Alex works as the Data Analyst and Benchmarking Lead, within Gleeds (Intelligence and Benchmarking). His role involves a multifaceted approach to data management, responsible for the collection, verification and presentation of cost data for various projects and programmes.
This includes the application development and report production for both internal stakeholders and clients, which contribute significantly to streamlining and supporting project delivery.
A typical day for Alex involves responding to requests for benchmarking information from across the business, primarily manipulating and presenting data in Power BI reports. He also dedicates his time to long-term projects, such as developing internal tools and digital applications. Alex is driven by a need to ‘scratch his creative itch’. He finds the blend of creativity and analytical work in his sector particularly appealing and believes that excellent numbers need to be presented well to be truly impactful, as poor presentation can render even the best data useless. This balance of creativity and analysis is what drew him to his current role.
Alex appreciates that Gleeds is large enough to gather substantial and interesting data, yet small enough to maintain a community feel. Alex advises those new to the business to take advantage of the wealth of experience within the company. Gleeds has many individuals who have spent decades in the industry, providing valuable resource for newcomers.
One of Alex's proudest achievements at Gleeds is launching the first version of a new benchmarking application. Reflecting on it now, he recognises how much he has learned since then, but he takes pride in the fact that he successfully navigated the software without prior knowledge.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys creating illustrations on his iPad, sketching, baking, and walking his dog around London. If he had not pursued a career in data analytics, he believes he would have become a civil or structural engineer, a field he studied for four years.