Spotlight on Jay Weaver: nominated in this year’s Matrics Awards

Understanding the need for mentorship

Jay joined AtkinsRéalis with line management experience, and despite not being required to support early careers staff in their development, he opted to make himself available as a dedicated source of support for those who needed or wanted it. ‘When I started here, I wasn’t a line manager straight away, but I did have that experience, and I like helping people,’ says Jay. ‘Ten years ago, I was an apprentice quantity surveyor. I know the massive value in mentorship, in having someone show you the role and help you out. I know how hard it is to go through the APC process and just how much dedication you need.’

Now with line management responsibilities, Jay has further honed and cemented his mentorship processes. He explains that there can be a wide range of areas where an individual could need help, depending on where they are in their career. ‘I work with people who have been in the industry for less than a year, and others who might have five or six years’ experience but need help getting up to speed on the APC process. Sometimes, the challenge isn’t about knowledge, it’s about someone’s manner and helping them to come across presentably and professionally to others.’

Making mentorship work

For Jay, good mentorship is a blend of understanding the end goal, understanding the individual and blending a person’s specific needs with set processes. ‘I appreciate that everyone is different,’ says Jay. ‘There is no one-size-fits-all, especially when everyone is at a different stage of their career.’

He continues: ‘We get a plan in place and we stick to it, we stay in communication, but I don’t micromanage. Good communication is important. You might have formal meetings – weekly, biweekly or monthly – but you need to be available for informal chats when they’re needed too. You need to be approachable ad hoc.’

Jay also advocates for young professionals playing an active role in real work as soon as possible. ‘You need to let people deal with situations themselves. Nobody learns by having the answers given to them all the time. When you progress to become a QS, or a senior QS, you have to think for yourself and feel confident in solving problems.  Then, when they go through each competency for the APC, they have real understanding. You can have the theory, but it doesn’t become real until you’ve done it.’

For Jay, the ultimate goal is to help develop good professionals who thrive at work. ‘Being a surveyor, you’re dealing with clients, colleagues, contractors, all sorts of people, on a daily basis. You need to know how to manage those relationships and how to work well with people. There’s a big responsibility as a mentor. Your habits and working style can become your mentees’ habits and style, so you have to be focused on doing the right thing.’

The impact of surveying

That responsibility also extends into the work that Jay and those he mentors will deliver over the course of their careers. Jay takes a huge amount of pride in seeing the projects he’s been involved in take shape in their communities. ‘I’m very, very proud when I see the improvement that a site can make on an area, not just immediately, but over time in the wider community. That’s one of the main things that attracted me to surveying: you could be driving past a scheme in 10, 20, 30 years’ time and say that you had an impact on an area, not just a building. That’s massive.

Social impact is a key priority at AtkinsRéalis, and each project comes with its own deliverable social initiatives. ‘With Swansea Council,’ says Jay, ‘we’ve completed one block of flats and are seeing the impact already. Living quality has improved, the internal and external areas are both improved. And because the area feels better, tenants are treating it better. The stats are showing that crime is reduced. That’s the big thing with surveying: whether you’re working on a heritage site like Haverfordwest Castle or social housing, you’re making a difference.’

Empowering the next generation

Jay is passionate about helping more young people to understand the possibilities of a career in surveying. ‘We are responsible for going into schools and colleges and educating people about how great a career this can be,’ he says. ‘I don’t think many people know about it. For me, the apprenticeship route was brilliant. I want others to know that it’s an option, and it’s led me down this path where now I get to support other people as they’re starting out.’

While Jay is pleased to be nominated himself in this year’s Matrics Awards, he’s just as passionate about seeing the success of those he works with be credited. ‘A highlight of my career so far, especially with regards to mentorship, is seeing a colleague I mentored, Pei Qi Wong, receive a Highly Commended in last year’s Matrics Awards. That was a real stand-out moment.

‘I’m also massively proud when I look back at how far everyone has come. A year can make a huge difference, and I love to see everyone’s progression. It’s amazing to be part of it.’

Find out more about Matrics, and the RICS Matrics Surveyor Awards.