Simon builds on Masters success

10:18am Tuesday 23rd October 2007

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AN employee of construction giant Rok is to see his research into the firm's takeover of a Westhoughton firm published.

Pre-construction leader Simon Harrison gained a distinction in his construction management Masters degree after writing a dissertation on Rok's 2005 acquisition of Durose and Gourlay.

The work is now to be published and shared at the industry seminar PROBE 2007 in Glasgow next month.

Ian Winrow, Rok area leader, said: "Like the overwhelming majority of people at Rok Bolton, Simon has been with us since long before the acquisition and his experience as he has developed within the team is invaluable.

"That is why we fully support his continued learning and growth with Rok and it is great for Simon and the business that his work is being recognised in this way."

Mr Harrison, aged 31, from Farnworth, joined Durose & Gourlay as an apprentice joiner in 1995.

In 2000, he became an estimator and two years later he was promoted to contracts manager, working on the framework agreement setting out terms and conditions of a deal to build and refurbish properties for Blackburn social landlord Twin Valley Homes.

He did his Masters degree at the University of Bolton.

Mr Harrison said: "I came from working on the tools, so it's a big achievement to get this published. It shows just how far I've come with the help and support of everyone around me."

Crawley-based Rok property solutions - a property development, building and maintenance services specialist - bought Durose and Gourlay's parent company Morrow Holdings for £11.4 million two years ago.

Durose and Gourlay was founded in 1946 and provides planned maintenance services to local authorities and housing associations.