2025 has proved to be a very busy year for Sustainable Building Services. We have won new clients, secured new contracts and extended others. These are all welcome developments, of course, but they have also demanded that we build additional capacity within the business.
We have done that partly through recruitment. Over the last 12 months, we have taken on many new staff at different levels throughout the organisation. Examples of their roles have included a solar PV technical manager, a senior bid co-ordinator, a bid writer, three quality assurance administrators and a number of tenant liaison officers.
However, we haven’t relied exclusively on new recruitment. We’re very keen to develop and promote our existing staff wherever possible. This is in accordance with our Investors In People accreditation, and very much in line with the aims of the National Home Decarbonisation Group and its development partner, the Retrofit Academy. Encouraging skills development is essential to the growth and future of this sector.
Supporting this kind of internal growth has always been a strategic priority for SBS. Our chair and managing director have consistently emphasised the importance of enabling people to build sustainable careers, and our success in this can be illustrated through the feedback of some recently promoted staff.
One of these is Jacob Goodwin, who began working with us as a labourer in November 2023 and who went on to take the role of Assistant QS in October 2024. Describing his progression, he said: “Originally, I was only labouring to bring in a wage whilst I looked for something in my degree field. But I enjoyed working with the team in Coventry and I was happy to continue in an office role when it was offered.
“Having a degree definitely helped me to make an earlier transition into that role, and I had lots of support along the way. People clearly felt that I had more to offer to the business. Colleagues such as Bogdan Nadasan were very supportive in getting me set up in compliance, and there were always team members who were happy to answer my questions. They always made me feel confident in my abilities and my value to the team. Jason Oxley gave me the direction to move into a commercial role and I have really benefitted from experienced mentorship during my time as Assistant QS.”
Jacob’s story highlights the way that SBS staff tend to pass on the baton of learning and experience. He notes that he received help and encouragement from Bogdan Nadasan, but Bogdan himself has been on a career development journey.
He joined the company in June 2022 as a labourer and van driver. While working on a project in Solihull, he was offered the opportunity to take on more responsibility and, in February 2023, he joined SBS full-time as an Assistant Site Manager.
“At the time I was hired,” he recalls, “I honestly didn’t think much of it; I wasn’t aiming for any promotion. I had just moved to Birmingham and was simply looking for a job after finishing my carpentry career – nothing specific, just a fresh start. Who would have thought that this would turn into a career I truly enjoy? Everything happened naturally, without being planned or pushed – what started as a normal labourer job ended up becoming the beginning of a new career.”
Bogdan adds that, early on, he received valuable support and encouragement from Jason Oxley and Steve Roberts. Since his promotion, he notes: “SBS has been a big part of my growth – providing training and continuous support, and helping me understand how I can keep improving myself.”
Bogdan also makes an important point: that age is no barrier to progress. He states: “Since joining SBS, I’ve seen many young people taking on important roles and being fully supported by the company. Some have started as apprentices and others, like myself, have begun from scratch. I’ve never felt “too new” or “too young” at SBS. Everyone is treated equally, and you always have the support you need from others. In the past, I was often told I was too young for a responsible position, and I really appreciate that SBS doesn’t have that mindset. I believe that investing in the younger generation is a key factor in SBS’s success. Bringing fresh minds and new ideas together with experience and professionalism really sets the company apart in the industry.”
Another recruit who has quickly accelerated her career is Kerry Longstone. She started off as a tenant liaison officer in January 2024, but she was promoted to Assistant Site Manager in May 2024. Then, in February 2025, she was promoted again to the role of Site Manager. She notes that she didn’t expect her progress to be so rapid but, again, points out that she had plenty of support.
Kerry says: “The biggest help for me was the trust and belief that my manager and director had in me. Their support gave me the confidence to step up, take on more responsibility, and grow in my role. Knowing they had faith in my abilities made a huge difference and motivated me to push myself further.
“There is no doubt that SBS invests in its employees and wants to see them succeed. The training and guidance I’ve received has been second to none. Now, looking ahead, I see my career continuing to grow here. I want to take on more responsibility, develop my skills, and continue to learn from the experienced people around me. With the support, training, and opportunities the company offers, I’ll be able to keep progressing and contributing at a higher level.
“To other women who may be considering a career in construction, I’d say go for it! Don’t be afraid to get stuck in and show what you can do.”
Our ECO Surv Administrator, Bernard Jones has a similar story. He was first employed as a labourer in October 2023, but was promoted to his current role in September 2025. He believes that good mentoring by his managers has been key to his success so far.
“Mentoring is part of what I like about the company’s values,” he points out. “There’s a belief in progressing individuals and giving opportunities to everyone. I think this is a great foundation to build on; it gives people a solid structure. Everyone feels important, everyone is moving as one towards a common goal, and it really helps to build a great team spirit.
“Now, I’m looking forward to taking the ECO Surv software and implementing it company-wide, not just on the site I’m working on currently but on all sites across the company. I’m going to be teaching other colleagues how to use it and making it into something the company can use and be proud of. It’s very rewarding to feel that I’m trusted to be the first person in charge of implementing this new software.”
Many of the recent promotions have taken place in the Midlands, where our operations are led by SBS Regional Director Steve Roberts. He is supported here by Operations Manager Jason Oxley, who has facilitated the promotions described above.
Explaining the company’s approach to skills development and team-building, Jason says: “At SBS, we believe in growing our own talent. It’s inspiring to see young individuals start their journey on site as labourers and then have the desire to develop into skilled professionals; to see individuals changing their careers and stepping into site management roles.
“Providing opportunities for growth and supporting career development is pleasing to see and it’s at the heart of what we do.”
