Industry Focus – with Joshua Katihrob

Focus on…career steps with Building Inspector Joshua Katihrob IEng MCABE

Q. What is your current role and how long have you been in the position?

A. I am a Building Inspector, currently employed by Meridian Consult to oversee our West Midlands and Wales-based projects. I’ve been with the business since October 2023, having worked in Building Control for the past three and a half years.  

Q. What route did you take to your current role?

A. In my late teens, I was employed by a general building company in my hometown of Ashton- Under-Lyne whilst undertaking a Level 3 apprenticeship in painting and decorating. My interest in construction led me to apply for a part-time HNC in Construction at the University of Salford. I later relocated to the West Midlands at the same time as starting the course.

The university lecturers would advertise job opportunities to assist students in finding related employment – one such position that caught my eye was a Technical Apprentice with GMI Construction role. I applied and was lucky enough to get it!

I continued working in main contracting, spending two years at Sir Robert McAlpine’s (a building and infrastructure company) as an Assistant Site Manager. I enjoyed my time at university and chose to continue with a full degree in Building Surveying, as it seemed varied and interesting.

Towards the end of my studies, I was unsure which type of surveying I wanted to specialise in. One of my lecturers at the time, Fred Linskey, advised me to research Building Control, the functions and purpose of which intrigued me, and I found it fit with my interests and aspirations - I got in touch with one of Fred’s contacts, and the rest is history!  

Q. Was this role a career aim for you from the outset?

A. It’s been an unexpected development. It’s true that construction has always been an area of interest for me, from infrastructure projects and large complex buildings down to small residential schemes. Every aspect always appealed to me and I enjoyed learning about it.

However, I didn’t know what role I wanted to fulfil within the industry. It was only because Fred introduced me to some of his ex-colleagues that I explored Building Control specifically. It isn’t something that universities seem to focus on, and I believe it should be a main subject in the way that project management, quantity surveying and architectural practice is.  

Q. Did/do you have a mentor?

A. Yes, I wouldn’t be where I am today without several key people who helped me (and continue to help) along the way. As mentioned, my lecturer Fred Linskey introduced me to Ryan Gee, Clive Kirkpatrick and Tim Woods who were employed by an Approved Inspector based in North Wales – they gave me my first opportunity in Building Control and took the time to teach me the basics.  They took a chance on a new graduate, and I am grateful for that.

Gary Hancox is one of the directors at Meridian Consult. He’s been instrumental in my development since I started; time is always taken to answer questions or to assist me when working on more complex schemes. This leadership is complemented by another two directors in Colin Goode and Rob Neale, who also allow me to shadow them on some of their projects. The support on offer at Meridian will undoubtedly assist in my ongoing development.   

Q. Are there any other positions in the built environment sector that appeal to you?

A. I feel I’ve found a great role for myself in the construction sector. Building Control is varied; I work alongside engineers, architects and developers throughout the life-cycle of the project which allows me to see the project from conception through to completion. It helps that Meridian are so encouraging of my career aspirations.

Excitingly, I’m only at the beginning of my career. Given my passion for construction, I’ve always wanted to play a part in the biggest construction projects in the UK and abroad. To have the opportunity to work in other countries and impact larger schemes is a dream career goal for me.

Further guidance:

• According to www.gov.uk, a building inspector “carries out regulated building control activities, such as assessing plans, site inspections, and giving advice to building control bodies that carry out regulated functions”. As of April 2024, building inspectors must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to legally work in England and Wales.
• Joshua spent time building his career at Sir Robert McAlpine, one of the leading civil engineering companies in the UK. They offer trades and technical apprenticeships, placements, work experience and student sponsorship. Joshua’s current employer, Meridian Consult, are registered building control approvers with the BSR.
• Following the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, the UK building control sector has undergone intense scrutiny, resulting in recent regulatory reforms and new legislation, including registration as a legal requirement for inspectors and approvers. You can always find industry news on the CABE website − www.cbuilde.com − detail on reforms such as the Building Safety Act (BSA), and the BSR at www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety and on the UK and Welsh Government websites – www.gov.uk or www.gov.wales