A year at IDH – catching up with Anthony Kenmare, director of IDH Manchester

It’s been a year since Anthony Kenmare joined IDH as Director of our IDH Manchester office. Today we caught up with Anthony to see how he’s doing, his highlights and challenges and what’s changed over his first 12 months.

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What are your one-year highlights – what are you most proud of? 

My first year at IDH has been great and there have been so many highlights, but if I were to feature a few key moments they would be:

1. Bringing two apprentices into the IDH business and developing them. They are both working very hard and have achieved a significant amount in a very short period. I am very proud of them both.
2. Building relationships with several new customers and supporting them with our expertise.
3. Successfully getting involved in the nuclear sector of temporary works. This has been something I wanted to achieve since I started working at IDH and has recently come to fruition, as we are now working in both nuclear decommissioning and new build which is fantastic.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is communicating with our customers and helping to solve their problems. I really enjoy building relationships, it has been and will continue to be, the most rewarding thing I do. Knowing that we have great people in the IDH business to achieve our customers’ requirements is a huge part of making this a pleasure for me.

“One day I’m suited up wearing a radiation monitor in a nuclear power station to assess scaffolding requirements adjacent to a reactor, and the next I am training my apprentices to design wind loads.”

What has changed the most since you first started?

Two things spring to mind:

Firstly, I am going to have to say, myself! I really enjoy getting up and going to work in the morning (and the 5min commute into Chorley helps, as well!). Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed previous jobs, but the variation in the work I am involved with at IDH is a huge draw for me. One day I’m suited up wearing a radiation monitor in a nuclear power station to assess scaffolding requirements adjacent to a reactor, and the next I am training my apprentices to design wind loads. Every day is different and presents its own challenges and opportunity to learn something new. As a result, I have changed a lot in the last year and developed my skillset.

Secondly, I would say, the world. Construction costs have gone through the roof. We pride ourselves at IDH in providing the most cost effective and safe solutions which is more important today than ever before. Did you know that as well as optimising temporary works IDH can also optimise permanent works?

What are the main challenges you face as director?

We have had a great first year at IDH Manchester, but this has brought its own challenges, primarily recruitment. Engineers are pretty thin on the ground and if you have been in temporary works for as long as I have you tend to know most of the existing people in the business! Bringing new faces into the industry has been important for me however this brings its own challenges in terms of finding the time to run a successful business, grow the business and develop new people.

“I like to promote, where appropriate, site visits and also team building activities as I believe these activities give people the opportunity to grow in ways an office environment can’t offer.”

What keeps you motivated?

The people I work with (customers and IDH staff) keep me motivated and although it sounds a bit corny knowing that, as a team, we have done a good job is a big part of making my role enjoyable. Getting positive feedback from customers is very important to me.

How do you ensure your team stay motivated?

I like to keep their workload varied and achievable, keep the team learning and give them opportunity to meet new people. I am lucky that my team are very receptive to this approach. I like to think I lead by example and I’m more than happy to get stuck in with the team’s activities to help them and get a win for our customers. I like to promote, where appropriate, site visits and also team building activities as I believe these activities give people the opportunity to grow in ways an office environment can’t offer.

What do you see for the future of IDH Manchester? 

We have achieved so much in a relatively short period of time. I see Manchester growing in terms of people and subsequently premises. I am currently, actively trying to recruit a senior designer to help manage the office.

In terms of business, developing the nuclear sector further is important to me but I would also like to build more relationships closer to home, local councils, local contractors and so on.

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Thank you Anthony! Here’s to another strong 12 months.

Due to continued growth and expansion, IDH is currently recruiting for a Temporary Works Designer to operate from its offices in Chorley in Greater Manchester, Lancashire.

We are specifically looking for an individual with at least 5 years’ experience working in the industry; ideally someone with a strong background in formwork and falsework who has the drive to develop their career into design management.

Please contact us at: vacancies@idh-design.co.uk or Anthony Kenmare directly.

No agencies, please. UK residents only.