Nick Cuffe: ‘Treat people how you want to be treated, with respect and humility’

I have always been at ease working on construction sites. After assisting my father who is a retired carpenter, it seemed a natural progression to start my ‘official’ journey in construction in the 1980s as an apprentice carpenter at the age of 16. I always wanted to develop but didn’t anticipate some of the directions my career has taken.

As a site manager and construction director, I have gained industry recognition, winning many national awards for my safety, quality, site and project management skills.

I have also been a finalist for the Construction Manager of the Year Awards (CMYA) on two separate occasions. All of these awards I have accepted on behalf of the teams that I have been privileged to manage. The third-party recognition has been a culmination of everyone’s hard work.

2015 was a highlight for me. I won four awards from a warranty provider: UK’s Best Apartment; Best Home (over £3m) and Project Manager of The Year. Plus my employer received Best Company accolade. That year I was also nominated and finalist for CMYA.

During my earlier work as a warranty professional, both as building surveyor and technical manager, I wrote a series of feature articles promoting good building practice and exposing areas of poor workmanship. I was also the creator of a technical manual for one of Britain’s largest warranty providers for new homes.

I hope to emulate this achievement for ICW with the update of its technical manual and creation of ‘key measures’, along with the development of an accompanying phone app.

The construction industry has given me an interesting living and I wanted to give something back. I first gained chartership in 1998 and then gained my fellowship in 2003. In 2021, I became a fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers. I was also chair of the CIOB Dorset Centre on three separate occasions during 2005-16.

I continue to support the construction industry with my work within the institute as a committee member of the local area through the CIOB Hub for Wessex and Channel Islands and, more recently, support for the Belfast Hub. Working with the CIOB and eventually gaining fellowship has increased my confidence.

The CIOB is an excellent advocate of good practice and leads the way for industry to follow and further develop our industry.

With my introduction of ICW to the CIOB, there is a greater understanding and recognition of the good work the institute does, and we are pleased to be associated with the CIOB through being a chartered building consultancy (CBC) and training partner. This relationship has also enabled ICW to gain greater recognition in the industry for its warranty and insurance products. 

As I continue my career, returning to warranty work with one of the largest warranty providers in the UK – some say ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’ – I greatly enjoy working with the teams I support and manage across the UK. I have quite a varied portfolio of responsibilities as operations director, including health and safety of our onsite surveyors, survey administration and technical underwriting, all part of the Technical Services team providing support for the wider ICW Group.

Public perception of the construction industry continues to be low. However, as an industry we also undersell ourselves. Our industry is not just about trades personnel alighting on a site and assembling components to produce a building. Although this is part of the process, there are more stages involved in the completed product – among others: land acquisition, finance, design, warranty, planning, procurement, health and safety and project management.

All these disciplines are recognised by the CIOB. However, it is also the responsibilities of industry leaders to explain how these processes function and what variety and opportunities there are for those seeking a new career.

I have been made to feel very welcome by the industry and now the team at ICW. I continue to look forward to supporting the company and individuals in reaching their goals and aspirations. This I have done throughout my lifetime and career in construction. If asked do I have a motto, the closest is that I treat people how I would want to be treated myself, with respect and humility.