The essential service to future proof construction projects

31/10/25

John Kilbane, a senior associate at Thomson Gray who specialises in Construction Quality Management (CQM), explains how CQM helps deliver exceptional results, guaranteeing clients the best possible finished product.

In the wake of high-profile construction failures like the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the construction industry faces a reckoning. Quality and compliance can no longer be afterthoughts—they must be fundamental to every project from day one.

Aiming to further promote this division of the business, John discussed why CQM is an increasingly important part of the construction industry.

He made clear why clients are increasingly willing to employ these CQM specialist services on projects, aiding the delivery of a 'right-first-time, defect-free' philosophy within the construction industry.

John Kilbane

Career background

John joined Thomson Gray in May 2024, bringing over 20 years of extensive knowledge, insight and practical experience in the construction industry. Whilst CQM is a new division for Thomson Gray, John is an experienced professional in this sector, enabling the firm to provide a distinctive and essential service, tailored to a wide range of client needs.

Starting his career as a building control officer for South Lanarkshire Council in the early 2000s, John then transitioned into the private sector, playing a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality construction projects across a variety of sectors.

His work is unrivalled in the UK, particularly in healthcare and educational infrastructure, having led over 80 projects, with a contribution to capital projects that stands at over £3 billion in value throughout the UK and Ireland. John's portfolio of work is a testament to the critical role of quality management in ensuring the delivery of high-value projects.

A deep understanding of these contract structures and designs allows for high-quality and efficient delivery, making John the perfect person for the role in ensuring both design clarifications and non-compliance are adequately captured, reported and rectified before becoming operational issues for our clients.

The impact of CQM on public safety

The core objectives in quality management are to ensure that the principal contractor's delivery matches the agreed design, regulatory standards, and legal and contractual obligations.

John's role is integral in safeguarding these core principles on behalf of our clients, and the public who will ultimately use and inhabit these buildings.

The role is centred on being site-based and working cooperatively with the principal contractor and design teams. John stresses to aspiring construction consultants the importance of working regularly on site alongside colleagues, with all stakeholders working in tandem towards a successfully completed project.

He warns against over-reliance on remote working in a field that ultimately thrives on first-hand observation, inspection and learning from others.

Previously, it was a very light-touch role. Now it's more advanced, in-depth, and crucial, especially after high-profile construction failures.

The CQM role is value-added for clients, value for money that typically cannot come from the principal contractor's side. An advocate for stronger representation of the discipline across the construction industry, John states that the CQM delivery is critical for public safety and value delivery on projects, aiding the betterment of the product a client receives.

John notes that CQM delivery has evolved from a perceived contractual 'add-on' to now being a critical component of the construction delivery process.

This is partly thanks to better understanding from clients who are now willing to actively engage and adequately resource and fund these roles.

In the evolving landscape of the construction industry, the emphasis on quality, compliance, and statutory adherence has never been more critical.

With professionals like John leading the way, CQM is a discipline that is getting the recognition, resources and strategic importance it deserves.

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Ultimately, you're working on, for example, a hospital whose main goal is to make people better and save people's lives. You're ensuring that the ultimate patient experience is better because of what you do; it's essential.

An evolving field

Reflecting on his past work in the role, John noted how the responsibilities have advanced, referencing past construction defects and challenges, and stating that improved quality management could have saved lives, along with significant costs for the industry.

The increasing recognition of CQM's value is resulting in better funding, increased site resources, and earlier involvement in the project lifecycles. This shift is allowing professionals like John to make a deeper impact across the construction industry.

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Future and development plans

John intends for the CQM offering at Thomson Gray to expand these bespoke and niche market services throughout the whole of mainland Scotland and the surrounding islands, and then the North of England.

This will be done by the strategic hiring of additional staff, in the right geographical locations, who meet the strict criteria for knowledge and experience in delivering CQM roles such as NEC supervisor, independent tester/certifier, clerk of works, and quality monitoring.

John's ambition is for Thomson Gray to become the leading provider of this service across its operating regions. However, expansion must happen organically to ensure the quality of CQM implementation is never compromised.

Multi-disciplinary service offering at Thomson Gray

Wider to the core construction consultancy services, the introduction of CQM means that Thomson Gray now delivers one of the most comprehensive ranges of multi-disciplinary services of any consultancy in Scotland.

These include quantity surveying, project management, building surveying, and CDM regulation – 'all under one roof' – employing over 80 construction professionals in the process. This offers a considerable advantage to clients seeking a 'one-stop shop' construction consultancy for high-quality services across the multi-disciplinary service spectrum.

This comes with resource and financial synergies, along with enhanced governance and reporting through a streamlined operational structure when dealing with just one company, such as Thomson Gray.