germany Archives - Agilité

We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction, and project management.

Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role…

Next up, it’s Stephen Murray, construction manager in Germany.

1. Describe your job in one paragraph

As a construction manager, I oversee and manage new retail and commercial projects mainly throughout Germany, and other parts of Europe if required.

2. Which one word would colleagues use to describe you?

Energetic.

3. Why do you think Agilité stands out from competitors?

Agilité puts a lot of time and effort into supporting and growing its team, which in turn fosters loyalty among colleagues who are dedicated and committed to the company — and very importantly — its client base. Agilité is also a well structured and managed organisation that is committed to successful project results that are delivered on time and within the client’s budget.

4. You have worked in some amazing places around the world. Which has been your favourite?

Working at the Mitsubishi shipyard in Nagasaki fitting out the AIDAprima. The cruise ship was 300 metres long and 40 metres high. I especially enjoyed working among so many different cultures — it felt like a city on water!

5. What’s your biggest career highlight to date?

To have been granted the opportunity at a very young age to be the site construction manager on an 18 storey office and car park project, starting from the ground up in my home town of Perth, Australia. I worked closely with my two mentors — the construction owner and the senior construction manager — who really boosted my confidence and allowed me to strive forward.

6. The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who is it?

A well-known global client who is honest, trustworthy, and seeks the professionalism that I know my team can deliver from start to finish.

7. What key piece of advice would you give to a client planning a commercial interiors project?

Do your full and comprehensive exercise of care and feasibility on the project to safeguard against any surprises, such as unplanned construction impediments and cost blow-outs.

8. When you’re not at work, where are we most likely to find you?

Most likely on a beach enjoying the salt water.

9. What’s next for Agilité?

Agilité will continue to strengthen its home bases around Europe, as well as maintaining and improving its reputation among new and prospective customers. We will also potentially expand into other parts of the world where opportunity beckons.

10. As an organisation with sustainability at its heart, Agilité is dedicated to minimising environmental impact within the construction industry. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the sector, and how do you think we can rectify it?

The industry needs to be made more aware of the bigger picture with more thorough planning, costs, and time allocated for, plus discussions through education.

One example out of many is that we need to provide waste containers for certain materials to be recycled. For me, water pollution is a key area, as many sites don’t consider ‘wash out’ points. This lack of care can kill plant life and make it difficult to sustain landscaping, along with contaminating waterways. One simple practice can be introduced on every site with a huge impact.

European commercial interiors specialist Agilité has expanded into Berlin, Germany – marking a natural progression in the company’s international growth.

The news follows several retail roll-out projects in the country – for clients such as NBA, Lids, Fred Perry, Lululemon, Instant, Facilitate/Zander, and TOG Berlin. Since its creation in 2021, the business has over-performed, with turnover in excess of €5m, six full-time members of staff, and a forecasted increase of 200% in both turnover and headcount by the end of 2023.

“Germany is a very important market for Agilité, and one that has continued to grow as we maintain our strategy of following clients into new territories,” explained Kirsty Shearer, Agilité development director.

“Due to its vast geography, it has quickly become apparent that we need to have people and a supply chain spread across the country to support the growth that we are seeing as a business – as well as that of our clients.”

As opportunities in Germany have increased, the local team continues to flourish and there are plans to recruit for further roles, including project and construction managers, as well as cost estimators in the coming months.

Neil Coales, managing director of Agilité said: “Given our ever-increasing order book in Germany, expanding our operational footprint has been a natural growth progression and will allow us to better serve our customers in the region. The Berlin bureau is important for colleagues and team building as our organisation grows, as well as to uphold our ambition of being a truly local delivery partner.”

It’s also loyal customers — who account for 65% of Agilité’s portfolio — that are the driving force behind its rapid expansion, as Neil continued: "When we decided to launch Agilité, the strategy from the beginning was to have a seamless pan-European business that could be operational in numerous locations for multiple customers.

“We don't want to have an office in every country, rather, we identify locations that best support our clients' growth plans and the strong local supply chains we are trying to build. The pursuit of quality is as much our goal as the overall expansion."

The expansion of the European company — which provides office, retail, and hospitality construction and fit-out work across the continent — promises further growth in all locations in 2023, as well as exciting new geographies.

We’ve worked hard to recruit some of the most experienced global talent from the world of design, build, construction and project management.

Each month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight so you can learn a little more about their role.

Next up, it’s our new construction manager Leon …

Tell us what attracted you to Agilité?
I was initially approached by Agilité with the prospect of coming to work for them. At the time, I was looking for a career change, and the opportunity to get back to my roots of retail construction for a growing organisation was too good to turn down.

Can you share a little bit about your background?
As I previously alluded to, my experience is largely in the retail construction world — having held positions as both project and construction manager, in Germany as well as South Africa.
Describe a defining moment in your career.
I oversaw the rollout of around 45 supermarkets on behalf of the biggest retailer in Southern Africa over the course of just two years. Amid this huge project, we also completed around 30 small shop fit-outs in three months — quite a significant, yet memorable, challenge!

What does your new role involve?
As construction manager in Germany, I am charged with overseeing the on-site activities throughout an entire project lifecycle. Liaising with the sub-contractors, project manager, and client, I ensure that the developments are progressing within the agreed timeframe, and to an excellent standard.

What are you most looking forward to doing?
There are a number of very exciting projects coming up, which I am looking forward to getting started on. The variety of Agilité’s portfolio means that the team is always kept on its toes, and we always have new obstacles to overcome.

The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who is it?
A client that presents an interesting and challenging brief which allows us to think outside the box.

When you’re not at work, where are we most likely to find you?
I like to stay active, so in my spare time I will either be wakeboarding on a lake in Berlin, or running in a nearby forest.

Which country or city is at the top of your ‘must-visit’ list?
For an off-the-beaten-track trip, South America. Or, for natural beauty and a completely different cultural experience, I’d opt for Japan.

What’s your favourite productivity trick?
Break tasks down into small, manageable chunks.

How would you describe Agilité Solutions to a relative?
A bespoke, general contractor that offers personalised solutions for each and every client.

As an organisation with sustainability at its heart, Agilité Solutions is dedicated to minimising environmental impact within the construction industry. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the sector, and how do you think we can rectify it?
I’d say the biggest challenge we are facing in the industry is waste. I think first steps towards rectifying this issue would be to change people’s mindsets around what should and shouldn’t be classed as ‘waste’.

Connect with Leon on LinkedIn to find out more about him.