An employee who joined specialist construction services supplier Groundforce as a yard labourer/driver almost 30 years ago has been appointed the company’s global major projects director.

James Burchell began his career with Groundforce in 1998, delivering shoring equipment, an experience which has made customer services and colleague empowerment a personal priority.

He then progressed through the company to an operational role as project manager and then commercial manager, responsible for driving better customer service on major projects such as the award-winning Red Line Metro system in Qatar.

Nine years ago, he transitioned to Groundforce division Piletec, serving as general sales manager, operations director and subsequently piling director. His drive for operational excellence then took him briefly to a leading European piling contractor to broaden his industry perspective and knowledge.

In his new role with Groundforce, James is tasked with unifying the major projects business worldwide, leveraging the expertise of exceptional teams and advanced systems to bring a renewed focus and passion for delivering innovative solutions that challenge industry norms.

James said: “My vision is clear - to grow the business, embrace complexity and drive innovation, ensuring that Groundforce remains the industry’s preferred partner for excavation support solutions at home and abroad. By pushing boundaries and setting new standards, we will further strengthen Groundforce’s position as the go-to partner for complex major projects globally.”