OUR CORE PRINCIPLES
Salamander believes in four core principles: Quality; Technology; Sustainability and Safety. We believe the only way we can consistently offer a great service is to ensure these core principles are central to every part of our supply chain. Regular communication is very much part of our service and we listen to what our client wants and needs every step of the way. From proposal through to completion, our attention to detail and focus on our client’s needs is what differentiates us. Our previous experience working for large corporations has shown us what it takes to make a company great.
QUALITY
We aim to work with local suppliers that share our values and our equipment is sourced from the best manufacturers with good supply chains of their own and is always carefully maintained.
We spend time finding the best people to work with us as we believe that our critical success factor is our employees. We work hard to be a great company to work for and we place the wellbeing and safety of our people at our heart. We believe this drives quality and accountability which means our clients are confident that we can deliver, consistently.
SUSTAINABILITY
TECHNOLOGY
We are passionate about technology and look to integrate it into our projects as much as we can. We aim to develop properties that use technology to make living and working easier, more effective and more enjoyable.
Technology is a key theme throughout our work practices, we make the most efficient use of packages like AutoCAD, Revit and Xero. We also enjoy trying to influence our suppliers to move towards more technology orientated businesses.
SAFETY
Safety is at the forefront of our minds every day. In construction, safety is a challenging issue and many let it slip to the bottom of their priorities due to logistical complexities.
Safety is one of our four core values which helps us demonstrate how much importance we place on safety first. No matter how challenging or complex a project, we find ways to ensure the safety of our employees and the public, it never falls from the top of our priorities.
WHO WE ARE
Tom Bower
Director
Tom has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry and has worked for one of the largest global engineering businesses within the UK and Middle East. As part of this Tom ran WSP’s Middle East & India businesses from 2010 to 2017, growing them from 500 to over 3,000 employees and annual revenues of over 300 million USD.
Salamander’s core values are Tom’s core values from which he never waives. On leaving his previous MD position to move home from the Middle East, one of the hundreds of messages of farewell Tom received sums him up perfectly:
‘Working with [Tom] I saw how one person with a clear vision and a commitment to sticking to good systems and processes can change a business. [Tom’s] single-minded determination to influence people to follow [his] core values was a powerful lesson for me, and [his] influence made a failing company become a great company in a remarkably short time’.
Tom grew up on his family farm where he loved to work most weekends and holidays. He is equally at home getting his hands dirty on-site as he is at managing the commercial aspects of the business.
John Houlton
Operations Manager
Johnny has over ten years of experience in the construction and development sector. Prior to joining Salamander Johnny worked for Ernest Doe as a construction area manager responsible for marketing and sales of a wide range of machinery across the South East. Previous to this Johnny worked for Queenstown based Civil Construction where he was responsible for Canterbury operations including demolition and rebuild projects after the earthquakes in Christchurch New Zealand. He brings with him a wealth of experience in construction processes, design and project management.
Having obtained a degree in Rural Land Management at the Royal Agricultural College Johnny is also equipped with a sound knowledge of residential, agricultural and commercial property management. This highly regarded course covers aspects such as planning law, valuation, surveying, building technology and business management – all of which come into play on Salamander projects.
Johnny grew up in Hurstpierpoint on his family organic mixed farm which he is now managing into its third generation.
Helen Kershaw
Director
Helen has over 15 years of experience in Business and Finance and is CIMA qualified with leadership experience in several large multinational organisations within the UK and Middle-East. Helen enjoys working with different people and technologies and is passionate about finding new ways to help developing businesses improve their efficiency and knowledge to help them grow.
Helen spent the early years of her children’s lives working in the financial training industry where the hours suited family life more before moving on to business consultancy upon returning to the UK. Helen looks after all aspects of financial management for Salamander, working closely with the team on each project. Helen also owns a Pilates studio where she enjoys to teach the local Steyning community.
Josh Gilham
Development Manager
Before joining Salamander Josh ran his own successful business, JG Refurbishments, which is well known in the West Sussex area. After working closely alongside Salamander on several projects, he decided to join our growing team bringing over 14 years of experience in the construction industry and a wealth of knowledge on conversions, extensions and project management.
Josh grew up in Epsom spending many hours with his Grandad who taught him carpentry from a young age. He is a member of the Guild of Master Craftsman and brings with him an excellent reputation for high-quality workmanship. Josh has two young children Jacob and Alyssa, he enjoys keeping fit and loves music. He has an HND in music production and enjoys playing the drums in his spare time.
Joe Whitehead
Experienced Site Operative
Joe has several years of experience in the construction industry. Previous to working for Salamander he worked for a residential building company which gave him a wealth of experience in the use of power tools and a thorough understanding of the construction processes involved in the refurbishment and renovation of both old and new properties.
Prior to this Joe had the trip of a lifetime and spent over 2 years travelling the world. From teaching English to hill tribes in Indonesia, to help build an eco-resort on a deserted island in the Philippines, to rounding up cattle on the vast plains of the Australian outback, Joe has invaluable life experiences which he is able to apply to his daily work.
He is now settled in the UK and with the recent arrival of his first child, he is relishing the opportunity of being part of this exciting and dynamic company.
Albie Bishop
Site Operative
After leaving Blatchington Mill school in 2018, Albie went on to study Hard Landscaping where he graduated and received Distinction grades for all his modules. After graduating, Albie worked on a farm in Yorkshire where he utilised skills leant at college and gained new ones including driving tractors, telehandlers, skid steers and a variety of power tools. During his time on the farm, Albie also gained valuable knowledge and experience rearing pigs and cows.
When Albie came back to Sussex, he started working for a hard landscaping firm where he transformed drives, gardens and also installed a variety of patios.
Albie thrives on hard work and loves to learn and so is loving working as part of the Salamander Team where he is given the opportunity to learn every day with great people who enjoy their work. In his spare time, Albie enjoys paddle-boarding, canoeing and any water-based activity!
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