Contracts Foreman Jason Mead marks two decades at Stress

The start

I’d like to take you back to the beginning. I moved over to greater London from Bristol to be with my now wife, and I contacted Helifix for a list of installers in the London area. I started from the top of that list: number one, STRESS.

I called the office and arranged an interview with David Kitching. We met at the office in Slough and made a visit to one of the active sites. On my first time out on site, David joined me. I’ll always remember it: I was cutting a vertical slot to install Helibar on a chimney. I hadn’t held a chaser for months, let alone cut vertically and when I made my cut, David’s comment was, “That’s not the straightest I’ve ever seen.” I was already thinking of excuses, but I just told the truth, something along the lines of “it’s been a while, I need to warm up” or “get used to the machine again.”

Finding my feet

The weeks became months and the months became years. I got involved in lots of different aspects of STRESS, concrete repairs, carbon fibre reinforcement, chemical leak sealing, the Foundation Rescue system and constantly learning new ways to carry out structural repairs. Then along came Goldhawk Bridge Restoration with a whole new bunch of challenges, but I took them on and became confident managing smaller jobs alongside experienced operatives.

Into management

Then my first real management opportunity arrived: The Roman Baths, where I’d complete my SMSTS and work with a team of guys. This opportunity was presented to me by Simon Collis, who I’d got to know through the Foundation Rescue works I’d done. We had a meeting down in Swanage at a seaside café, where we looked over the plans and discussed the works. Being close to my hometown of Bristol, I didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity. Little did I realise at the time that this would become a turning point in my life, setting me on a new road of management. I was soon surveying small jobs and putting together prices, getting more involved with health and safety and dealing with paperwork such as RAMS documents. The computer was becoming my go-to tool and once again I was faced with new challenges.

Where I am now

Well, I’m a little involved with everything. I carry out survey works, organise the team with a list of structures on the Crown Estate each year and survey many culverts. I assist with operations, getting sites up and running with plant and materials and I help site managers where needed. I’m more involved with health and safety these days too, carrying out face-fit testing on the team and I’ve started working towards becoming an environmental manager for STRESS. I still get the occasional job where I price everything up and hand it over to the project managers and I’ve recently designed two projects from scratch.

Twenty years, barely scratched the surface

This in no way sums up my 20 years, I couldn’t fit it all in. It has been full of learning, pushing myself and having the support of everyone around me, who also push me further than I ever believed I could go. Being surrounded by a fantastic team in the office who are passionate about what they do, who are willing to share ideas and take on board your goals and help you achieve them, has made all the difference. Working with possibly the best group of guys on site you could meet, they’re what makes it easier to get up and get to work each day. As of writing this, I’m 43. I’ve spent nearly half my life with STRESS and I couldn’t imagine it any other way, a company that tests you, supports you and pushes you.