Welcome to the latest edition of An Interview With…, where we sit down with members of the Leslie Clark team to explore their insights and experiences.

In this instalment, we speak with Dan Parkinson, newly appointed Partner in our Retail & Leisure team, to explore his career journey and the depth of experience he brings to the role.

Since joining Leslie Clark in 1997 as a graduate surveyor, Dan has built over 25 years of experience delivering cost and account management across major refurbishment and rollout programmes. Working with long-standing clients including McDonald’s, Co-op, KFC and Kiko Milano, he now also leads on sustainability-driven initiatives, such as rooftop PV installations for Sainsbury’s as part of their carbon reduction programme.

We spoke to Dan about what’s changed since the late 90s, what keeps him motivated, and where he sees opportunities for innovation in the years ahead.

Let’s start at the beginning – what first drew you to a career in construction consultancy, and how did you end up at Leslie Clark?

I grew up around construction, with my father and grandfather both being builders and an uncle who was a Quantity Surveyor, so I was always interested in construction as a career. After one particular chat with my uncle during my A Levels, Quantity Surveying piqued my interest. That led to a QS degree at university, and after graduating, I joined Leslie Clark as a graduate surveyor in the Bristol office.

You’ve been with the business since 1997 – what has kept you here, and how has the business changed over that time?

My colleagues, the open and inclusive working environment, the varied projects, and the long-term client relationships built up over the years have all been significant factors in keeping me at Leslie Clark.

Tell us a bit about your current role as Partner – what does a typical week look like for you?

A lot of my week is still committed to project delivery, as we operate a flat structure at Leslie Clark. But I also make time to maintain and build client relationships, and to support the development of the wider team.

You work with some major names in retail and leisure – McDonald’s, Co-op, KFC – what are the key challenges and rewards of managing national rollout programmes?

Speed of delivery, flexibility of approach, and understanding the client’s needs are the biggest challenges. But when you get those right, the rewards are big – seeing programmes land successfully and knowing you’ve played a part in that is really satisfying.

You’ve also been heavily involved in our sustainability-focused work with Sainsbury’s. What excites you about delivering those types of initiatives?

It’s the opportunity to make a positive environmental impact and implement practices that not only support sustainability goals but also lead to cost savings and long-term economic viability for the client.

Are there any standout projects in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

Not so much one individual project – more the satisfaction that comes from building long-term client relationships and delivering multiple successful programmes as part of strong, collaborative teams.

As someone who’s developed their career at Leslie Clark, what advice would you give to graduates or junior surveyors just starting out?

Focus on building strong work habits and good relationships within the industry and bring a proactive attitude. Demonstrating commitment is essential – but most importantly, make sure you’re enjoying what you’re doing.

What do you see as the biggest opportunity – or challenge – for the industry over the next few years?

We’re seeing labour shortages and skills gaps, rising material and labour costs, inflation, supply chain disruption, the push for greater sustainability, and a need to adopt new technologies. These are big challenges – but they’re also opportunities for the industry to step up, innovate and focus on sustainable, net-zero projects.

And finally, when you’re not managing nationwide rollouts or rooftop PV installs, how do you like to spend your time outside work?

Living in a semi-rural location, I like to spend time walking our dog with my wife, always involving a pub en route somewhere! Most of our weekends are otherwise taken up watching our sons play rugby.

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If you’d like to connect with Dan to discuss current trends in retail rollouts or sustainable construction, you can find him on LinkedIn.

And if you’re interested in how Leslie Clark can support your construction consultancy needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch – office@lclark.com