Jason South, Risk consultant
Meet Jason South, a Risk consultant who joined Costain after 25 years in the Armed Forces
Jason is currently advising on new major UK infrastructure and transportation projects, such as National Highways M60 Simister Island project and the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.
His role involves speaking to the discipline leads involved in a project, such as in construction, design and commercial teams, to understand any potential risks, and subsequently managing and implementing measures to ensure they are effectively mitigated. Another key part of the role is providing and maintaining communication with senior stakeholders.
Prior to joining Costain, Jason had a successful career serving in the Reconnaissance Regiment 9th / 12th Royal Lancers for 25 years. This included providing strategic advice to Division/Brigade HQ, assessing information and risk analysis to assist with battlefield command. He also served as a Global Operations Manager at Crisis24, a risk management and crisis response firm, before starting his career in construction.
Jason found his role with Costain with the support of Buildforce UK, an organisation that helps service leavers transition from the military to a career into the construction industry.
Costain works with Buildforce UK and other careers services such as the Careers Transition Partnership and the Officers Association, providing bespoke support to those moving into new roles, which as Jason says, is not necessarily a straightforward task:
As soon as I joined Costain, the business has supported my development and helped me set clear goals and objectives. The work has been rewarding, stimulating, but most importantly, always interesting. But finding a new career doesn’t happen overnight. There are new skills to learn and a new environment to adjust to. My advice would be to consider your skillset and join careers networks who can aid your development that can make you more employable.
Jason’s advice for those considering a change in career:
“Don’t discount your existing strengths and experience – your skills are highly transferrable. My role at Costain requires discipline, respect, problem solving and above all, a can-do attitude, all of which I have been able to develop throughout my career.”
Costain’s support for the Armed Forces extends to partnerships with the Forces Families Jobs Forum and the Military Coworking Network. This is to support the employment of service spouses and partners, offering advice, support and coaching.
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn or search our careers page to learn about our current job opportunities.