COMMERCIAL DIRECTION · RICS REGULATED
COMMERCIAL DIRECTION · RICS REGULATED
I protect the commercial position on construction projects, from the contract you sign to the account you close.
Fifteen years as a Commercial Director at Tier 1 contractors on your side of the table.
For main contractors and subcontractors turning over £5m to £50m. Big enough to carry six-figure commercial risk. Too small to keep a Commercial Director on the payroll. That is the gap I fill.
Commercial Director-level judgement the moment you need it, across the whole commercial position, without a permanent hire.
THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE EVERY WEEK
“We are funding this job and it is killing our cash flow.”
I rebuild the cash position, project by project, before it forces the next compromise.
“The contract is loaded but we signed it anyway.”
I review the contract you have, find the leverage that is still there and use it.
“We need a Commercial Director but cannot justify the salary.”
That is what I am. For the work that needs the judgment, and not a day more.
“We have £300,000 stuck in the final account.”
I close final accounts that have stalled. At value, not at compromise.
“The client’s QS is rewriting the rules mid-job.”
I hold the line on what was agreed, in writing, with the right process at the right time.
WHEN BEST TO CALL ME
Three moments. Each one cheaper than the next.
BEFORE YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT
The contract is on the desk.
An award is in progress. The terms are not final. This is the highest-leverage moment in the project and the cheapest one to act in.
BEFORE IT ESCALATES
A claim is open. A variation is contested.
A dispute is happening. Adjudication is on the agenda. Senior commercial judgment now is a fraction of what dispute resolution costs later.
BEFORE CASH DECIDES
The final account has stalled.
Cash is tightening. You are funding the client and the supply chain. I rebuild the cash position, project by project.
OUTCOMES · EVIDENCE
What the judgement is worth, in figures.
£180k
Payment Notice · 10 Days
Recovered after contested payment notice, inside ten days.
Application certified short. Payment Notice and Pay Less Notice challenged. Sums withheld with no legitimate reason. Built the notice strategy, escalated within the Construction Act window and forced payment without resorting to adjudication.
£800k
Final Account · 6 Weeks
Final account dispute closed at value, not at compromise.
Stalled with the client’s commercial team for six months. Re-presented the account from first principles, re-evidenced the variations and held the line on contractual entitlement. Settled inside six weeks.
48h
Contract Review · Pre-Tender
Six-figure exposure caught before tender submission.
A 48-hour NEC ECSC contract review on a live tender identified material risk inside the proposed contract. The main contractor amended the position before submitting.
2:1
Career signature · 30+ years
Cash ratios sustained at 2:1. Portfolio risk owned at board level.
Fifteen years as Commercial Director at Tier 1 contractors. High-performing commercial teams built and held. Thirty years across every tier of contracting businesses
IN THEIR WORDS
“I worked across the corporate table from Matt on a complex demobilisation project. His knowledge, approach and integrity are beyond reproach. A high calibre operator.”
David Parrett
Director, Cadaema Consulting
“His pragmatic, professional and detailed approach instils confidence in the senior team. An invaluable commercial asset, known for his intelligence, integrity and reliability.”
Matt Hiley
Executive Director, Novus Property Solutions
“Matt works quickly and is responsive to our needs. He can see the holistic picture in all situations and doesn't lose sight of the need to retain good customer relations. Very easy to speak with and a clear thinker.”
Murray Boyt
Managing Director, Delta Balustrades
“Matt’s blend of experience and strategy is exceptional, especially when it involves ensuring we get paid for work done. Solutions that are straightforward but remarkably effective.”
Simon Hands
Managing Director, SML Painters & Decorators
“Matt's management skills, in-depth understanding of complexities and his results-oriented approach make a positive impact on our operations. He demonstrates resilience and agility towards all challenges, manoeuvring projects towards a successful completion.”
Richard Carmichael
Managing Director, Equans
“Matt's strength truly shines when he adopts a hands-on approach. His genuine fervour for problem-solving, combined with his skills and experience, equates to a formidable force within my organisation. His blend of intellectual prowess and relentless tenacity finds innovative solutions in the most complex of situations.”
Gareth Jones
Director, Edge Projects
BOOK A 30-MINUTE CALL
Thirty minutes to walk me through the position you’re in. I will tell you whether this is a fit, what I will do and what it will cost. If it is not a fit, I will say so.
matt.lockett@norcross.uk
07545 533968