MEET LAND & WATER’S PROJECT MANAGER LEADING THE WAY AT OUR BLENHEIM PALACE DREDGING SITE

Charlie Oakes has had a long journey with Land & Water so far and, luckily for us, shows no sign of stopping. Charlie started in 1995 as a Labourer and since then has got to know the business inside and out whilst fulfilling roles such as Site Manager, Commercial Manager, Group IT Manager and currently, Project Manager.

Having been in control of delivering quality service in high profile projects such as frameworks for the Environment Agency, British Waterways and Scottish Canals, Charlie is now heading up our dredging venture at the iconic Blenheim Palace.

As part of Charlie’s managerial role, he is currently responsible for liaising with his site management team, reviewing performance and sharing progress with the wider Land & Water management team. As well as this, he also meets with the Environment Agency’s framework Operations Manager, carries out essential crisis management, budget reviews and forward planning. With a daily cycle to work and inevitable additional tasks cropping up every day it’s safe to say Charlie is a very busy man!

Charlie tells us that, “Working for Land & Water is fantastic; we really are a family; and we support each other. I myself am confident in the fact that I can phone the CEO up when I need to talk about something important. In turn, the staff that work with me know that I am available for them whenever needed, and that is incredibly valuable.”

“The recent project at Blenheim Palace has been an absolute pleasure to work on. We have had the chance to dredge the iconic Queen Pool for the first time in over 100 years which will protect its ecosystem for years to come as well as its historic landscape.

“On top of this I am pleased to be a part of the continued strengthening of Land & Water’s framework contract with the Environment Agency in the North of England. The variation of our work means that no day is ever the same, and that’s exciting.”

We asked Charlie what his advice would be for people wishing to break into the civil engineering industry. His answer was that, “This is a really exciting line of work to be in and there is so much opportunity. I have gained huge experience and learnt a great amount working my way up through the ranks but if you can plan ahead and concentrate on gaining related qualifications at school and college it will really accelerate your career.”

If you are interested in a role with Land & Water then click here: https://www.land-water.co.uk/careers/