This involves heavy reading of previous case law, to determine the scope of whether the site needs to pursue down the Tribunal route, or whether it can be dealt with internally.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day consists of reviewing correspondence, sending e-mails to site providers/agents, and discussing rent issues with our surveyors. I use programme software to update the status of each site on a daily basis to maintain an organised system for NJ.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I enjoy applying the law under the legal framework that we have, i.e., 2017 Electronic Communications Code. It is an exciting challenge, as I have the opportunity to expand my legal knowledge, but also learn how to adapt in certain situations with site providers. As an aspiring solicitor, I thoroughly enjoy being able to liaise with legal counsel and review draft Code letters.
If you were to provide a brief description of the ‘day in the life of’, what would you say?
Every day is different. Some days I am speaking with our surveyors discussing code valuation methodology and pursuing the “Code” route, other days I am negotiating terms with Agents and Site providers who are co-operating with us. I enjoy the unexpected nature of the job.
Office Manager – Helen Jones
I am the Office Manager for Nunn Jones, responsible for looking after our employees, dealing with holiday requests, stationary ordering, reconciling the financial accounts, and generally ensuring everyone is happy within the office and has the support that they need. I am also in charge of our administration team ensuring we provide the necessary support to our surveyors and clients – this involves submitting reports to the client, updating our internal databases and those of the customer’s, checking data accuracy, and providing instructions to our team to carry out their tasks along with any other support that they need.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There is no typical day! The only daily activity that never changes is making the teas and coffees!! The plan of the day very much depends on what is going on at that time and the priorities – some days it is focusing on the accounts, raising PO’s and getting the financials in order. Other days it can be deadline day for reports into our customers so I need to check and format all the reports completed by the surveyors and get them submitted to the customer on time; or it could be setting up new programmes of works on our internal databases and getting all the background administration in order ready for when we can kick off the projects.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Every day is different, there is such a variety of tasks to do so you never get tired of doing the same thing day in and day out. I particularly enjoy checking the surveyor’s reports for the various programmes of work – it is very important that the information within them is correct and also that the format/presentation of the report meets the high standards set by the client and also by ourselves – so it is very rewarding being involved and responsible for submitting high quality documents that impresses our customers. I also enjoy working with our team, a great bunch of people who work hard but also bring a good deal of banter to the working days.
If you were to provide a brief description of the ‘day in the life of’, what would you say?
A day in the life of myself always starts with a good cup of tea. I will look at what is going on within the business that day and ensure the relevant administration is taken care of and completed so that project delivery and our business can both run as smoothly and efficiently as possible – whether that be reconciling the financials, meeting customer’s deadlines with various pieces of work, or simply making sure we have enough copier paper and stamps for all the letters we send! And of course, very importantly making sure the team is ok and has a cup of tea.
Katie Fahy – Administrator
My job role at Nunn Jones is administrator for the company, I assist with the planning and design for the building of telecommunications apparatus. I ensure that all systems and data is up to date with recent actions and information from sites as well as instructing surveyors of new projects.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day in the life of Nunn Jones is a busy one for me, I communicate regularly with clients and customers, answering queries via email and telephone. I send letters, speak with landlords and arrange Multi Site Visits for the surveyors to inspect. I would then liaise with the surveyors for feedback on site searches and working closely with the team to ensure a smooth transition of work from start to finish.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I find my job very rewarding and interesting as no two days are ever the same, but I enjoy issuing drawings, I love the busy aftermath when we have a finalised solid design. Also it would have to be the team I work with and the working environment I have. It’s relaxed, flexible and our working needs are adapted too as well as constant laughter and ordering food constantly! We are never short of a McDonald’s Breakfast.
If you were to provide a brief description of the ‘day in the life of’, what would you say?
No day at Nunn Jones is ever the same, some days I could be purely emails, other days I am not off the phone or out of meetings. But I try my best to make every day as productive and busy as I can. It really does depend on the day.