Meet Jonathon, our new Health and Safety Consultant.
Here are some insights from our recent chat with Jonathon.
Why did you join PEMCO?
I've worked with Keith twice before. First at CBRE for 4 years, then at PEMCO for 3 years when it was a start-up. We had a lot of fun and I knew Keith and I would work together again one day. After Keith told me about the merger with Hosking Associates, I jumped at the chance to work with him again at PEMCO.
What do you do at PEMCO?
I'm a Health and Safety Consultant.
What is your background?
I started work at my local Lloyds Bank branch and worked in finance for the first 7 years. Then I moved to BT and developed a 20-year career in Facilities Management which included 7 years working for CBRE. For the past 13 years, I've specialised as a health and safety consultant providing competent advice. With my background in FM, I have extensive experience in assessing risks in properties.
What are your credentials?
My professional qualifications are in FM and Health and Safety. I'm a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner (CMIOSH), a Certified member of IWFM (CIWFM), and a Member of IFSM (MIFSM).
What are the values that drive you?
Integrity. If I say I will do something I complete it. I try to underpromise but over-deliver. There is nothing worse than promising something and then not delivering it.
What is something that people in health and safety have to deal with that you want to fix?
Making recommendations that get ignored can be very frustrating. It’s something a health and safety consultant comes across quite regularly. Having worked in FM I understand there are financial constraints but there is no excuse for not prioritising higher risks and making improvements over time.
What inspires you?
I love watching the Olympics, or finals of major sporting events where those at the top of their sport prove themselves. There’s nothing better than seeing the emotions on the faces of those who have won a title or beaten a world record.
One of the things that inspires me the most is seeing someone in my running club achieve a personal best or run a distance they've never run before. In addition to leading a weekly group of runners at my running club to run over 10k, I also assist beginners in a couch to 5K program. It's these groups of runners that inspire me to strive for more in my own running goals.
Do you have any hidden talents?
As a teenager, I earned money doing gardening and decorating jobs. As I gained confidence, I took on house maintenance jobs. Over the years I have taught myself to do electrical, plumbing and other maintenance jobs. I am a true self-taught DIYer.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?
I can be quite adventurous, some of my adventures have included:
- Hitch-hiking in South Africa to find a friend who'd moved from Johannesburg to Durban
- 210ft abseil off a block of flats in Southampton for charity
- 3600 mile “Harley-Davidson” motorbike trip across the U.S. from Washington and New York to LA
I'm very passionate about supporting groups. Having adopted one of my 3 sons, I am very passionate about supporting other adopters in their journey. I've been Treasurer of my children’s swimming club for 5 years, Treasurer of a dive club for 1 year, and I've been Secretary of my local running club for the last 5 years.
When we get the opportunity my wife and I like to paddle board. We have a campervan in which we like to explore the countryside and escape the hustle and bustle of real life.
What are your top 3 books?
The first book that ever captured my imagination was “The Tree Wakers” by Keith Claire. My eldest son has my original copy. It captured his imagination too. As a child I read all the Biggles books and many other teenage adventure books and then when my children were growing up I would often read what they were reading such as Harry Potter or Darren Shan.
I'm currently reading a book called “Vuelta Skelter”. It's about a man riding the route of the Spanish equivalent of the Tour de France. It's quite funny but above all, I like a book which captures my imagination.
What are your top 3 TV Shows?
- Traitors
- Dr. Who
- A good spy thriller
What are your top 3 Films?
There are too many to choose from. I always like a good action movie but I'm often captured by a so-called “true story” or an in-depth emotional movie.
