Chris Topley

In 2015, having spent fifteen years working as an electrician, I was looking for a new challenge and an opportunity for further development. I applied to a job advert, not really knowing what to expect, but ended up joining Property Services as an Electrical Surveyor.

Until then, I had no idea of the number and variety of buildings, which the County Council are responsible for, or the size of the team needed to do this. We look after everything, from the 13th Century Great Hall to a modern Data Centre facility.

The team I work with maintain hundreds of properties, managing building and engineering contractors who carry out thousands of planned maintenance tasks and reactive repairs every year.

We make sure the Councils buildings remain operational and safe to use. This can involve fixing a leaking pipe, to a major roof repair or delivering and connecting an emergency generator.

It is not very glamourous, but the work is rarely boring, with no two days the same, and I get to work with a fantastic group of professionals who really care about the service they provide across Hampshire.

On joining Hampshire County Council (HCC), I never imagined, that eight years later, I would have obtained a First-Class engineering degree or gained the experience, and confidence, to secure promotion to Operational Maintenance Manager and take responsibility for a team of multi-disciplined professionals delivering several multi-million-pound contracts.

Within Property Services, there is a strong culture of encouraging professional development, driven by managers who ensure that opportunities for improvement are there for those who want them. From soft skills training on word processing, or time management, through to degree level apprenticeships, there are options for everyone.