My client contacted me in January 2020 to say there was a large refurbishment coming out at UOG Eltham and would I like to take some of the tasks off of him?
We met and had a chat on site, walked around the buildings not knowing what the scope of works were other than the University wished to turn some staff offices into student teaching areas, along with bringing the facilities right up to date.
Drawings turned up on Good Friday of all days, I met again on site with my client on the Wednesday after Easter and checked dimensions on site for the proposed works.
I was tasked with supplying and installing all of the Partitions Door Sets and Joinery Flooring Decorations and Suspended Ceilings. As the job evolved, we also assisted in some specialist joinery namely and new reception counter, we also assisted in the installation of washroom cubicles and tea-points.
As we all know Covid19 had arrived, obtaining prices for materials was difficult as most of our regular suppliers were servicing NHS jobs only. I managed to cost the partitions up initially and presented these costs to my client who in turn passed onto UOG they approved them overnight, it was then down to me to source and procure the materials. One of our suppliers was only too happy to supply the materials for the partitions, I placed the order, and the materials were delivered the following week, we initially had three lorries’ full of plasterboard metal framing and insulation, it took six operatives a full week to load the materials out to two buildings over five floors, a magnificent feat in a pandemic.
Over the coming days I managed to cost up the other elements of the work, had them approved and proceeded with placing orders to our regular suppliers and sub-contractors.
The project ran for some six months, in very exceptional circumstances with many hurdles to jump we completed the project ready for the September term to start, albeit the student numbers were down, however they had brand new facilities to learn in.
