Last month, Twenty3 Consulting joined Overford, with Twenty3’s founder Rob Varney taking on the role of Director. We sat down with Rob to talk about his career, running his own consultancy, and what’s next now that he’s part of the Overford team.
When did you start your career in the construction industry? Can you give us a potted history of how you ended up here?
I graduated from Trent Polytechnic in 1988 in Building Services Quantity Surveying which was purely because I couldn’t get onto the mainstream quantity surveying course. At the time, I didn’t even know what an M&E QS was, but it turned out to be a great twist of fate. I found the course, and my career since then, much more interesting. I think it appealed to the engineer in me, I’ve always enjoyed finding out how things work.
After leaving Trent Poly, I started with Crown House Engineering in Manchester and was quickly moved to a project in London, the refurbishment of the Economist Tower. I then had a year at BDP in Sheffield before going out on my own.
From the early 90s I worked independently with a variety of clients. The Dome at Doncaster and then Don Valley Athletic Stadium being some of the first projects I was involved in. This project was built for the 1991 World Student Games and really shows my age as it’s now been knocked down. I then worked with William Steward in Leeds, which was acquired by ABB where I had the opportunity to go from commercial manager to commercial director in 1999, covering its UK contracting and maintenance operations.
In 2003, I was part of the management buy-out team that purchased ABB Building Technologies and created Inviron.. It put a bit if a damper on Christmas that year but we got the deal over the line on New Years Evet was a fantastic experience to be a part of. The new business, Inviron was created to be a little different to other firms in the market being 50% technical FM and 50% M&E contracting. After eight years, we sold Inviron to Imtech and I stayed there for a couple of years involved with their central region. Eventually, I’d had enough of the long commutes and set up Twenty3 Consulting back in my hometown of Sheffield with an office only 35 minutes away by bike,
That was twelve years ago now. What lessons have you learnt from running your own consultancy business?
It’s not easy! The first two years are the toughest. You spend all your time worrying about where the work is going to come from. But then momentum builds, and you develop long-term clients. Some of mine have been with me since the start and we’re now working with them at Overford.
The big lesson is that work only comes in if you’re out there turning the handle. Meeting people, talking to people, getting out and about and being proactive. Once you get the work, you have to do a good job and that’ll keep clients coming back. It’s a long journey from winning work to getting paid, but you just stick at it. Be nice, do your stuff, be good at it.
You’ve worked on projects with the Overford team before making it official. What attracted you to working under the Overford banner?
I’ve known the team for about two years and worked on a few bits and pieces with them. Stuart from Limeslade introduced me to Jason, as we’re both Sheffield-based. I actually passed a client to Overford that I couldn’t help at the time, but now I’m delighted to be working with them again as part of the team.
We’ve been talking about joining forces for 18 months. Over that time, we got to know each other and realised we’re a good fit. We share the same outlook, but we all bring different things to the table. Guy and Jason are different from one another, and I bring a few more years! They’ve got the enthusiasm and energy, which is great.
You’re a quantum expert, but specialise in MEP disputes. How do these differ from standard quantum disputes?
It’s mainly the technology. MEP is all I’ve ever done. I’ve worked at the coalface (on site!) with subcontractors for many years, listening to the conversations, which gives you a fantastic education. To be a good MEP surveyor, you need to be part engineer. You have to understand how everything works and speak the same language as the engineers. That way you can speak with authority on the technical side as well as the costs. For me, that makes it much more interesting, especially as the technology advances.
How do you see your expertise complementing and enhancing Overford’s existing services?
Overford didn’t have anyone with MEP expertise, so it’s a new service line. A lot of their clients are already in the MEP, electrical or ductwork space. Now we can talk their language, technically and commercially, with my experience on the board of Inviron
What has been your most challenging project to date?
The management buy-out to create Inviron and then the sale to Imtech. That was an absolute rollercoaster, burning the midnight oil and starting at the crack of dawn.
Inviron and ABB also did a lot of PFI projects, which were hard work. And of course, setting up Twenty3 Consulting and making it a success. That was a huge challenge but very rewarding, helping clients resolve disputes and achieve their goals.
When you’re not at work, what keeps you busy?
I’d like to have “skateboarder” written on my gravestone, but not just yet!. I only gave it up at 50 after a rather serious injury. I snowboard regularly (the French Alps are my spiritual home!), mountain bike in the Peak District and generally enjoy anything adventurous or a bit dangerous. I really enjoy live music, I’m a part owner of a large hairdressing salon and I repair bikes, which are a bit different, we all need a bit of variety!