Staff Spotlight: Cem Orhan- Associate Partner

Today we shine our staff spotlight on the 17-year career of newly promoted, Associate Partner, Cem Orhan. Based in our Cambridge office, we grabbed Cem for a quick chat to learn more about his illustrious career at Barker.

Hey Cem! First and foremost, a huge congratulations on your promotion to Associate Partner, it’s very well deserved! Let’s start by taking it right back to the beginning and talk about how you found yourself working for Barker as a building surveyor?

Thank you very much! Ok, so taking it back- I joined Barker straight out of Sixth Form. After finishing my A-levels, I was offered an apprenticeship with the team. This role gave me valuable experience both on-site and in the office, which helped me successfully complete a degree in Building Surveying, fully funded by Barker.

I’ve always been fascinated by buildings and architecture, so this opportunity was perfect. It allowed me to dive into building design, be present on-site, and manage construction projects from start to finish.

Talk to me a little bit about your journey and how your career path has led you to where you are today?

Thanks to the head start my apprenticeship provided, I quickly found myself designing, procuring, and managing construction projects on site during and after graduation, which I thoroughly enjoyed. After spending eight and a half years at Barker, I took a brief break but returned in 2016 as a Building Surveyor. From there, I swiftly moved up to a Senior Surveyor role, which allowed me to further my career and start managing part of the team in the Braintree office.

During the Covid period, I was promoted to Associate Surveyor and given the fantastic opportunity to help manage Barker’s Cambridge office. Since then, our team has grown remarkably, expanding from 8 to 18 members. I’ve loved being part of this growth and development, as well as getting involved in recruitment, finance, and strategic planning.

Most recently, as you mentioned, I was promoted to Associate Partner, a milestone in my career that I am incredibly proud of.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

No day is ever the same, but my typical daily routine usually involves meeting with clients or managing projects on-site, either in the morning or afternoon, depending on where I need to be. I cover areas from London to Northamptonshire, so I can be in different locations on any given day.

The rest of my day is spent at our Cambridge office, where I focus on advancing our current construction projects to ensure they meet our clients’ standards. I work closely with our team of surveyors, providing support and guidance. Office management and problem-solving are also key parts of my role. I also provide direction to our survey department, who’s schedule is very demanding, so I ensure they are adequately supported.