UK vegetation management specialist VMS Ltd has appointed Lewis Peddie as its newest Contract Manager, whose practical industry experience, calm approach and focus on client relationships are already helping the business deliver high-quality work across grounds maintenance, tree works and water management contracts.
In his new role, Lewis is responsible for overseeing a varied portfolio of projects and supporting teams working across multiple sites, with a focus on managing client expectations, coordinating staff and ensuring work is completed safely, on time and within budget.
His technical knowledge is rooted in a hands-on career that has taken him from the British Army to arboriculture, construction and start-up environments before returning to the outdoor sector he enjoys most. Having self-funded his own qualifications to become a tree surgeon after leaving the Army, Lewis later moved into construction site management before spending three years helping to take a small startup to an established construction software business prior to joining VMS.
It is this breadth of experience that now supports his work at VMS, particularly on tree-related contracts where his arboriculture background gives him a clear understanding of the practical challenges faced by teams on site. Lewis says that successful contract management is built on strong relationships as much as operational delivery, understanding each client’s needs: “It’s all about client satisfaction really – delivering the work on time, in budget and safely.
“If you do that well, keep people happy and build good relationships, it naturally promotes repeat work from the same clients.”
Training and development continue to be at the forefront of VMS’ agenda and although Lewis’ immediate priority is to become fully established in his current role, he values the opportunities available to build his skills: “There is a real satisfaction in completing a task, standing back and seeing the difference you have made,” comments Lewis. “At the moment, I want to nail down what I’m doing and be the best I can be in this role. It is the sort of role where you need time to understand every avenue, but I know the training and development opportunities are there.
“Time is valuable, and VMS gives people that time, flexibility and support to progress.”
Commenting on Lewis joining the VMS team, Helen Mallett, training department manager at VMT, the training arm of the business, said: “It’s fantastic to have Lewis as part of the team.
“He’s only been with us a matter of months but has already made a positive impact.
“His previous experience in tree work has proven valuable and he has been quick to generate long-term partnerships and repeat work. We look forward to seeing the great things he’ll achieve going forward.”
For more information on careers at VMS Ltd visit https://vmsltd.net/careers
