The People at HOCA

He has always led from the front with energy and enthusiasm and was instrumental in introducing innovative design features and procurement strategy in 2003 when designing Sutton’s Regional Sports Centre.

In 2006 he was successful in leading a bid for a ten year Framework Agreement with the London Borough of Merton. In addition, he was also successful in wining a further ten year framework agreement with the London borough of Sutton. He is currently leading the practice through its next stage of development. William has recently led The HOCA Practice to selection on a new Partnering Framework in North Wales consisting of six Local Authorities.

Prior to forming The HOCA Practice William was a partner with SKF Architects London. He joined the SKF Practice in 1984 as a senior architect following a four year period in private practice concentrating on commercial and housing developments. He has also spent a number of years in Local Authority engaged on Housing, Recreational, Educational and Social Services projects.

William has a passion for leading the design process to achieve a best value for money option for the client and to ensure the Client, Client Users' and all Stakeholders' aspirations are examined at the very early Briefing Process and initial Feasibility Design studies.

As part of his commitment to housing, he has served as a committee member for a number of years with a National Housing Association where he contributed to aspects relating to design, technical and contractual issues surrounding various housing projects. In addition, William was also a member of the Policy Committee and regularly attended their meetings at their Head Office.

William is particularly experienced in designing schools and has lead the Practice in producing design solutions that meet the current challenges relating to space requirements and value for money options. In the early part of 2009, HOCA were invited by Linked-In Spaces to investigate options for an efficient turn-key solution for providing additional classroom space, that is exceptional value for money, has an inherently flexible layout and a much faster build process. The HOCA Practice in conjunction with Linked-In Spaces are now presenting these innovative school design options to Headteachers and Governing Bodies across the Country.

Jim has been in the construction industry for his entire career. He spent his early days working as a quantity surveyor and building engineer including work on his first major swimming pool project in his early twenties.

For the last twenty years he has worked exclusively in the swimming pool and wet leisure facility sector. His experience covers the design, construction and installation of all types of swimming pools and wet leisure facilities including all the associated mechanical and electrical engineering services for local authorities, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, leisure centres and luxury domestic swimming pools.

More specifically Jim has been involved with the following local authority swimming pool and leisure projects: -

In 1991 following four years with PSA in Croydon, Mike joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Deputy Head, Project Sponsor Section and promoted to Area Architect in 1994

He commenced in the Major Projects Group in 1994 and was appointed Deputy Head of the Section of 8 staff in 2002 when he deputised for the Head, arranged architectural competitions and prepared concepts for prestigious mufti-million pound Embassy construction projects. Mike is familiar with preparing Business cases, Design briefs and led, directed and oversaw the delivery of projects. The annual budget totaled approximately £50m. He reported to Ambassadors and Ministers and also managed work and influenced designs of approximately fifteen consultant practices. His most recent achievement was the challenging but highly successful Dar es Salaam co-location project (approx.£17 million) for the German, Dutch, European Commission Missions together with the British High Commission. Examples of other projects were: co-location with the Germans in Quitoo and a new diplomatic compound in Beirut (approx. £13 million), resulting in extensive experience of PFI; also projects in Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Canberra.

Between 1991 and 1994 he was Area Architect for the diplomatic estate in the North Africa, Near and Middle East region comprising 27 missions. He was responsible for delivering well-designed projects on time, to cost and to quality together with overall estate strategy for the Area.