Dominic Philip discusses his journey with Millcroft, why he left after ten years, and what brings him back to the company as Operations Manager for our Construction Division.
Born in Oxford but raised mainly in London, Dominic found his passion for construction early on as a child. “I always enjoyed art and building things, so it was natural that these would help shape my future career. Initially, I was heading towards an architectural path, but I needed to ‘earn my keep’, so I decided to go straight into the workplace.”
Starting on the career ladder
As with many of our team, Dominic began his construction career as a labourer, gaining invaluable experience and working closely with different trades. Following a period as a plant operator for leading housing developer, The Lovell Partnership, he trained and worked in carpentry and joinery in the residential sector.
Dominic’s commitment to hard work, perseverance and drive to develop new skills helped him progress up the ranks, and this desire for continuous personal development prompted him to knock on our door. “I knew someone who worked at Millcroft and had heard good things about the company, so I asked to be considered for a role. Following an interview, I was taken on as a Supervisor and given the opportunity to progress my career through training and practical, on-the-job experience to Contracts Manager.”
Career highlights during this time ranged from working on historic buildings, such as the iconic Landmark Hotel’s external restoration, to challenging projects like the new Turbine Building for Tate & Lyle. This project included small demolition areas in a confined space between two live process buildings. “But I think the thing that sticks in my mind the most during this time is the people. The colleagues and tradespeople were all unique characters, highly skilled in their craft and took great pride in their work. There was a lot of laughter and enjoyment along the way, but this didn’t get in the way of their total professionalism.”
After ten years with Millcroft, Dominic felt it was essential to gain experience in different sectors, so he made the difficult decision to leave the company. This included working for a demolition and enabling contractor as a Project Manager where he was part of several multi-million pound demolition enabling and concrete structure projects across Central London.
A new chapter with Millcroft
After working in different sectors and broadening his expertise, Dominic has rejoined Millcroft as Operations Manager for our Construction Division, where he will build on our team’s strengths and the high quality of service we are known for.
Millcroft’s Construction Division boasts a 50-year legacy, driven by enduring client relationships, including a long-lasting partnership with Transport for London (TFL). In his new role, Dominic will be integral in continuing our sustained success across a diverse portfolio spanning heritage, conservation, transport infrastructure, industrial, commercial, residential and utilities.
“During my few years away, I gained a wealth of knowledge and skills, which I’ve brought to my new role. I can now draw on this experience to help grow the Division organically and to ensure we continue to perform as a company that understands the client's needs and delivers every time. We have a lot of exciting projects in the pipeline, and I’m looking forward to working within the team and seeing these through to successful completion.”
Dominic’s final thoughts about returning to Millcroft
“Millcroft is an inclusive business and treats you as part of the team from day one. We all have the same objectives, and we enjoy a challenge. Many employees stay for decades because they feel valued and appreciated.
It didn’t take much persuasion to come back to Millcroft. It’s like one big family. It’s like coming home, and it’s really great to be back.”
