This open and inclusive programme offers a four-week placement in an RLB office, enabling the participants to build networks, experience new cultures and business settings, and enhance their personal and professional development.
The overall objective of GEEP is to share and develop best practice across RLB by promoting the exchange of business knowledge and technical expertise.
Strengthening our collective knowledge is key to enhancing our ability to deliver the value outcomes that our clients are looking for. The programme also plays a fundamental role in leadership and management development, shaping our future success as a truly global business.
Here, in their own words, four participants tell us how their experiences have broadened their skills and knowledge and supported their career progression…
I was warmly welcomed to the Amsterdam office. During my exchange, I had a crash course in data centres and hotel refurbishment procurement approaches. Meanwhile, I shared about the complexities of hospital projects. I also ran the team through how we track the cost impact of design updates in almost real-time.
Aside from visiting a hub of art and culture – I enjoyed roaming the city, museums and art galleries on the weekends – I absolutely hit the jackpot with my exchange. It has given me a better sense of the wealth of knowledge RLB has globally. You can get so caught up in day-to-day tasks that it’s easy to forget to look beyond our metaphoric front door.
This is even more true when you come from a very small office (Dunedin) on an island in the ‘corner’ of the world. GEEP has built my confidence in what I already do and what I could do. Forming global connections and seeing other RLB projects first-hand has fast-tracked it.
Chances are, if you’re doing something new to you, the RLB community has the skills and knowledge to help. But it is much easier to ask if you already have some connections.
Karla Dunn
Quantity Surveyor, RLB New Zealand
karla.dunn@nz.rlb.com
From my first day at RLB New South Wales everyone was extremely welcoming, always up for a chat, inviting me out with them for lunch, happy to discuss insights into their role, projects and overall experiences of working at RLB. It was also great to see such a diverse portfolio of projects.
My intentions were to collaborate with international colleagues in a new environment, absorb the host city culture and knowledge share and I believe I achieved all of these. I have also grown my professional network internationally, including making lots of new friends.
I have been able to make many comparisons between the UK and Australian market. My key takeaway from this experience was noting the differences between the role of the cost manager/quantity surveyor in Australia compared to the UK (while the process is the same, it is interesting to see how roles and responsibilities can differ around the world).
GEEP allows you to learn about different cultures and the different ways RLB are delivering projects across the globe. It also gives everyone the opportunity to make lifelong global connections through knowledge sharing within the RLB family. A brilliant experience that I will never forget.
Jamie Ali
Senior M&E Cost Manager RLB London
jamie.ali@uk.rlb.com
If you told me six years ago that I’d be going on a global secondment to London, I would have laughed. Thanks to RLB, this dream became reality.
I was impressed by the structured and tailored approach that the RLB London office offered, which allowed me to extract everything I wanted from my GEEP tenure. From dealing with high-profile insolvency cases, attending project meetings, to getting involved with different departments within RLB to understand the differing perspectives of how project challenges are navigated.
I was lucky to visit some iconic projects across London. I was able to step outside my comfort zone, learn, embrace, but also critique and compare elements between RLB offices. This valuable insight has allowed me to provide feedback to the business on how we can further evolve within our respective markets, but more importantly globally and collectively.
GEEP gives an amazing insight into different cultures, how different offices operate, and how our vast service offerings are conducted across the world. But most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to make life-long connections and share knowledge within the wider RLB family.
A truly unforgettable experience, both professionally and personally, which I will look back on fondly forever.
Stjepan Gudasic
Senior Quantity Surveyor, RLB Melbourne
stjepan.gudasic@au.rlb.com
This opportunity was a rich and rewarding experience. It allowed me to work alongside the talented teams in RLB’s London and Leeds offices, and I was eager to immerse myself in the local culture, learn from my colleagues, and contribute to impactful projects shaping the city.
One of the highlights of my trip was visiting an active project site, which, as a marketing professional, is always a treat. Seeing the project in action gave me a deeper understanding of the scope and challenges our teams face.
It added a level of perspective and depth to my knowledge that will be incredibly valuable for future pursuits.
Understanding the on-the-ground realities helps inform how I approach marketing materials and client communications, allowing me to better highlight the value we bring to each project.
Beyond work, I also had the chance to bond with my colleagues through team-building activities and social gatherings. These moments allowed me to build strong connections with my global counterparts. The relationships I formed during my secondment, whether over a coffee in the office or a beer at the pub, are ones I know will continue to grow as we collaborate on future global publications and projects.
Megan Rice
Marketing Specialist,
RLB North America
megan.rice@us.rlb.com
