Playle & Partners Celebrates 70 Years in Business
Take a journey through the decades with Playle & Partners this year, starting back where the company began at Cannon Street in 1954 when it was set up as a Quantity Surveying practice by Raymond Playle.
Fast forward 70 years, we have transformed into a multi-disciplinary team with a range of expertise spanning Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Building Surveyors, Principal Designers, Project Managers and beyond.
A lot has changed in seven decades – long gone are the days of snail-mail and desks shrouded in a haze of smoke; Playle & Partners has evolved into an inclusive forward-thinking team where innovation thrives. We’ve shed antiquated norms and embraced emerging technologies.
But what makes us truly stand out in this ever-evolving industry? It’s the blend of longevity, a multi-disciplinary approach, and an unwavering commitment to client relationships. This year, we’re highlighting our values and showcasing the threads that weave our story together.
This year will be filled with a celebration of the aspects that make Playle & Partners not just a SME company but a key player in the industry.
Stay tuned for insights, events, knowledge and more as we celebrate our 7th decade in business.
Championing Women in Construction
For the first quarter of this year Playle & Partners are celebrating women in construction!
We are proud to be a company where women not only play a pivotal role but actually lead the charge. At Playle & Partners, we’re not just celebrating Women in Construction – we’re living it every day.
What sets us apart? We’re not just talking the talk; we’re walking the walk. We are a company proudly waving the banner of 60% female ownership and boasting a 50/50 gender split. It’s not just a statistic; it’s a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and balance.
It’s not just about the numbers though, our aim is always to break barriers across disciplines. Our gender diversity isn’t confined to boardrooms; it’s woven into the very fabric of our technical and non-technical roles. From Architects envisioning the future skyline to the Cost Consultants crunching numbers, women at Playle & Partners are avoiding stereotypes and encouraging diversity at all levels.
When we celebrate Women in Construction month we have to remember that women aren’t just part of the construction landscape; they’re integral to its future success.
Read what some of our team have to say about their roles and the industry below:
Hayley Poynter Fenning (Partner / Architect):
There used to only be 4 technical women at P&P. The management was all male. But I don’t feel like we’ve been held back for any opportunities and have progressed well as a company, naturally developing into majority female management. We celebrate being majority female led due to its uniqueness but the best thing about our practice is that there is a pretty equal gender balance across the teams with everyone bringing their own perspectives and attributes to the role. To anyone wanting to start a career in the construction industry – Never be afraid to ask questions. There are still some companies that are very male dominated where women may face discrimination, but if these companies won’t change, don’t stay in those companies, and then the companies who support diversity and equal opportunities will thrive, turning the tide.
Decia Roberts (Associate / Building Surveyor):
I was interested in buildings and design from an early age and set out to become a technical draughtswoman. I took an interest in Building Surveying and became chartered in 1991. When I started work I was one of the very few female surveyors in Kent. I worked for an all-male surveying practice (apart from the secretary) in Maidstone. I never thought about the fact that I was significantly and almost without exception the only female worker on the bulk of sites I visited. I got on with the job in my own way, absorbed the knowledge I could from the other surveyors. We all juggle the same challenges in terms of work life and family; and Playle & Partners LLP support all of their employees in obtaining this balance. The ability to perform my job on a part-time basis after having a family has ensured that I have stayed with the firm for more than 25 years. I’m proud to have helped to train future generations of surveyors and continue to build on my specialism of Party Walls.
Pelin Erginsoy (Quantity Surveyor):
I got into the role of QS by accident! I graduated with a History Degree in 2012 and struggled finding my pathway so was working admin jobs for a few years. I heard about Playle’s and decided to come in for an informal chat style interview with no real knowledge on what a QS is or does and see if it was suitable for me. I’m now a MRICS Chartered Surveyor! I feel as though there has been an increase in the number of female QS’s that I see and work with in the industry which is great as it’s still often seen as a male dominated role. For any future surveyors – don’t be put off by the thought that it is a male dominated industry, or that the only route open to you is design related. There are so many options and roles within the industry, and I think the difficulty in general is people not knowing enough about them, or that they even exist. This was definitely true for me.
Charities we are supporting this quarter
For the first quarter of this year, our practice has voted to support the following charities:
Smart Works
As part of our 70th anniversary and Women in Construction week, we have been collecting clothes for Smart Works, a UK charity that supports unemployed women in preparation for job interviews.
In their own words – “Job interviews are difficult and a significant barrier to success. Without the necessary self-belief and practical tools, it is easy to become trapped in a cycle of failed interviews and unemployment. Smart Works believe in the power of clothes and coaching to transform a woman’s confidence. The service is carefully designed, with kindness and respect at the heart of everything they do. It is about much more than the clothes a woman is gifted: it is about what the clothes allow each woman to become. When she looks in the mirror, she begins to see hope and possibility for a better future.”
Our staff have been really generous, donating good quality work-appropriate clothing, bags and shoes. They’ve even got their friends and family involved – shout out to the ladies at Carer’s Support Bexley for their donations too!
To find out more about this brilliant charity and to make any donations yourself, click on the link below: https://smartworks.org.uk/
Bexley Women’s Aid
Most women who flee domestic violence have nowhere to go and survivors face returning to their abuser or sleeping rough as they can’t always prove they are vulnerable to council housing officers, or the places are not available. For these reasons, women’s refuges are sadly essential resources which desperately need support.
In their own words – “The mission of Bexley Women’s Aid is to enable and empower women and children experiencing domestic abuse to obtain and sustain a safe living environment.
For over 45 years, BWA has been committed to providing support and refuge to women and their children affected by domestic abuse. Additionally, as the charity has grown, we now also provide community education in the hopes of teaching children and youth about healthy respectful relationships in order to prevent domestic abuse in the future.”
Playle & Partners are supporting Bexley Women’s Aid with a donation to assist with the amazing work they do.
Our 8 flat modular development for charitable trust Transform Housing & Support will support single mothers with young babies. 100% of the direct Client and Consultant project team are women.
Read our article about the development: