Gary Hall: 40 Years of construction, leading and legacy at Wates
Gary Hall: 40 Years of construction, leading and legacy at Wates
From Groundworker to Ops Director
Gary Hall’s journey with Wates began when he made the decision early in his career:
“I didn’t want to be a subbie anymore.”
He started out in Groundworks and Engineering, and when the opportunity came to start at Wates six years into his construction career, he quickly moved into his first stopgap role as a site clerk whilst waiting for a new Project to commence. From there, he climbed through every operational position available at the time — General Foreman, Section Manager, Site Manager, Senior Site Manager, Contracts Manager, Operations Manager, and eventually Operations Director.
His first year was spent juggling multiple projects: a Project in Tower Bridge, North Middlesex Hospital, a Jewish school in Edgware, and Broxbourne Civic Offices in Cheshunt.
Back then, a significant proportion of the Construction Team were directly employed by Wates — bricklayers, carpenters, concrete gangs, steel fixers, crane drivers to name a few. Site clerks administered the cost and bonus arrangements, which meant weekly dealings with the likes of Larry Dobkin and Bob Williams as a Bricklaying Foreman, always entertaining!”
Learning from the ground up
Gary credits those early days for shaping his leadership style:
Dealing with the Teams at the workface hopefully gives me a better understanding of the challenges that face our supply chain, and I can still put myself in their shoes.”
His first major project as Lead came in 1989 (a mere 26-year-old!) — a £7.5 million job to develop the new British Waterways HQ. Since then, he’s worked across hospitals, schools, prisons, airbases, supermarkets, shopping centres, offices, research laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, residential accommodation and even horse racing stables!
One standout project was Glaxo Pharmaceutical, which started in 1995 at £7.5 million and duly grew to £18.5 million over two and a half years.
It was the first time I had a project that made a million pounds. We worked collaboratively with NG Bailey and Haden Young (MEP Contractors) — no fighting, no adversarial letters. It was the advent of collaborative working, and I hadn’t experienced anything quite like it before.”
But the one that tops it all?
Royal London Hospital. I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like that again — six weeks of something extraordinary.”
Transforming thriving places and creating a legacy
Delivered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal London Hospital project saw Wates transform two fallow floors into fully operational COVID-19 wards in just five weeks. The team created 176 bed stations and 117 clinical support rooms, working 24/7 in a live hospital environment with restricted access and only two lifts.
“We started on a Saturday morning with a stage-3 design, and by 2am Sunday, the ventilation drawings were signed off and by Tuesday, 500 metres of duct were fitted.”
Despite the pressure, the team handed over the project 13 days ahead of schedule, with patients already being treated before the official completion date.
“It was more than a project. It was a legacy.”
Family, milestones and memories
There are so many proud achievements from the likes of Royal London Hospital to providing the Squadron Building for the RAF’s first F35 Fighter jets. But there’s something else that means even more:
“I met Mrs Hall at Wates — she was the site secretary at our Whipps Cross Hospital project”, a moment that marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership and support.
At the same time as building his own career, the family tradition of Wates was also carried on when his son Dan joined the Business 17 years ago and is now a Project Manager at HMP Highpoint. People have been known to describe him as ‘a chip off the old block‘ (not sure if that’s a good or bad thing!)
Gary said about his time over 40 years:
It’s not just about the jobs or the titles. It’s about the people you meet along the way.”
Watching Wates evolve
Over four decades, Gary has seen Wates grow from a London-centric business to a national operation.
One of the most significant shifts he’s witnessed is the move from directly employed trades to full subcontracting.
When I started, we had our own bricklayers, carpenters, concrete gangs — you knew everyone on site. Now, with subcontracting, it’s a different dynamic, but having worked with those trades directly, I’ve always carried that understanding and respect for what they do.”
Why he stayed
Despite being offered opportunities elsewhere, Gary stayed with Wates.
I’ve always been treated reasonably and fairly. I could have gone elsewhere for more money, but progression always came to me here.”
He’s quick to credit the people around him — mentors, teammates, and site teams (and Mrs Hall) — for helping shape his journey.
“It’s the people who make the difference. I’ve been lucky to work with some brilliant ones.”
Advice for the next generation
Gary’s advice is simple and timeless:
“Soak it all up, listen and learn, and treat everybody as you’d want to be treated yourself.”
Reflecting on 40 years
When asked how it feels to hit the 40-year mark, Gary shrugs: “It’s like any other year — I don’t do that with my birthdays either. It’s just another day.”
Did he ever imagine he’d still be here four decades later? Probably not. But he’s built a career — and a legacy — that speaks for itself.
Three words that sum up 40 years at Wates?
Variety. Every. Day.
