AWARDS
EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO RELOCATION
Sponsored by
Andy Lapham, Nexus Property Solutions E
very year, guests at the Re:locate Awards ceremony wait eagerly to discover who will take the trophy for Exceptional Contribution to Relocation (formerly Relocation Personality
of the Year). In this year’s strong field, one entrant stood out. Described by
one of his referees as “a superb and meticulous planner with excellent organisation skills and a remarkable ability to work with multi- professional teams, focusing their enthusiasm, addressing their concerns, and helping them to work collaboratively”, Andy Lapham is director of operations at Nexus Property Solutions, which provides comprehensive services for businesses on the move. Andy has worked in business relocation since 1997, in both the
public and the private sector. During more than a decade in the NHS, he planned, managed and delivered every relocation project at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital, on time and on budget, rising successfully to the considerable challenge of moving staff and equipment in a ‘live’ hospital environment. Since joining Nexus in 2008, Andy has played a key role in a variety
of landmark projects, from the Library of Birmingham and the Natural History Museum to Thales Group and Foyles Bookshop, and has been responsible for hundreds of office moves. The secret of his success, Andy believes, is keeping his clients as the
focal point and balancing their needs and wants with the commercial requirements of their businesses. He explains, “I try to engage with client representatives and help them to manage their move as a collaborative process. Goals are achieved in partnership, removing the worry and stress that comes with moving.” Engaging with his Nexus colleagues is also vital. At any one time,
Andy can be leading a team of up to 150, depending on project size. Again, he seeks to carry people with him, a task no doubt made easier by his natural energy and enthusiasm. Asked how his varied career background, which includes seven years
as a rock music journalist, has contributed to the strengths highlighted in the testimonials supplied with his entry, he says, “Things change in relocation projects; plans are fluid, and goalposts move. Over the years, I’ve learnt to think on my feet and not be easily fazed.”
Outside work, Andy’s role as an instructor in Korean martial arts
system Kuk Sool Won and a local councillor may also have contributed to his resourcefulness and resilience. Particularly impressing the awards judges was the people
management section of his entry, which gave what they described as “a great example of how people were developed and strengthened”. For the Library of Birmingham relocation, Nexus offered to recruit
and train a number of new staff, the majority of whom were local and had been unemployed for some time. Andy led the recruitment process, in partnership with Bourneville College. He then ensured that the 70 new recruits, who had no prior relocation experience, were trained, equipped and teamed up with experienced operatives. His support helped them to realise their potential and strengthen their work ethic, enabling them to become productive members of the Nexus team. Versatility and scrupulous attention to detail were demonstrated
in the resource management section of Andy’s entry. During a project with the Natural History Museum’s Darwin Centre, 28 million insect specimens had to be packed, transported and unpacked – in the correct order. The judges described this as “a clear example of a complex relocation exercise, with emphasis placed on carrying out the work with minimum resources but carrying it out effectively through experienced staff”. Summing up, the judges said, “Andy Lapham recognises the
challenges, and addresses them head on. In doing so, he goes beyond the remit specified. The environments in which he works are all very different, and all require thoughtful responses to manage the various competing priorities. “Andy has clearly made a valuable contribution to the relocation
industry and the lives he has touched. The focus is on balancing the needs of people with commercial requirements. Emphasis is placed on building trust, respect and dependability.” With characteristic modesty, Andy says, “I was surprised and
honoured to win an award. But it’s not just for me – it’s a reflection of all the great teams I’ve worked with over the years.”
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