Tim Crump
Founder and Chairman
Profile
Having founded the company back in 1999 and managed the company for over 20 years I have now handed over day-to-day running to Charlie Mills, and I now focus on company strategy and sharing my knowledge and experience via our video documentaries and podcasts, which you can find on this website. I am also particularly interested in machinery and keeping our industry-leading encapsulation and oak frame workshops at the forefront of oak framing and timber building industry. I believe that we should build houses that are good looking, create the best possible environment for family life, have the character that oak framing gives linked with our Wright wall Natural encapsulation system which gives super energy efficiency and hence a low financial cost to run. All in all, the dream home.
What do you love most about your job?
There is so much to enjoy about my job, as oak framing has, and energy-efficient homes have been a lifetime’s passion and I enjoy sharing this passion with the next generation of oak framers and all those involved with the business. A particular passion of mine is the Oakwrights academy where we give bright young people the opportunity to work in each department of our business in three-month blocks over a fifteen-month period before they choose the area where they enjoy most. The education of the team is everything.
What is your favourite oak frame project?
At this point I would like to thank all our past clients for building their oak frame homes and outbuildings with Oakwrights, to make it the wonderful company it is today. Every project is important to me and the business. I would say that my favourite homes are where we combine a clean simple oak frame with our super insulated panel to create a country contemporary feel giving a comfortable and healthy living environment.
Charlie Mills
Managing Director
I’m a professional plate spinner. I oversee the activities of the whole business; my purpose is to ensure the company is healthy and growing and everyone in it is happy and safe. Our roles combine to deliver the best product and service possible to our clients.
I love the variety in my role, I get to be involved in every aspect of the business from marketing and sales through to the operation of designing, making, and erecting our projects. To do this as part of a team of amazing people makes ‘work’ very enjoyable.
Favourite project: A tough one! We have so many to choose, but one of Oakwrights’ first large traditional manor houses, White, has to be the poster project for me, this was on the front of the portfolio book when I came to visit Oakwrights many moons ago and it was a ‘WOW’ moment, I was hooked from then.The signature Oakwrights feature of Face glazed gables to me sets our projects apart, this always creates a wow factor, inside and out.As a hobby farmer, the Farmhouse range is my favourite design collection, inspired by practical use, the layouts have a lot of consideration for ‘country folk’, and dogs in particular!Projects of note in recent times to me are; Rooks home, Frost, Nielson and this beautiful Lancashire farm house, beautiful projects in very different ways, not similar in any fashion.
David Grey
Sales Director
My role as Sales Director means that I am responsible for the overall Oakwrights’ sales function, overseeing the business development teams for house sales, outbuilding and extensions and the custom build. My teams are the first point of contact at Oakwrights and guide our clients through the first stages of their dream projects, the design and costing.
I enjoy working with clients, assisting them to build their beautiful oak framed home. Clients from all over the country come to us to design and build their oak framed home.
I have been working for Oakwrights for 17 years and have been directly involved in helping almost 300 clients build their homes, it would be very unfair to say I have a favourite project but I do get a terrific sense of achievement when we help clients overcome a particularly difficult hurdle during their journey.
Helen Needham
Head of Architecture. RIBA Architect
As Head of Architecture, I manage our In-House and Regional Architectural Design team. We have a fantastic range of skillsets and lovely personalities, and together we offer a strong Architectural service, facilitating some incredible designs from Design and Planning, through to Building Regulations and Technical Detailing. I work closely with many of the departments within Oakwrights, and in particular our Sales team, from carrying out initial client and site visits – listening to and understanding our client’s needs and dreams, considering and advising on Planning policy and strategy, and delivering concept design ideas, offering our Architectural services. I oversee the daily running of our In-House Planning and Building Regulations projects, ensuring an outstanding and enjoyable client journey.
I love to meet our clients and see their projects develop – each client and site is unique, and as we have never built the same house twice, each Oakwrights design is bespoke, carefully crafted using thought from making the first drawing line on paper to scribing the carpenter’s marks into the oak! We have a unique product – one that has been tried and tested and pushes boundaries using a stunning natural material, offering style and versatility from traditional to contemporary aesthetics, yet all appearing timeless in character, and that creates quality Architecture. I enjoy leading, coaching, and mentoring our Architectural team members and seeing them grow. The company values drive the Oakwrights ethos, and it is fantastic to work with my fellow colleagues who are passionate about our products and being leaders in the oak-framing industry. We are a work family, working together with the same goal and focus to create homes of Architectural beauty, that will last and be enjoyed for many generations to come.
I have had the privilege of working on hundreds of Oakwrights projects at various stages since 2015. I run the In-House Architectural team as a collaborative design force, which allows a strong concept to begin, and this naturally evolves as we get to know the Client and site more as we work together. We have some fantastic Architectural designers and experience and it’s so exciting to listen to new ideas and see how we can shape a building wonderfully, exceeding a client’s expectations. I particularly enjoy considering the local vernacular and site, the light, orientation, views, materials, texture and form to create a design, making each tailored to their setting, and seeing the clients bring their own personality to the design ‘melting pot’ is always a pleasure too. The lovely thing is the variety of wonderful briefs we get – we may be working on a modest 100sqm 2-bedroomed cabin set in a woodland, to a 250sqm family home in a coastal town, or a 500sqm home on a rural lakeside – all are attended to carefully – no two days are ever the same, and that is so exciting! We are proud to create dream homes, and that’s an incredibly special thing to be part of!
Michael Connolly
HR Director
I am a Lancastrian living on the Borderlands: Plasterer, Arts Marketeer, Oak Frame Marketeer, Oak Framers Team Manager. Following a dozen years counted in comedy, tragedy and all round drama at the Oxford Playhouse and The Courtyard Hereford, Michael joined the Oakwrights team in 2011 and currently takes overall responsibility on all things Human Resource – utilising the skills, knowledge and experience gained (and needed) to navigate those particular adventures.
The potential for a story to tell every single day and have one (or three) told to me.
The Hughes Hallett summer house. My home does not back onto water (very much landlocked – it backs onto a cricket field) but I would love this situated at the back of my garden! Summer BBQs and parties galore.
Georgina Neep
Head of Marketing
My role is to craft strategies to best target our audiences and raise brand awareness
I love the variety that my job gives me, no one day is the same. The tip of the iceberg is meeting our wonderful clients and hearing their self-build stories and the joy their new oak frame houses, outbuildings and extensions have brought to them.
My favourite project has to be ‘Luke’ not just for its design but for the story behind it too. A determined young couple driven by a desire to build their perfect forever home no matter what challenges faced them, their dream always remained after 27 years of planning. The style of this home is beautiful, I love how the windows are strategically positioned to take advantage of beautiful countryside views and how the gorgeous interiors provide such cosy family spaces.
Chris Mullis
Head of Projects
As Head of Projects I am responsible for managing Oakwrights site operations, from overseeing the project management team, to the site crews who are busy constructing our clients oak frame homes as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
I like to work with the clients and their wider team, getting involved in the detail and design to help them get the best results. I also like to see members of my teams progressing through roles. And giving everyone opportunities to develop.
I really enjoy working on the more challenging projects and technical developments, develop ideas or systems such as Glulam structures or passive house projects.
James Buchanan
Head of Custom Build
I am responsible for working with landowners, clients, and property businesses to facilitate, create, develop, and deliver unique serviced custom build plots to allow clients the ability to build their bespoke designed oak frame home.
I love the varied clients I get to work with on a daily, whilst at the same time being able to help influence and facilitate a self-builder in building their own home.
My favourite project has to be the Webbs Meadow development of 13 bespoke serviced custom build plots, where we have been able to deliver and sell all the custom build plots of varying sizes and layout, with 13 individual and unique house designs to the clients exact needs and wants, facilitated via a number of different build options from self-build through to full turnkey builds.
Claire Morgan
Turnkey Manager
I am responsible for all Turnkey Projects at Oakwrights, from agreeing on full build specifications with clients to the day to day management of contractors on site whilst ensuring the project is delivered on time and within budget.
Being involved in a project from concept to completion means I am responsible for delivering the client’s dream home which is ultimately the Oakwrights goal. No two days are ever the same.
The barn range in particular the Teme Barn is one of my favourites. A combination of red brick and weatherboard with beautiful face glazed elevations being the focal point, allowing plenty of natural light into the large open plan living spaces.
Alex Knowles
Design Team Manager
As design team manager, my main goal is to oversee the activities and productivity of the design team. Keeping operations flowing by ensuring the design team carry out their day-to-day roles, responsibilities and task at the very best level. Leading to a good team morale and achieving goals and targets set by the board. Bringing through new developments and keeping the team training to an excellent standard. I report the team’s monthly targets to the board whilst working closely with the project coordinators to allocate/hand over projects to the design team.
My role at the company is unique, and that’s the part I love. I get to work with almost every department and with so many amazing colleagues. This allows me to build both professional and personal relationships. In addition, teaching allows me to pass on my passion for design and technology to new team members, and the entire company, which gives me a great sense of achievement.
My favourite project I have worked on and am most proud about is Oakwrights first turnkey project. This project was on a private residential set of lakes in the Cotswolds. It was new for the company and an excellent challenge to learn. I assisted in building the oak frame and had many return visits to see the progress.
Jonathan Simmonds
Commercial Manager
Izzie Edey
Sales and Estimating Manager
I am responsible for encouraging the sales team to sell, and enabling the estimating team to effectively price new all new projects
I love being part of a company focussed on their people, the passion that can be felt across the whole company for each individual house we build. As I am right at the beginning of the process, I get to see all the different types of buildings client wish for us to produce, knowing that my team were part of the initial stages of that clients dream.
Alex Lesenechal
Head of Production
In-house
As Head of Operations, I’m responsible for the department strategy and long-term developments. This includes looking at new equipment, materials and process as well as new construction systems. I look at efficiency across the whole production department as well as the quality of the products. I also ensure all health and safety measures in place are being followed.
I really enjoy having to think strategically about every process. I’m definitely a ‘big picture’ person. I’m constantly on the lookout for innovations in our field. This includes new kinds of equipment and products as well as management processes. Oakwrights is a really forward-looking company so I have to keep on top of new technologies. I’m also responsible for developing policies to help ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible so we can achieve our goals. I also ensure business operations are coordinated so individual elements of each process happen when they’re scheduled to happen. I especially like working closely with other team members to achieve targets.
I previously was in charge of the face glazing team. One of my favourite projects is still under construction. It’s a really big project working with lovely clients.
Lauran Jones
Production Manager (Co-ordination)
My role as Project Co-ordinator requires me to be the pulse of the company – pushing projects on to make sure timelines are achieved, that everyone knows what they should be doing, and all departments from design through production to site are working at their most efficient and maximum output. Having recently returned to work from maternity leave, I now concentrate on the more analytical aspects, identifying opportunities for improvement, as well as developing the project planning systems.
I love working for Oakwrights – everyone is so friendly, and I can honestly say I’ve never had a day in the 7 years in which I’ve worked here, that I haven’t wanted to come to work.
My favourite project is difficult to identify as I have an overview of every single job we do. My favourite, simply for it sheer scale has a magnificent 16m clear span octagonal frame over the pool/dance floor!
Dan Watkins
Production Manager (Operations)
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