Meet the team
VolkerGround Engineering is managed by a team of individuals with extensive industry knowledge and experience.
Rob Howarth
Operations Director
Rob Howarth
Position: Operations Director
Rob has over 25 years’ experience in the piling industry, delivering major piling and ground improvement projects within the UK. Rob had previously worked for VolkerGround Engineering in 2013, for six years as an operations manager, before returning in 2023 as VolkerGround Engineering’s operations director.
Rob is responsible for implementing strategies for securing future work, without compromising safety or quality. His expert experience in piling, civil engineering and design enables him to effectively assist bid teams in providing the most efficient solutions for clients.
Rob is also responsible for our specialist marine business, VolkerMarine Services.
David Coyle
Technical Manager
David Coyle
Position: Technical Manager
David has worked at VolkerGround Engineering since 2012. A focused specialist civil engineer working within the ground engineering sector, David delivers value engineered solutions for a varied portfolio of clients. David is responsible for managing the technical aspects for tender and contract works. He represents the UK on the CEN Committee for EN 1993-5, and sits on the BSI Committees for BS EN 1993 (CB/203) and BS 6349 (CB/502).
Gary Whittaker
Commercial Lead
Gary Whittaker
Position: Commercial Lead
With over 20 years’ commercial experience in the piling and ground engineering sector, working in the UK and overseas, Gary has previously held senior roles with Balfour Beatty and Pennine Vibropiling. Gary’s role at VolkerGround Engineering is to manage the commercial function in order to deliver commercial excellence across the business.
Yvonne Smith
Business Development Manager
Yvonne Smith
Position: Business Development Manager
Yvonne joined VolkerGround Engineering in 2016 after working at VolkerStevin for two years. With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, she has specialised in business development and bid management across a wide variety of sectors.
She is a member of the APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) and an Associate of CIPD (Training).
Steven Yates
Piling Contracts Manager
Steven Yates
Position: Piling Contracts Manager
Steven is a degree qualified, Contracts Manager with extensive civil engineering, construction, and utilities experience, gained from over 10 years working for well-established main contractors.
Steven has experience in delivering major piling and ground improvement projects using a variety of techniques including of bored cast in situ rotary, continuous flight auger, mini piling, and driven steel piling projects. Steven has overall management responsibility for the operational department ensuring programme delivery on time whilst maintaining exemplary standards of health, safety, environment, quality, and sustainability.
His experience in piling, civil engineering and design enables him to assist bid teams in producing the most efficient schemes and, allows the integration of the foundation works into a project, ensuring a successful start to the contract for the client.
Steven Slacik
Plant and Yard Manager
Steven Slacik
Position: Plant and Yard Manager
Steven is a highly motivated and experienced plant and equipment engineer with 18 years construction industry experience, with over 10 years in the piling industry.
Steven’s career began in 2006 as an apprentice Plant Fitter where he began learning his trade with responsibilities including service, maintenance, and repair of a range of plant and equipment and small tools. Since then, he has worked to expand his knowledge and experience as field service engineer working with large plant.
Since joining VolkerGround Engineer in 2019 as a Plant Fitter, by 2021 he was driving cranes, piling rigs and supervising a section on HS2 Colne Valley Viaduct. In 2022 Steven returned to VolkerGround Engineering yard facilities, where he has played a key role in the restructure and reorganisation of our plant and yard operations resulting in greater efficiency and effectiveness.
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