Introducing one of our Pre-Construction Managers, Darren Tuck, with a long and varied background in the construction and workspace industry.

Darren has a passion for golf, his dogs, his family and creating spaces that inspire. With that in mind, we decided to sit down with him to find out more about his expertise in the construction industry, his top piece of advice for anyone joining the industry and much more. Keep reading to find out more.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to join COEL?

I have a passion for the built environment. I truly enjoy creating spaces that inspire people, that give people a reason to be in their workspace rather than working from home.  So, this is an industry that I have spent many years working in and that I really, really enjoy.

I have known about COEL for many, many years and I resonate with the ethos of the business so when this role came up, I had to take the opportunity.

What does a typical day look like?

My days always start quite early, mainly because I have a couple of dogs that need feeding and walking first thing. Once I get into the office, my day consists of updating HubSpot records, going through my plans, going through my workload, and most importantly, making sure that we have delivered to the clients and that everything is running smoothly. I also look at quotes and tender documents and review plans and drawings with clients.

If I’m out on-site with clients then it’s straight to measuring, surveying and getting all of the required details on the site and layouts for the project. While also continuously checking in with the client on their wants and needs for their new office space.

Networking is something I often do as I really enjoy meeting new people and, finding new ways to collaborate.

My days will vary significantly depending on my priorities and tasks, but they will normally have a lot of the above in them.

What’s your favourite aspect of your role?

The client interaction, definitely. Being able to, as I said, sit down with a client and deliver them a space that will fulfil their needs and give them the possibility and
the tools with which they can grow their business, is very rewarding. Additionally, to create a space that enables their workforce to thrive, collaborate and come together in one space is a sign of a job well done.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about joining pre-construction?

I would say my biggest piece of advice is to focus on creativity. Clients will often want the best possible deal – as does everyone – so it is crucial to remain creative so you can deliver a really nice, clever and functional space that meets their budget and needs.

There are a lot of cost-effective, not cheap, ways to achieve this so stay creative and curious.

What’s your favourite thing about COEL?

I’d say it’s the team ethos within the business, it’s very much like a family, and despite having only recently joined the team, I do feel like I’ve been here forever. I’ve been incredibly well supported and everyone has been very welcoming.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love golf, I used to play it a lot when I was in my 20s and early 30s. I gave it up for a while, but have just started getting back into it again, so really enjoy that.

We’ve got a couple of dogs so I really like to get out on walks with them and with the family. I love cooking specially with the family so I spend a lot of time cooking for them and I also have a granddaughter who takes up a lot of my time.