Les is a director in Gleeds’ infrastructure business bringing over 20 years of experience as a chartered quantity surveyor.
He leads our ports and maritime sector and serves as regional lead for cost management in the south of the UK, where he plays a key role in developing our people, expanding our services, and strengthening relationships across the infrastructure industry.
As regional lead, he is responsible for team engagement, recruitment line management, training and development. As sector lead, he focuses on identifying new opportunities, submitting tenders, and representing Gleeds at key industry events.
Les is motivated by helping people grow, supporting them to meet their goals and teach career milestones. He is equally driven by providing value to clients and building strong, trusted relationships that lead to long-term partnerships and new opportunities.
He was drawn to Gleeds for its strong focus on people, particularly emphasis on development, progression, and work-life balance. Les also shares the company’s commitment to service excellence with humility, which he carries through all aspects of his work. What continues to attract him to the infrastructure industry is the scale and importance of the projects he works on.
Some of Les’s proudest achievements at Gleeds include helping win our first direct commission with Thames Water and supporting the successful bid for strategic win with the Port of Jersey. He also recently achieved fellowship status with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a significant personal and professional milestone and one that represents his passion for learning. He has a keen interest in construction and contract law and has a master’s degree in construction law and dispute resolution.
Outside of work, Les enjoys playing golf, supporting his local rugby team, and long-distance walking. He has completed 125 miles of the 650-mile Southwest Coast Path and is determined to finish it – ideally before, in his words, “my knees give up!”.
If he hadn’t pursued a career in construction, Les imagines he would have worked in sport, perhaps as a sports psychologist or physiotherapist, blending his interest in performance with his passion for helping others succeed.