ProCon board member Umesh Desai, the director of estates and facilities at De Montfort University, is the new chair of ProCon Leicestershire. He took over after the death of its founding chair Pam Allardice in March.
Q: Why have you accepted the invitation to chair ProCon Leicestershire?
A: My association with ProCon goes back to 2003 and I’ve been constantly interested in what the organisation is doing, the events it holds and of course the ProCon Awards.
So it’s an honour to be asked to chair, especially to succeed Pam Allardice who is a very hard act to follow.
She was so visionary at the outset of ProCon and so committed over the twenty years that followed.
I will look to build on Pam’s substantial legacy and take ProCon forward.
Excellent work already takes place and I’m sure we can do more, especially collectively adding impetus to the flourishing of Leicester and Leicestershire.
Q: For someone with no knowledge of ProCon can you explain what the organisation is and does?
A: It’s a membership organisation for people and companies in property and construction, and for local authorities and other groups with an interest in the built environment.
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In essence, it’s a network. It connects developers, architects, contractors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, inspectors, educationalists, landscapers, planners and … well the list is almost endless.
It creates, offline and online, a place to meet, learn, share, connect and be inspired. It helps careers and it helps projects.
ProCon celebrates all the good developments happening in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Q: How is ProCon helping its members during the coronavirus?
A: The network that ProCon has fostered for many years has been a real plus during lockdown and will be as the situation evolves.
Our members and their companies have been sharing advice, passing on their experience and connecting with each other.
ProCon has enabled communicating news and holding online seminars.
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And our annual awards have got under way online with a call for entries and the sale of tickets for the awards ceremony planned for November.
That we could sell out of tickets for an event we can’t yet be sure will happen on schedule shows the appetite our members have for supporting ProCon and our industry.
Q: Why are the ProCon Awards so important to the industry here?
A: The Awards shine a spotlight on the tremendous efforts being made by developers and those who enable their projects.
De Montfort University has won ProCon Awards and sponsored a category, plus I’ve been a specialist judge.
As a judge it has been fantastic to get deep insights into the projects entered.
And as a winner, it’s a real thrill. It is tremendous to have what you work on be celebrated by your peers.
If you take a look on the ProCon website and look back through the archive of recent years and all the finalists and winners, it’s a huge tonic to realise how many great developments have been entered.
Q: How has being in ProCon helped you?
A: Through ProCon I have met many, many people and organisations that have been useful to know and that have encouraged and supported my professional endeavours to develop and enhance DMU’s campus.
It boils down to relationships.
The more you can create and the deeper they become helps us all progress.
DMU’s relationship with Leicester City Council is an example of how a successful partnership can serve to encourage positive new developments and the preservation of valuable heritage.
Q: What is ProCon’s role in the future of Leicester and Leicestershire?
A: I’m a Leicester lad, born and bred. I studied here at De Montfort University and I’ve worked here all my life. I love Leicester.
What’s so good about it? It is rich in culture and diversity.
There are the opportunities for people to do anything here. I am very committed to seeing this city and its county develop.
I have been in a fortunate position that I have had first-hand experience in helping to guide and deliver some of the city’s amazing new developments over the last 10 years.
For Leicester it is important that the ProCon community is very encouraging of bold decisions being taken by the City Council and the City Mayor. And that successes are made of the development goals and projects, so we can become what we want to be as a city.
We all want to see Leicester move up the city rankings, as a place to live and to invest in. And the same goes for our county, with its beautiful countryside, thriving market towns and its wonderful assets such as MIRA Technology Park.
Q: What gives ProCon its momentum and its ability to play a leading role?
A: The board is made up of key stakeholders and major players in the city, county and region. They collectively have an unmatched finger on the pulse. There is a rich mix of experience around the table.
And it’s not just developers, contractors and architects. It’s every discipline that brings a development forward and on to completion.
One topic I actively want to see high on everyone’s agenda in property and construction is that of welcoming people new to our sectors. ProCon’s Emerging Talent initiative, for new and recent entrants, is a super start.
I’d like to see Emerging Talent welcome even more members, and not just the younger arrivals. Anyone who moves to Leicestershire to work in our sectors should be made aware that this network exists.
Q: The ProCon concept has already been exported to Nottinghamshire. Could other counties/regions also look to the template?
A: ProCon Nottinghamshire has quickly established itself with our help and support, notably that of Pam Allardice.
That shows what a great template ProCon Leicestershire has pioneered. It could be a great Leicestershire export to many places.