Jason Wilkinson
From loft conversions to basement excavations, kitchen extensions to side returns, Whitehall Construction has the expertise and experience to take any project from design to build completion
‘I’m very hands-on – that’s how I like to work. Every day I make sure that I’m on site. I have foremen, but I want to stay involved and be a visible point of contact for clients.’ Jason Wilkinson, co-owner and Build Director of Whitehall Construction, is explaining his core business philosophy – and the passion is shining through.
‘I think my approach stems from the fact that I started at the bottom of the trade and worked my way up,’ Jason continues. ‘I’ve learned how important it is to be available to the customer – there’s no better way to create a positive relationship and find solutions to issues.’
Focusing on West London, with many projects completed in and around Chiswick, Whitehall Construction specialises in house renovation, loft conversion, kitchen and side return extension, basement excavation and bathroom re-design. As Jason says, ‘in London today building is usually about adding square-footage to a property.’
Originally from Nottinghamshire, he has lived in London for almost 20 years. ‘I left school and became a bricklayer. I worked for a small builder, completed my apprenticeship and took my City and Guilds and, in 1998, I followed my then girlfriend to London. At that time it was quite easy to pick up jobs and within six months I was a site foreman on projects for the likes of Carillion and McAlpine. I used to work for a period, go travelling around the world, then come back and work again.’
As he admits with a smile, marriage and children inevitably meant a radical change of lifestyle. Jason co-founded Whitehall Construction three years ago and since then the business has grown rapidly, mostly through word-of-mouth recommendation.
‘We have the knowledge to take any project from Planning and Design through to Build,’ he tells me. ‘At the planning stage we liaise with architects and structural engineers and, when it comes to construction, we have a permanent team of top-quality, totally reliable craftsmen. If we do employ sub-contractors, I only ever use people I know and trust.’
Jason is convinced that good project management is the key to every successful job. ‘It’s crucial to explain the process clearly – why something will work and why it won’t. It’s all about being honest and open. In my opinion, many builders have become more like salesmen. They get jobs in and then farm them out. So you lose that line of communication and individual contact.’
Jason is equally emphatic in his views about pricing and delivery. ’I always give an honest quote, not a deliberately cheap price to secure the contract. Our fees are fixed from the beginning, so there are no nasty surprises. Also, you must deliver what you promise – and on time. It’s so frustrating for everyone when a job drags on. I’d like to think that 30 years’ experience enables me to anticipate most problems and come up with practical answers.’
With many satisfied clients in the area, Jason always encourages potential clients to check out his team’s previous work. ‘We’re proud of what we do and we always try to exceed expectations,’ he says. ‘Whether the project is large or small, we stick to what we say, we don’t cut corners and high quality craftsmanship means everything to us.’
Whitehall Construction
+447971418857
jason@whitehall-construction.co.uk
http://www.whitehall-construction.co.uk
