Marking Remembrance Day, Barratt David Wilson North Thames is celebrating four colleagues who have traded military service for successful careers in housebuilding.
Joining with a combined 42 years in the Armed Forces, John Mathis, Rob Cox, Daryl Slavin and Jack McNally have each taken different routes into construction, but all four have found opportunities to thrive, progress and put their military experience to good use.
Mathis (pictured left) is a senior site manager at David Wilson Homes’ Hazel Park development in Stevenage. He served for 15 years with the Corps of Royal Engineers, specialising in explosives and demolition. After joining the business seven years ago, he soon recognised the similarities between military life and housebuilding.
He said: “The ethos of construction felt familiar. There’s a real sense of camaraderie on site, with everyone working towards a shared goal. That team mentality reminded me of my time in the military. The skills you developed in the military can take you a long way, and construction is a fantastic industry in which to put them to use.”
Cox (pictured centre) joined North Thames in 2021 after eight years of military service. Having risen to corporal, Rob brought leadership, organisational and people management skills to his role as project manager at the Highover Grange development. He has since won two Pride in the Job Awards.
He commented: “I brought so many transferable skills, from managing people and leadership to timekeeping and organisation. At the end of the day, it’s all about discipline.”
After 12 years serving in an artillery unit, Slavin decided to leave the army to spend more time with his family. Encouraged by a friend, he joined the Armed Forces Transition Programme and, within two years, progressed from assistant site manager to site manager at Kingsbrook, winning an NHBC Pride in the Job Award on his first site.
He said: “I was promoted pretty quickly so I was really chuffed with winning that in my first year as a site manager.”
For McNally, who served seven years with the Parachute Regiment and is now site manager at Chaulden Meadows, adjusting to civilian life brought its own challenges.
He commented: “The transition from leaving the military was very hard – I was trying to figure out civilian life, fatherhood and my career all at once. “More than anything else, what transferred over from the military was the ethos: to work hard, do well, and be the best.”
Bill Beyzade, managing director of Barratt David Wilson North Thames, said: “Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on and honour the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces. It is also an opportunity to recognise the enormous contribution veterans continue to make in their civilian careers.
“We are proud to support former service personnel and provide opportunities for them to build rewarding careers. The leadership, professionalism and resilience they bring strengthen our business, our sites and our teams. John, Rob, Daryl and Jack are fantastic examples of the talent within the veteran community and the positive impact they continue to make in our industry.
“I would like to thank them for their service and for the invaluable contribution they continue to make to our business.”
