Recruited to lead on a major water pipeline project. Had 3 supporting planners, but unfortunately the "Production Managers" thought they were in control of the project and how it should be planned. Highlighted various issues on the project as there was a belief because it was linear that it could be handled like a production line, but there was no consideration for the 400km's of GI, SI, 1400 crossings, ecology, archaeology, land owners, restricted access, construction limited times due to transport and areas such as schools, significant logistics, etc.

Sat down with the Designers and GI/SI Teams and built them schedule templates/ fragnets, and they told me it was the first time in 14 months that they had a clear view of their deliverables and progress, but the Production Team believed they knew better. It was when they asked why we couldn't just put critical activities into P6 that I told them they didn;t have a clue about planning and to leave me as the planning lead to create the programmes to the level they required.

This same Production Team were proposing using time location software and spending a significant amount of money, so I asked how they would see hedgerow removal in the time location software if it wasn't in the main planning software, but they ignored the questions and proceeded to purchase the software.

I knew there was an issue with some of the projects and did a backwards plan to identify any projects that may not hit the OFWAT dates, and briefed SLT in Dec 20. Also highlighted that the time allowed for design was insufficient as it was only 2 months, but the Client expected a month at the end of each design stage, plus 6 weeks for the estimators totalling 5.5 months.

Left the project in Jan 2021, and in April 2022 the new team said they had backward planned and some projects were in trouble. I asked if it was 7 by any chance and they asked how I knew and I informed them I had briefed SLT on this in Dec 2020 but wasn't listened to!

Various other projects with Costain including EBPR projects, defence, tunnels, etc.