The Team

Christopher Brittain

Founding Director

Chris has over 35 years’ experience as a Quantity Surveyor and Commercial Director in the construction industry with major UK Contractors and a Consultancy.

He has a wide range of experience covering many sectors including Building, MEP and Civil Engineering on projects including technology, industrial, offices, hospitals, schools, stadia, residential and housing, student accommodation, hotels, shopping centres, MOD bases, maritime, civils structures and utilities.

Chris regularly provides a broad range of “hard edge” and “hands on” commercial services for main contractor, developer and sub-contractor clients bringing them much needed solutions to problematic issues whether at project or business P&L level.

Christopher Brittain BSc (Hons), MCIOB

His expertise extends to Quantity Surveying, forensic pathfinding of entitlements, risk management, contract administration, dispute resolution / strategy management, professional negligence recoveries, business improvement strategies including due diligence, audits and health checks.

He has a wealth of experience in most standard forms of contract including JCT, NEC, as well as bespoke PCSA, PFI, JV and Framework arrangements and often provides training for commercial teams.

Chris regularly represents clients in proceedings via adjudication and mediation and often supports Vanguard’s experts when appointed to provide expert Quantum evidence in proceedings.

At a corporate level, he has supported clients with administrations, provided mitigation solutions to problematic construction legacy issues and secured substantial insurance policy recoveries. He has also delivered due diligence in acquisition and headed transformation projects realising significant PBT improvement.

Jeremy Hughes

Founding Director

Jeremy has amassed a wealth of experience in the over 30 years he has worked in the construction industry. Now a panel registered Adjudicator (RICS) and with an Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence, he regularly provides services to the professional and contracting sectors of the construction industry. He remains a hands-on practising professional who has developed broad skills and knowledge from a solid foundation of his many years of experience in the construction industry. His expertise extends to all areas of quantity surveying, including quantity surveying practice, contract administration, dispute resolution, construction quantum and the ascertainment of loss and/expense.

Jeremy has acted as an Adjudicator and party representative in numerous disputes and an expert adviser and consultant to claimants and respondents, specialising in quantity surveying matters in various jurisdictions, including the high court, arbitration, adjudication and mediation.

Areas of construction experience include major and minor construction projects, major and minor civil engineering projects, process engineering, effluent treatment, mechanical and electrical engineering, pipelines, bridges, roads, demolition, structural support systems, hydraulic jacking and monitoring systems and groundworks (Not exhaustive).

Jeremy has degrees in Quantity Surveying and Law, a post graduate Diploma in Construction Adjudication and an Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

James Johnson

B.Sc. (Hons) Quantity Surveying

Consultant: Commercial

James has over 28 years’ experience working for several leading Tier 1 UK Contracting organisations as the Lead Quantity Surveyor on construction projects up to £100m including grade one and grade two listed structures. James’s professional experience includes a period where he headed the commercial function for a specialist demolition and land remediation company before returning to main contracting overseeing several challenging brownfield city centre mixed use design and build projects.

James’s experience also includes several project intervention and project turnaround assignments where his laser focus to detail and risk management skills became invaluable to his Employer and formed the bedrock to his commercial services offering today.

In the past, James has also acted as a Tier 1 Contractors regional representative assigned to commercially oversee building legacy claim matters which is a facet complimentary with Vanguard’s “Specialist Services” consultancy offering.

In 2025, James decided to change direction and pursue a career in consultancy and team up with Vanguard to bolster its consultancy offering. Consequently, James regularly assists Vanguard with their “Quantity Surveying” Consultancy Services offering with particular focus on advising clients on the management of risk and navigation through challenging project procurement matters at bid and design and construction stages.

Most recently James has been assisting Vanguard with several insurance recovery matters relating to both CAR and professional indemnity insurance policy claims.

Richard Scarrott

Senior Consultant: Construction

Richard is a veteran of the construction industry with a wealth of almost 40 years of experience having worked through the operational ranks from Site Manager to Divisional Director in the Tier 1 UK Contracting arena.

In 2020, Richard made the bold decision to leave his established Divisional Director Tier 1 Contracting career behind and instead pursue his own development opportunities which gave him invaluable exposure and understanding of the challenges facing smaller enterprises in the construction sector.

Richard’s experiences outlined above then ignited his desire to diversify further and from 2025 pursue a consultancy offering with particular focus on advising clients (large or small) and providing a variety of construction consultancy services tailored from his vast multi sector operational and delivery experience.

Most recently, Richard has been supporting Vanguard’s “Specialist Services” consultancy offering and has provided clients with invaluable advice with particular focus on the following areas:

  • Project audits / health checks
  • Independent progress and operational checks
  • Quality / non-compliance checks
  • Defects and building legacy claims validation (including under the Building Safety Act)
  • Loss recovery strategies associated with underperforming professional designers
  • Insurance recovery strategies
  • Independent clerk of works service
  • Business improvement advice (from cradle to grave for contracting entities)
  • Project management / delivery advice

Richard’s operational and delivery experiences have proven invaluable in several adjudications where Vanguard has represented clients regarding disputed interim valuation / final account matters including the validation / assessment of claims (including set off / contra charges) relevant to alleged non-compliant work.

Get in touch!

We would be pleased to receive your enquiry and would ask that you let us know which service or services you are interested in so that the appropriate professional can contact you.


Vanguard Construction Consultants Ltd.

LONDON OFFICE:
Garden Studios, 71-75, Shelton Street, Covent Garden,
London, WC2H 9JQ

MIDLANDS & NORTH OFFICE:
3, Arden Court, Arden Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6HN

Email: consultant@vanguard-consultants.com

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