quantity surveyor

contract manager

site manager

project estimator

painter & decorator

Novus-Property-Solutions-Ltd

I agree with many of the reviewers who have expressed negative experiences and concerns about this company.

Upon applying for the role and commencing work with Novus I was extremely excited and buzzing with positive energy at the prospect of working with them. They appeared on the surface a great company. 

This was sadly quickly squashed though when I received virtually no on-boarding hand over. Existing colleagues had barely any knowledge of what my predecessor had done, as staff turnover was very high. This was inclusive of a large intricate project that I took on. Information came in slow small doses, predominantly due to myself reaching out to others in the wider business outside of the department, and asking questions to try and find out information. I would often spend much wasted time on a task, only to later frustratingly discover that this had previously been done before. 

Upon speaking to others, those who specialized in certain areas of work (who should have been key stakeholders and incorporated into projects) expressed bewilderment and an exhausted aire when telling me they had been cut out of projects that directly related to them. This causing delays, and to the detriment of employees and the company I feel.

During my short time there it became apparent that employee stress accounted for a number of people leaving. Numerous re-structures had also taken, and continued to take place. The ground was ever shifting which was caused anxieties and was very stressful when trying to gain balance and stability for myself and family. Job roles and descriptions also changed without sufficient clarity, causing confusion and unnecessary bad feeling (which again caused emotional stress). 

Conflicting messages from Management and the Seddon Family made it difficult to understand and establish what the ethos and direction of the company was. On the one hand the Seddon family promoted a culture of looking after their employees - taking on smaller but plentiful projects so that employees and their famillies as human beings were not faced with short term, sporadic, and unstable  work (which if true was a noble and caring way to operate). However my experience was the complete opposite of this.

I also found the company to be very deceitful in my opinion. This was disputed, but there was much evidence to suggest this. 

I agree with a previous Reviewer that there is definately a 'them and us' culture. Heads and Directors sit in an isolated wing of the Head Office building detached from the day to day workings (it was rare to see my Head of Department visit our office). Having previously worked for international companies in modern open plan offices (where Management sat with us) I found it somewhat old fashioned. I also believe this prevented senior leadership from knowing what was fully going on (and at times wrongful behaviors).  Heads and Directors had a personal cook that provided them hand delivered healthy meals of prawns, chicken, salad. On this wing a crystal bowl was used to house healthy fruit for them. By comparison employees were provided with a shoe box of unhealthy chocolate and crisps that they had to pay for in the canteen - no healthy fruit.

Having previously loyally worked for a well known large family business for many years, I initially loved the prospect of working with another family business. However I have left Novus feeling hugely deflated and quite honestly soul destroyed. What went from huge positive enthusiasm and a great will to participate in the success of the business, turned into tears. I have left the business feeling very deceived and let down.

In company memos there is great emphasis on how rapidly the company is suddenly growing, with a sudden increase in work and financial success. I feel perhaps Novus (/Seddon) have fallen into the trap many growing businesses do though. That the good and healthy ethics that have existed in the past are potentially at risk of being lost. And that part of that is no longer truly considering the negative impact that unstable and fluctuating practices have on employees as human beings. Which in my judgement, and as proven with many other large construction companies, does not end well.

I thought hard before writing this because I fear the consequence of being honest. I do not feel that it was an entirely terrible company to work for though. I met a lot of really lovely people, and actually found the Seddon family very likable. But I do think perhaps ethics are being lost, and this could be the cause of what happened to me and the other reviewers who have also expressed similar experiences. I hope this and the other reviewers are properly listened to.

My role is diverse and includes both the national commercial management of Novus, as well as significant involvement in the wider Construction Company on new build projects. Approximately 50% of my time is involved with the Commercial Management of Novus and leading the 15 strong QS team. Approximately 35% of my time is involved with QS work relating to the projects below, with the remainder of my time using my estimating expertise to help win the larger projects for Seddon Construction – working directly with the Commercial Director.

National Commercial Manager – Overseeing the commercial aspect of the business nationally across England and Scotland running 4 major offices and 26 hubs. Managing 15 QS staff members through all aspects of contracts from tender through to final account.
	
Responsibilities & Achievements
•	Managing 15no QS staff team nationally
•	Monthly internal valuation submission – produced to board
•	Form of tender pricing docs on SOR/fixed price/Time and Materials.
•	Monthly/Annual forecasting
•	Managing a responsive maintenance HD that schedules 12’000 orders per month

Projects

•	Chester County Hall Refurbishment (Full internal refurbishment), 469 rooms/6 stories/£4m project, fully priced through the NSR SOR codes.
 	

•	Aintree Hospital New Build/Refurb (Build new MAU Unit/Refurb A&E Department/Construct new helicopter pad), £3m project carried out during a live hospital site.

•	Manchester University MTC  (Planned and Reactive Maintenance), £5m per annum over 4no campus, 1000 reactive maintenance orders per month/15 projects.
•	Village Hotel Bury (New Build)- New build hotel construction circa £80m project

Typical Day:
A typical work day can be long, but rewarding, with a vast quantity of both day to day tasks and meetings required to ensure that jobs can continue to run correctly.

What you've learned:
Throughout my time I've progressed through roles which shows if you are willing to put in the work and help develop yourself alongside the experiences offered by other team members, you can always learn.

Management:
Management, specifically locally, are in tune with the daily stresses of the work place and go out of their way to assist however they can. 

Workplace Culture:
The workplace generally has a good vibe throughout with the team working well together day to day. There can be issues as with any workplace but these are generally ironed out through good communication.

Hardest Part:
The job can require long hours at times, exceeding contracted, which while recognised and acknowledged still isn't ideal at all times.

Enjoyable Part:
Working with the team and the office atmosphere to bring in a good return

Before I had even begun my first day at work I was invited to a company social event. This was a brilliant way to meet the team I would be working with and they made me feel very welcome. 

During my first week I had been given a tour of the building, being introduced to members of the company who were all incredibly friendly and happy to meet me. The tasks I needed to complete were set out clearly so that I could make a solid start, which were all varied and challenging. I was also included in every relevant meeting from the day I started, giving me a feeling of inclusion and importance in the team.

Very fair with the working hours and work life balance is great. The location of the company and the environment are fantastic. Lots of ameneties nearby and close to the city centre. The equipment I was provided with is also meets the requirements of the job and more, allowing me to produce some quality work.

Competent management put confidence in staff, giving us the ability to work without being micro managed and will always offer help and support if requested. All members of staff are happy to assist with anything and the company has a very open and honest culture.

I don't have anything negative to say about Novus as this job has been everything I wanted and more.

All of the Management and most of the support staff had already left the company before I started there.  Only remaining staff were extremely negative of Novus and were continually complaining about existing upper management. They had a number of contracts running out of the local office, all of which were in difficulty with unhappy clients either complaining about lack of progress or bad quality of work. New managers and support staff were eventually drafted in, only to be thrown in front of angry clients trying to explain and deal with the unrealistic promises made by upper management who were rarely seen. Very little was provided in the way or support or guidance at all. You essentially had to learn or investigate the company procedures or processes yourself. At least locally, a huge turnover of staff which nobody from the highest level ever seems to investigate or attempt to resolve - despite the problems being glaringly obvious. 
I don’t think Novus as a whole operate this way and I did meet staff from other locations who appeared to enjoy working there. Locally, you had stressful work conditions, no support, negative atmosphere and left alone to deal with all the issues, lack of progress and incompetencies of other people.

What is the best part of working at the company?
There was no good part to working for the company 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No support from anyone higher than the site manager during any works, you raise concerns they listen and ignore the problems. And just avoid the site hoping it goes away. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It’s a very Toxic place to work, they run you into the ground. Put you at risk with health and safety. Management and degrading comments, and temper flares. And they ask you to write a positive review of the company after 1 week to get their rating up - how are you to see how the company is after 1 week

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Constant issues, due to failure to prepare prior to work take off, management over promising in meetings to the client knowing we can not deliver them leaving the site team to deal with the backlash. Getting materials is another story, unable to obtain materials for the trades on site, trying to get additional trades to complete the jobs is impossible. Contact managers absolutely clueless coming on site screaming and shouting at staff. Making degrading comments to apprentices

I worked in Novus for a short period of time (temp work) and it was the most dissatisfying job I’ve ever done. 

Firstly the turn over of staff is massive new body’s in every week which is enough said within itself. 

The management are horrific!!! There is no structure, credit or acknowledgment within the office the only good thing is the other people who work on the helpdesk. 

It was like being back at school and the managers where the head teachers who treated you like children who were very quick to pick up on something that had been done wrong (a mistake) but when you had worked hard it was never noticed or appreciated. Treated like slaves is the only way I can describe it. 


Working hours where from 0830am  to 1700 and you where entitled to 30 min break! 

Pay was £8 per hour 23p above minimum wage. 

There was never a team meeting, an insensitive or proper training in place. 

The management is the poorest management I’ve ever experienced and the way the helpdesk is treated is appalling. 

I would highly recommend absolutely nobody to work there!!!!!!

my role with Novus has seen myself attached to various clients across different building sectors such as new build and planned social housing works. as with any role within construction it has many challenges that you would expect to face every day, the team that I work with not only from our Burton office but also the surrounding regions are second to none! things aren't always perfect and smooth sailing but having the support from the teams makes this so much easier to deal with. I have never been happier at work and this is down to everyone supporting me through the ups and downs and this includes personal matters that I would not have gotten elsewhere. there has been some very memorable highlights where I had the opportunity to see the huge impact Novus has been able to make to the many areas that I've worked and how this has changed things for so many of the residents in each area. 

Been here for over 12 months now and although enjoy most days the same old problems of people being out of their depth in high positions is evident everyday. The only company I've worked at where you find it easier to deal with clients than members of middle and senior management. An ops manager with no control or understanding of what is happening on contracts and how get the most of them is only compounded by his lack of in-depth conversations with staff who have an intimate knowledge of how to improve already established well working contracts. Meetings are a very rare occurence and a waste of time when they do take place. 
Potentially a good company to work for but if you want to come to a company to learn from line managers and senior management you will be very disappointed. An office full of good staff working really hard but being let down by upper management and ready to leave at the mere sniff of another better position. Real shame 

Novus is a great place to work if you are willing to put in the effort, you will get recognised and given opportunities. If you don't put in the effort, you wont, simple as.
I have recently returned to Novus and have seen some great improvements to the overall structure. Although the 3 days a week in the office is a little inconvenient for me.
They focus on making the processes used by operative and staff more convenient and automated.
Workplace culture is great, everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable.
Novus concentrates on learning so that staff can perform better at their jobs, therefore you're provided with time to do courses and learn new things to help you in your role.
Hardest part of the job personally is learning the different systems.
Most enjoyable part of the job would have to be the team culture and teamwork. Its great when someone has an problem and the teams come together to solve it if the person is stuck.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Quantity surveyor 2 salaries reported	£15,600 per year
Contract manager 4 salaries reported	£7.55 per hour
Site manager 1 salary reported	£40,000 per year
Project estimator 5 salaries reported	£60,000 per year
Painter & decorator 1 salary reported	£16,224 per year

Working at Novus Property Solutions Ltd: company overview and reviews

Novus Property Solutions Ltd

Novus Property Solutions Ltd ratings

Popular jobs at Novus Property Solutions Ltd

Salary satisfaction

Jobseeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected