Get To Know Josh Ward-Jones 💬

We’re excited to introduce our new ‘Get to Know’ interview series, where we shine a spotlight on the incredible people who make Bloom what it is – sharing their stories, insights, and the experiences that drive our success.

In this first feature, we caught up with Co-Owner and Director Josh Ward-Jones, one of Bloom’s driving forces. Josh reflected on the journey that led him to his current role and offered a behind-the-scenes look at the pivotal part he plays in Bloom’s growth.

🔹Can you walk us through your professional journey in the property/construction sector, and what led you to co-found Bloom?

“My journey into construction and property began with a 12-month undergraduate placement at Redrow Homes, sandwiched between two summer placements with BNP Paribas. These experiences inspired me to return to the University of Reading and secure a place on a Building Surveying graduate scheme.

I spent over seven very enjoyable years in JLL’s London Building Surveying team, progressing from Graduate to Associate Director before leaving to join a national firm to head up their Midlands building consultancy team. While JLL provided an incredible platform to learn my trade and connect with fantastic people, my time in the Midlands gave me the confidence to win work and manage a team, two aspects of the job I discovered I truly loved.

After four successful years, I decided to take the plunge and go self-employed, before later joining forces with Gareth Belsham and Charlotte Whincup to form Bloom, a step that, 12 months on, I’m incredibly proud and grateful to have taken.”

🔹 What does your role as Director at Bloom encompass day-to-day?

“In addition to my responsibilities as a Building Surveyor and Project Manager, my role as a Director at Bloom involves maintaining strong relationships with existing clients, developing new business opportunities, and ensuring our team remains happy, productive, and supported in their individual growth as they work towards their professional goals.”

🔹How do you balance technical expertise with strategic leadership in a consultancy environment?

“I learned early in my career that being a good Building Surveyor or Project Manager doesn’t automatically make you a good leader or manager. Since taking on management responsibilities, I’ve made a conscious effort to develop and refine my leadership style, and it’s something I continue to work on today.

Balancing technical expertise with leadership is non-negotiable in my role. Clients expect to work directly with me and benefit from my experience, but it’s equally important that I lead by example, support the team’s development, and give them opportunities to build their own client relationships and confidence. Time can be a challenge, but when it’s your own business, you always find a way to make it work.”

🔹What shifts are you seeing in client expectations or project demands across the industry, and how is Bloom BC adapting?

“There’s a much greater emphasis now on sector and service specialism. I’ve found that clients are willing to pay an appropriate fee for the right level of expertise and service, something that ultimately leads to better project outcomes.

When setting up a new business, it can be tempting to lower fees just to get work through the door. While it’s important to stay competitive, I’ve noticed that clients increasingly understand that a race to the bottom doesn’t deliver the best results. What really makes the difference is expertise, a strong track record, and perhaps a bit of personality too.”

🔹As we move into the final quarter of 2025, what are Bloom’s main strategic priorities heading into the new year, and how are you personally shaping or driving that vision forward?

“Our main priority is to continue delivering the highest level of service to our clients, which in turn will drive our growth—both regionally and through an expanded range of service offerings.

My role in this is to work closely with Gareth and Charlotte to secure new opportunities, while ensuring that we, as Directors and as a team, consistently uphold the quality and standards that define Bloom.”

🔹What advice would you give to young people entering the industry, especially those aspiring to follow a similar career path to yours?

“I have far too much to do and years to work before I feel I can give young people advice – I still think I am young! But if I were to offer any advice, it would be to enjoy the process.

Our industry can be stressful, with lots of moving parts and constantly managing risk, but it’s also incredibly rewarding and fun. Embrace the highs, work hard through the lows, stay consistent, and always be available for your clients.”

🔹What’s one key lesson you’ve learned in the past year that’s reshaped how you lead or operate within the business?

“I’ve learned the importance of embracing technology to drive efficiency. However, while the industry is gradually evolving to adopt new tools and digital solutions, property and construction remain very much people-focused sectors, where relationships, conversations, and good old-fashioned business development still make the biggest impact.

So, perhaps it’s not just one lesson. Reflecting on the past 12 months since launching Bloom, I’d say the key takeaways are to always back yourself, be a good person, and build a team and culture where people genuinely enjoy what they do and thrive together.”

#TeamInsight #People #Bloom #Building #Consultancy #Experience