ABOUT US

Simon McKay

Director, Chartered Planning Consultant (SJM)

Simon has spent the last 20 years honing is knowledge primarily within the field of Planning. He began his career as a Local Authority Planning Officer; during his time in the Public Sector, he worked at Tunbridge Wells, Ashford and Epsom & Ewell Councils. His knowledge in Planning Policy, Strategy and Method makes him one of the experts in his field.

Acknowledging a gap in the level of advice, professionalism and knowledge with home owner and budding developers, he began the SJM journey in 2012. Working from home as a one man band, Simon quickly earned a name for himself as the local ‘go to’ Planning Consultant.

Simon graduated from the University of Reading with a BSc in Geography in 2005 and subsequently obtained his MSc in Town Planning from South Bank University in 2012 whist working as a Planning Officer at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Simon became professionally recognised by being inducted as a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2016.

Simon has a craving for travel and has been fortunate enough to have undertaken expeditions within the Arctic Circle, and to the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia. As well as holidaying with his wife to Vietnam and Thailand.

Morwenna McKay

Senior Planning Consultant (SJM Planning)

The newest member to the SJM family, in a business sense, is Morwenna. She met Simon at University whilst carrying out their Batchelors Degrees, and soon became a family of their own.

Morwenna has more recently been working as Strategic Land Promoter for Croudace Homes, working in house to assist in the acquisition of new strategic sites and managing the submission of planning applications on major schemes. Prior to this, Morwenna held a number of positions at Local Planning Authorities, including at Maidstone Borough Council and Tandridge District Council, as Principal and Senior Planning Officer.

Morwenna brings with her a wealth of strategic planning knowledge and experience dealing with major housing schemes as well as working for and with Local Planning Authorities.  This boosts SJM Planning’s services by providing this type of analysis and understanding to private and commercial developers alike, as well as bolstering the capabilities to undertake further residential, agricultural, and commercial projects.

In her spare time, Morwenna enjoys travelling, gardening and spending time with her family.

George Bryant

Planning Consultant (SJM Planning)

George is SJM Planning’s longest serving employee having joined the company in 2016. Initially George’s role was to provide some basic drawing support using the skills that he had learned during his time as a topographical surveyor – I trade that he learned straight out of school and spent six years practising until he relocated to Wales in 2006.

George lives in Wales and has worked remotely for his entire time at SJM Planning however, with the advances of technology over that time many of our clients do not realise that he is not based in office. George has progressed from a drawing role within the company to become the company’s main agricultural and rural expert largely through his love for the countryside and the fact that he is active within the agricultural landscape in West Wales. George actively assists on both his fathers and his in-laws smallholdings and is an active member of The Farming Forum where he is the resident planning expert.

Georges route into planning has not been through academia or through local authority but through experience on the job. His willingness to learn has allowed him to experience all aspects of the business and in the next few years he will be eligible to seek formal recognition through the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Michael Stevens

Director (SJM Projects)

Having spent the past 20 years in a Technical capacity within the Built Environment and Construction Industries, Mike brings a different outlook on the SJM family. Drawing on his Engineering, and Operational Management background, he brings an understanding of the design and construction processes, methods and techniques.

Previously working in a Technical capacity both on and off site on a range of projects across London such as the Olympic Village, an £80million residential home renovation, Mayfair Intercontinental Hotel, a number of £15million Apartments adjacent to the Ritz Hotel, a high end retail shop in Kings Road, various other high end homes, plus an Office to 200+ unit residential scheme in Croydon, and a number of new build School’s, and other Commercial projects across the country.

Mike came to the SJM family in January 2020, following some lengthy discussions on the direction of the business as a whole, he and Simon agreed to begin the SJM Projects journey. Since SJM Projects’ inception, the company has grown and gone from strength to strength. As the business evolves, Mike is constantly reaching for betterment, not only in the business, but in the service that our clients receive.

His experience within consultancies, and in collaboration with other professions of the industry enables SJM Projects to provide a full complement of services, either directly or indirectly.

Rikshay Manusklal

Architectural Technician (SJM Design)

Having recently achieved an Outstanding Achievement Award whilst completing his Masters in Architecture and Sustainability at De Montfort University, Rikshay came to SJM Project full of enthusiasm for the built environment. Constantly seeking fresh new methods of sustainability within Architecture, Rikshay is key to SJM’s evolution and progress.

Using ArchiCAD as opposed to the traditional AutoCAD software, Rikshay is able to bring to life in 2D and 3D formats exquisitely executed designs that not only keeps to Clients Brief but also pushes the boundaries of traditional Residential and Commercial projects.

As Rikshay’s experience of UK culture, environment, and construction industry grows, he will be looking towards obtaining full RIBA Architect status within the coming years. Rikshay is of Indian/Portuguese decent, and can speak multiple languages. His Architecture experience began in Mozambique, where he won a coveted national competition for the design development of a cultural centre in a two day turnaround.

Mark Webb

Architectural Technologist (SJM Design)

One of newest employees, Mark has already firmly cemented his importance within the SJM Design team. For the 5 years previous to the SJM employment, Mark plied his trade within a family Design and Build business, this has led to him forging a vast knowledge basis of both the design theory and practice of a construction project.

Mark completed his Masters in Architecture (Part II) in 2015, after spending a couple of years within an Architects Practice as an Architectural Technician. His knowledge of construction methods, means that Mark is adept at taking on the slightly more technically challenging projects.

In the coming years Mark will be working towards obtaining his full RIBA Architect status, and Chartership within the CIOB.

Beside the Architecture and Construction projects, Mark’s love of music carries him into national and international brass and wind instrument competitions.

Neil Penfold

Terry Harmer

Senior Geospatial Surveyor (SJM Surveys)

Having made the decision to enter a new phase of his career, Terry joined the SJM family in August 2021, after spending almost 25 years learning and plying his trade with a single surveying company. Terry heads up the surveying division of the business, and brings with him the skills, knowledge, and experience of working on a vast range of projects from single householder extensions to multimillion pound town regeneration projects, using traditional surveying equipment and methodology.

Terry carried out a HND in Building Studies, and so has a deeper understanding and appreciation of buildings and the construction industry that perhaps some surveyors may not.

Tom Jordan

Geospatial Surveyor (SJM Surveys)

One of our newest members of the team, is Tom who joins Terry in the Surveying team. After spending several years as Terry’s assistant during his previous employment, Tom has become a competent and efficient surveyor in his own right.  He benefits from the same knowledge and understanding of traditional survey techniques and equipment but is keen to drive the business forwards by keeping up to date with the latest technology and techniques, which in turn will enable us to offer our clients additional deliverables and services with their survey data and drawings.

Tom has also recently completed the Proqual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying qualification.

Sarah Godsalve

PA to the Director (SJM Planning), and in-house Home Designer (SJM Interiors)

Sarah has always had a strong client focussed career, having worked in the City as an investment broker for many years, then St James’s Place Wealth Management and most recently the John Lewis Partnership. Within these roles she became adept in improving the client/ customer experience, event management, and also developed a strong skill in people management.

Moving her career in to a home design led occupation, a lifelong passion, has meant that Sarah has been able to carve herself a balanced family/work life.

The efficiency in which Sarah has instilled within the SJM family has enabled an increased number of both projects and clientele in the short space of her employment with us.

Alongside her role of PA, Sarah is also utilising her previous experience of Home Design within our business, by starting SJM Interiors. This service compliments the SJM family’s offering and experience, and provides our clients with internal design assistance, and management. She has forged relationships with suppliers, and fellow designers that means Sarah can provide a full interior package.

Sarah has in recent years undertaken a full home renovation. She has updated and extended her 1860’s house, turning a 2 bedroom home into large 4 bedroom home for her and her young family.

Chania Penfold