Everyone’s career journey is different, filled with memories, milestones, and growth. We sat down with Director David Easton, who leads our renewables department, to celebrate his six years at CHP and reflect on when he first started with the business.
Our people are the heartbeat of our culture, and we are incredibly proud and grateful to have a team who take on challenges with integrity and pride.
How did you decide to become a part of CHP?
Originally growing up in the North, I relocated to London for work but later decided to move back and settle. My main criteria were to find a role where I could work remotely while still being connected to London through the projects or the company I worked for.
A recruiter put me in touch with Kane Wagstaff, one of the Executive Partners at CHP, and it wasn’t long before I joined the company.
What were the goals and challenges of your role?
One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was joining CHP just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I was already working remotely (before that became the norm), so I felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the team during my first year. However, the strong culture and communication within the business quickly changed that.
From the outset, my main goal was to establish myself within the business and deliver results for a key client in the renewables sector. What made this possible was the trust-driven environment across the team. It was clear to me that CHP’s culture is built on respect, support, and a great team spirit which has only grown stronger over time.
What would you say your biggest achievement at CHP is?
Since joining, I’ve worked mainly on renewable-led projects. Our biggest achievement has been growing the team from 2 to 7 people during that time, while the overall business has grown from 8 to 30.
We’ve strengthened our relationship with our main client in renewables by consistently delivering exceptional service as a team. This success has reinforced their trust in us, and we’ve since expanded our services by working with new clients and entering a new subsector: green hydrogen.
What challenges has the team faced, and what have you learned as a leader?
One key challenge has been supporting the personal and professional development of our team members. Being predominantly remote makes it more difficult to collaborate, share knowledge, or provide real-time guidance, something that happens more naturally in an office setting. As a result, we’ve had to be more intentional about how we support our team’s growth and create development opportunities.
As a leader, you must be able to empathise with employees’ needs and personal lives, understanding what motivates them both personally and professionally. This not only helps you get the best out of your team but also ensures they’re happy and comfortable in their roles.
Stepping into a leadership role has also been a significant part of my own personal growth. By supporting the Executive Partners in leading and managing the renewables team, I’ve developed my leadership skills and gained a deeper understanding of how the business operates.
What makes CHP… CHP?
I think what defines CHP is the people. Everyone works incredibly hard but knows how to relax and enjoy themselves when the time is right. We strive to provide a very high level of service, despite being a small business which is why we’re able to compete with much larger companies.
I’m proud of how much we’ve grown in the six years I’ve been here… so we must be doing something right, given the talent we’ve been able to attract!
Looking ahead
Over the next 1–3 years, I want to grow our renewables team and firmly establish ourselves with new clients, while continuing to deliver the same high level of service to our existing ones. The goal is to create a strong regional base in the North of England to support the delivery of our renewable and other regional projects across the UK.
”It was clear to me that CHP’s culture is built on respect, support, and a great team spirit which has only grown stronger over time.
”Our biggest achievement has been growing the team from 2 to 7 people during that time... and over the next 1–3 years, I want to grow our renewables team and firmly establish ourselves with new clients.
”Huge congratulations are due to Henry and Tristan who have worked diligently towards their APC assessments alongside delivering outstanding cost management services for our clients over the last two years.
I’m also incredibly proud of the wider team in their generous support of our CPD programme, Henry and Tristan and our new APC candidates – thank you.
Phil Parry, Partner
”Working for CHP fills me with immense pride and I’m thrilled to have passed the RICS APC.
I’m grateful to the partners and to Dan, Steve and Scott for their support and faith in me to achieve my chartership throughout this process. I’m excited to begin the next chapter in my career and to help mentor future APC candidates.
Henry Gillott, Project Surveyor
”After a testing 24-month journey, I'm over the moon to be MRICS qualified and have been promoted to Project Surveyor!
Thank you to CHP for their support and to Steve, James and Dan for their guidance and time. I’m really excited for the future and for making a difference in the industry.
Tristan Lloyd, Project Surveyor
