n The Big Interview with Michael Hoggart and Martin Munday of Modus

Investment in apprenticeships

pays off for Modus

Having started their quantity surveying careers as apprentices, Michael Hoggart and Martin Munday both know full well the value of this type of training.

The dynamic duo are currently spearheading the expansion of Modus, a thriving Favershambased construction consultancy, and are committed to investing in their staff to achieve further growth.

Martin explains: “We want to grow organically and develop people through apprenticeships. We’ve always had this philosophy since we started the company in 2014. Our aim is to take on at least one apprentice every 12-18 months.”

Michael, a quantity surveying graduate with nearly 20 years' experience in the industry, adds: “I recall my apprenticeship and remember learning so much on the job. You don’t just acquire technical skills; you also learn life skills, such as how to negotiate and communicate effectively.

“There’s a misconception that apprenticeships tend to be suitable only for traditional manual jobs such as bricklaying and plumbing. Not many people know that you can do an apprenticeship in quantity surveying, and this can lead to a range of exciting careers. Martin and I speak regularly in schools and colleges to get that message across to young people.” Their focus on workforce development has been recognised in the wider business community. Modus won the prestigious accolade of Employer of the Year in the Kent Excellence in Business Awards 2021, with the judges making a point of praising the company’s commitment to apprenticeships and other forms of staff training.

This commitment helped Modus to record the highest annual turnover in its history in the year to April 2021 – no mean feat when operating in the jaws of a global pandemic. Turnover is expected to have a 20% increase year on year. Martin and Michael are also aiming to add to their ten-strong team of staff as more work floods in.

Modus offers the full spectrum of quantity surveying services including cost management, preparation of bills of quantities, employer’s agent, contract administration, project coordination and monitoring surveying. The company has spread its wings in many sectors including residential development, education, leisure, commercial and healthcare.

Martin says: “In the last few years we’ve carved a niche in the healthcare sector. We bid for a fouryear framework contract with the

We’ve become extremely wellknown in Kent, which is a fantastic place to work and home to a closeknit construction supply chain. Now we want to grow our footprint in other areas, such as Surrey.

NHS and were successful thanks to our previous experience in this field.

“We also do a lot of work with the education sector and have forged good contacts with school academies, which has enabled us to win repeat work. In Kent there’s a lot of private development work going on, predominantly residential, so we’ve been well served by this market too.”

During his career, Martin has worked on a wide variety of projects in a range of sectors using different procurement routes and forms of contract. He began his career in the industry as a trainee surveyor in 1999 and ended up meeting Michael in 2002, when they worked for the same company.

“I worked my way up the ranks and was promoted to the position of associate,” says Martin. “I worked for this company for about 13 years but by the end of my time there I didn’t feel as though I could progress any further. I thought I could do the job better myself so I founded my own practice in 2013.”

By then, Michael had already left to work for a quantity surveying practice in London. He quickly made a string of new connections and was made associate director of the practice in 2012, the same year he became a qualified chartered surveyor. By then he had gained varied experience within a wide range of sectors and procurement routes, undertaking all aspects of quantity surveying, contract administration and employer’s agent roles, and specialising in high-end residential, affordable residential, local authority and healthcare projects.

However, by 2013 Michael fancied a change of direction and ended up joining forces with Martin to launch Modus the following year.

“I brought a lot of clients with me and this, along with our combined experience, meant that we started on a strong footing,” says Michael. “From the off we wanted to do things differently to traditional quantity surveying practices by working collaboratively and going above and beyond what clients expected of us. We were keen to build a well-trained, motivated team of professionals who could continuously deliver an outstanding service and sound commercial advice to our clients.”

Michael and Martin are well on the way to achieving their goal of making Modus the region’s leading independent quantity surveying practice.

Martin says: “We’ve become extremely well-known in Kent, which is a fantastic place to work and home to a close-knit construction supply chain. Now we want to grow our footprint in other areas, such as Surrey.

“There’s a shortage of talented quantity surveyors, architects and designers, which is a challenge, but I’m confident that companies like ours can tackle this by banging the drum for the industry. Michael and I are evidence that this is a great career to be involved in.”

Inside Story:

Martin Munday and Michael Hoggart

Favourite food?

Martin: Italian, particularly pizza Michael: Turkish. Particularity sitting outside on a warm summer’s day with a cold beer

Favourite tipple?

Martin: Curious Beer Lager Michael: Bear Island beer and partial to a glass of Rioja

Favourite holiday?

Martin: Sorrento, Italy Michael: Safari in South Africa

Describe your family life?

Martin: Busy, with 4 children under 12 years old, there isn’t much respite Michael: Enjoyable but hectic - with 3 children (2 under 3) and our dog Rufus

How do you spend your downtime?

Martin: Coaching my sons football team, renovating the family home and playing PS4 Michael: Watching football or any TV or playing one of my various guitars

What are your key strengths as a manager?

Martin: Being able to read people and understanding their individual characteristics and motivations

Michael: Being open and available at all times, whether for business or personal reasons

And your limitations?

Martin: I get frustrated by peoples lack of self-motivation and drive to develop themselves and their career Michael: Managing rather than leading. It is something I am actively working on

Best thing about doing business in the county?

Martin: The close relationships that are formed between all factions of the industry Michael: It feels like a family. All parties in our industry enjoy each other’s company and all work together and create strong relationships

Famous person you’d most like to spend dinner with?

Martin: Andy McNab Michael: Liam Gallagher, although I would expect he’d prefer a pub rather than a dinner

Most interesting fact about yourself?

Martin: I spent three years in the territorial army Michael: I used to be the lead singer and guitarist of a few bands (if you can call them that) when I was younger