When most of us go out to dinner, it’s a chance to relax. But, Emma Carlton says she’s turned into a bit of a ‘lighting geek’ and can’t help looking at the type of lighting chosen by that particular restaurant.
Emma joined PSE Associates in 2011 and works as a project co-ordinator, providing admin support for the team involved with restaurants, special projects and boutique hotels.
“My role is varied and involves everything from helping to prepare feasibility studies through to making sure furniture is delivered on site when it should be,” says Emma. “It’s similar to what my colleagues do on the pubs side but the projects we are working on tend to be less formulaic and more bespoke.”
She adds that her job involves a huge amount of attention to detail.
“I could be sourcing some really amazing pieces of artwork or custom-made chandeliers, which will have a lead time – so I need to make sure that everything can be delivered to the site when it needs to be, while keeping the client’s budget in mind too,” says Emma. “It really is a huge team effort, with us all pulling together to produce the finished result.”
Clients Emma has worked with include The Pig Hotel group and Chewton Glen – both of which offer their customers beautiful surroundings to stay in.
“It is so exciting to see the finished results, particularly nowadays on social media. I might be checking out the Instagram of one of our client’s and think, I sourced those cushions”
Emma adds that while it’s great to see a project come together, she also really enjoys the beginning stages of a new piece of work.
“It’s exciting to see those first drawings and to find out what’s particularly new or different about it,” says Emma. “I also enjoy building close relationships with both clients and suppliers.”
Emma joined PSE Associates from a small architectural practice in Hove but admits that, having completed an English degree, working with buildings wasn’t an obvious career choice. But, she says it ‘really suits’ her.
She says that PSE Associates stands out because of the depth of experience it boasts.
“There’s lots of resource to draw on in the building,” Emma adds. “If there are challenges, then somebody here will have faced something similar before. The team’s also really friendly.”
She both lives and works in Brighton and says it’s a great location.
“In this city, we are surrounded by so much creativity”
When she’s not at work, Emma enjoys socialising with friends – drinking real ale and listening to live bands – as well as hiking on the South Downs.
PSE Associates provides traditional professional Quantity Surveying and Project Management services to many brand leaders in the leisure, retail and commercial sectors.