Armed Forces Week 2025 Time out with Iain Charnley

We celebrate the ongoing commitment of our armed forces community, sharing their stories and achievements. We caught up with Iain Charnley, Senior Building Manager for Willmott Dixon, and Engineering Officer in the Army Reserve, to find out more about his experiences across his business and military roles.

You have worked at Willmott Dixon for over 20 years, tell us about your career journey and current role?

I knew of Willmott Dixon locally through Hitchin Rugby Club, where former Chairman, Sir Ian Dixon, was a member and keen supporter. I started as a Helpdesk Operator in 2002 before joining the company’s management trainee scheme in 2006. I became a Quantity Surveyor in 2010, changing to an operations focus as a Senior Building Manager in 2021.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I am currently delivering a project for Westminster City Council, a four-storey, 20 home block which is HAPPI (Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation) compliant for 60+ through-life living. Most of my time is leading our team of build managers and supply chain partners in delivery of the project, which completes in late 2025.

What do you like to get up to in your spare time?

I am married with two teenage children, who I provide a free taxi service to, taking them to clubs and activities throughout the week. At weekend I play rugby while I still can and help coach one of the youth age groups. I am also a Reservist in the Royal Engineers, which I have been part of for as long as I have been at Willmott Dixon.

You mentioned you are a Reservist. What does this involve?

I’ve been in the Army Reserve, or Territorial Army as it was known, since 2000. I’ve progressed through the ranks from Private to Sergeant Major. I was selected to be commissioned as an officer in 2020, and I am now a Captain and the Second in Command of a specialist engineering team, part of the Royal Engineers.

I am required to complete training over several weekends and a two-week block each year. Most of our training is spent keeping our basic soldier skills up to date, such as shooting, navigation, driving and living in the field, combined with our engineering tasks.

While in the Reserve I have been able to complete training in off-road driving, skiing, shooting and have had access to some fantastic leadership training.

My Reserve team is part of a wider technical Works Group and we specialise in port infrastructure, be it a large port like Felixstowe down to canals and inland waterways. We supervise and deliver improvements from designing a new jetty or quayside, which would be delivered by contractors, to repairs to existing structures. We have our own divers and plant operators who assist, which keeps it both challenging and interesting.

My family have been very supportive over the years, and Willmott Dixon provides me with an additional two weeks leave to support my training commitment. This means I do not need to use my family time leave to complete my Reserve commitments.

Can anyone be a Reservist and would you recommend it to others?

Yes, anyone under the age of 48 can join if you are reasonably fit and motivated. I would strongly encourage anyone to give it a go.

I’ve had some great experiences, including personal and professional challenges and experiences that I would never have encountered outside of the military.

Our section of the Reserve recruits people from all over the country based on construction and engineering skills, however there are Reserve units locally that will train people to be drivers, medics, mechanics or infantry soldiers.

As well as general construction and ports there are other teams that look after rail, fuels, water and highways, so there are always opportunities to experience and learn.

Do you have any highlights from your time as a Reservist?

The work leads us to travel globally. I have been fortunate to travel to places that you wouldn’t normally go, places such as Bahrain, Latvia, Gibraltar, Ascension Island and Falkland Islands to work and also for adventure training like sailing, skiing and trekking.

During my service I have been able to develop professionally and work on some notable schemes like new accommodation blocks on the tops of mountains in the Falkland Islands and combined fire stations and an air traffic control tower for the RAF in Cyprus.

Do you also find ways to share your own learning from being a Reservist in your role at Willmott Dixon?

Yes, regardless of the part of the Reserve you join, most of the skills are directly transferable. Skills such as problem solving, interpersonal, negotiation as well as the management and leadership training all link through.

Professionally, being exposed to different projects and schemes and the challenges they entail help me grow and look at challenges I experience in my day job differently.

Personally, I think the greatest learning I have taken is resilience and confidence. You really find out a lot about yourself and what you are capable of when you are being challenged to solve problems under time pressure while you are tired, cold and wet, on the side of hills in Wales or Scotland.

Find out more about Willmott Dixon’s armed forces commitments here or visit this UK Government site for a quick guide to armed forces reserves.