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IDH Exeter’s Tom Vallance: the South West opportunity
Earlier this year we expanded our South West presence as IDH Exeter opened its doors. Heading up operations is our Associate Director, Tom Vallance. Tom is an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer who first joined the team in 2022. Born and bred in Devon, Tom tells us why he’s excited about the opportunity in Exeter and the surrounding areas.
Why are you so excited to be launching in Exeter?
Opening an office in Exeter has been an ambition of mine and the business’ since I moved here a year ago. The goal is to build a local customer base and expand IDH’s ability to attend local sites in Devon and Cornwall at faster speeds.
What do you think sets IDH apart?
IDH pride’s itself on offering designs that are efficient and clear to the customer. I would like to think that we work with the customer from the start, offering friendly advice that can help the customer get the best value solution.
When did you decide to become an engineer yourself, and what was your journey like to get there?
The subjects I chose at school led me to a career in either architecture or engineering – in the end, engineering edged it and I am very pleased it did!
What do you like most about your job?
I like the problem solving nature of the job and the fact that there is something tangible that has been constructed at the conclusion of the design that you can see working in practice.
What kind of challenges are you coming up against at the moment?
The amount of work that we are being appointed to complete at the moment is a lot so requires good management of our resources. It’s a good challenge to have because it indicates we are doing a good job!
What have been your career highlights so far?
Becoming a chartered engineer was a highlight as it signified recognition that I had achieved the attributes that make a good engineer. Also it was such a relief not to have to prepare for the professional review again!
In what ways do you think the industry will change in the next 5 – 10 years?
I expect that Building Information Modelling (BIM) will become more integrated into daily activities and we will continue to focus on sustainable and energy efficient construction.
What are you particularly excited about in yours and IDH’s future?
I hope that the team in the IDH Exeter office will continue to grow and we can develop some long lasting relationships with clients in the South West.
Thank you Tom! Exciting times ahead. You can connect with Tom Vallance on LinkedIn or contact the team at IDH Exeter.
