They started on the same project in two very different roles – one operational and one commercial.
Thirty years later, Victoria and Vinnie Whelan are still building things that last – projects, teams and a shared life at Wates.
It all began in the summer of 1995 at the Cambridge Arts Theatre.
Vinnie joined in June as an Assistant Site Engineer, while Victoria arrived in September as a Trainee Surveyor, splitting her week between university and site through the Wates trainee programme.
They didn’t sit in the same office, but the same project stitched their stories together. There’s a family thread too: Paul Andrews, Victoria’s uncle, gave her a first glimpse of Wates with two weeks’ work experience at 16. When Vinnie appeared, Paul tossed in a cheeky warning – “Don’t go near Victoria.” A few years later, at Nortel in Harlow, life had other plans.
Those early days taught them how different perspectives on the same project can sharpen outcomes, and how powerful it is when plans, people and priorities line up. Along the way, they worked on projects that shaped their careers and their story, including:
- Cambridge Arts Theatre (1995) – where it all began
- Nortel, Harlow – where they became a couple
- Aerial Factory, Chesham – unforgettable for the wrong reason: someone stole the laptop with Victoria’s dissertation on it (funny now; not then)
Two careers, one ethos
Vinnie’s path: Clarity, craft and a nudge to lead
A steady climb from site engineer to site manager and then project manager gave Vinnie momentum. When he asked to do his CIOB in the evenings, the answer was immediate: “Yes, go for it.”
He still smiles when he says, “I’ve never been told no here, just been shown the next step.”
Victoria’s path: Finding her fit and helping others find theirs
From trainee to assistant to Project Surveyor, Victoria followed her curiosity into the legal/commercial space, with Phil Pemberton helping hone her craft. The constant: trust, stretch and support.
“I never imagined my path would bend this way, but I’ve always been allowed to develop.”
Ask about pride, and she talks as much about people as projects – watching younger colleagues try, grow and realise they can do hard things.
What has changed from 30 years ago and what hasn’t?
Victoria and Vinnie rarely share a project now, but their lanes have always run side by side – different strengths, same purpose. “When the plan, the numbers and the delivery all work in harmony, it’s magic”, says Vinnie.
The sector has changed as much as their roles:
- Technology has transformed planning, coordination and delivery – more innovative tools, faster information, tighter collaboration.
- Inclusion and diversity have moved forward. “When I started, women were very much the minority,” says Victoria. “There’s a much better balance now, and Wates is serious about developing people.”
What has stayed the same in Wates:
- The fundamentals. Vinnie calls it the trunk of the tree – the roots you don’t mess with: relationships first, long‑term thinking, and pride in doing things correctly.
- The people. It’s the constant that keeps them here: “Every manager we’ve had has been pivotal at the right moment. When you get the people right, people stay.”
Their journey is dotted with names that mattered at the right moment: Jim Small in those formative Eastern region days; Phil Pemberton shaping Victoria’s commercial craft; line managers who knew when to nudge, back and stretch. And then there’s family – Paul Andrews, the uncle who opened a door and delivered the most‑quoted line in their story.
Ask what 30 years means, and you’ll hear gratitude, pride, and a quiet determination to keep passing it on.
Their story began on a shared project, detoured through a stolen dissertation, and evolved into two complementary careers that make each other better.
Advice for anyone starting out
- Say yes to learning. Take the course, shadow a different discipline, grab the stretch role.
- People and relationships matter. Mentors, managers and people change everything – seek them out.
- Ask for what you need. Development often begins with your curiosity.
