Q&A: Five minutes with Tom Hill, executive director of housebuilder The Hill Group

How did you join the property industry?

I joined the industry at the age of 16, straight from school. I had worked weekends and school holidays helping a local landscaper and knew I wanted to work with my father and brother in the family business, The Hill Group. I started as a trainee site manager and gained experience in all sectors of the business by completing Hill’s Management Trainee Programme alongside my master’s degree in construction management.

What does your job entail?

My role has an operational slant across the business, and I spend a lot of time with our site teams, clients, supply chain and partners to identify and establish new opportunities while ensuring progress on current projects.

I also head our buying department to maximise value, and am on the main Hill group board, and sit on the boards of investment teams for our investment partnerships with the councils of Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire District, Gravesham Borough and Harlow.

What do you like most about the property industry?

I love working with a wide range of people and learning new things. I also enjoy the satisfaction of successfully completing projects and providing sustainable, high-quality new homes and communities, which I know will improve people’s lives for the future.

And what do you dislike most about it?

External factors that are out of our control, from economic and political factors to the weather, can have significant implications for the delivery of the homes that are so needed for both our clients and our communities.

What would you change about the property industry?

The planning system causes delays and complications, which have considerable cost implications and severely affect project delivery. For example, we had 24 planning conditions imposed on a scheme of six SoloHaus modular homes for people experiencing homelessness, which we donated through Hill’s charitable project Foundation 200. The conditions added a three-month delay and considerably increased the cost.

What barriers or challenges have you overcome?

I have always believed in learning from my colleagues and industry peers, and I have never been afraid of asking questions or embracing the opportunity to learn and expand my knowledge by welcoming others’ expertise. This has helped me overcome any challenges and barriers I have faced in my career.

What are you most proud of in your career?

In 2016, I was awarded a Seal of Excellence at the National House Building Council’s Pride in the Job Quality Awards, and was the youngest finalist and overall winner of the eastern region’s multi-storey category – the highest industry accolade a site manager can receive. This was a great achievement for everyone in the project team.

Also, I am extremely proud of my father, Andy Hill, who was recently awarded an OBE for services to affordable housing.

What advice would you give someone starting a career in the property industry?

Have an open mindset, ask questions, work hard, listen and learn. Also, be respectful to everyone, from labourers to the client’s CEO – everyone is important in their role.