Meet Vipesh Mistry, Projects Manager at CRASH

In 2022-23 CRASH delivered 40 construction and refurbishment projects for homelessness charities and hospices – these projects could be anything from advice on how best to maximise space and re-configure their building to transforming an old and tired bathroom into a functional and practical space.

It is the Projects Manager’s role to oversee all aspects of CRASH projects from; reviewing charity applications to putting CRASH’s help into practice; whether that’s reaching out to the network of Corporate Patrons and supporters for construction products, or asking the wonderful and highly skilled people of the construction industry to donate their professional expertise to construct places that care for people.

Vipesh Mistry has joined CRASH on a Projects Manager secondment from Corporate Patron, AECOM following ten years with the infrastructure consulting firm as a Principal Engineer. A Bristol UWE graduate in Building Services Engineering, Vipesh has worked on a variety of projects from plantroom refurbishment for schools in London to a multi-storey (50+) development in Dubai. Now, Vipesh has joined CRASH and will be leading the charities construction and refurbishment projects for people who are homeless and those who need hospice care.

Let’s meet Vipesh…

What inspired you to join the construction industry?

After completing a BTEC in Building Construction, it opened my eyes to all the diverse disciplines required to construct a successful building. I was particularly interested in thermal comfort and ventilation and how they play a key role in creating sustainable and comfortable, living and working environment, which inspired me to go to university and study Building Services Engineering.

What was your responsibilities in your role at AECOM?

In my role at AECOM, I am the lead Project Engineer, taking client briefs and leading a team of engineers to turn them into designs, and then finally overseeing the project through the construction phases. Recently I have been working on a commercial office and 36-home residential development in the Southwark Cultural Quarter – where a Roman mosaic was found on site!

What made you choose the secondment to CRASH?

For the past few years, I have been volunteering my weekends at my local food bank, providing food and meals to vulnerable adults and children. As part of AECOM’s Social value Initiative, I have also volunteered at a Soup Kitchen in Central London where I helped to provide clothes to homeless adults.  I have loved making a difference in my community, so when the opportunity to use my skills and experience to benefit communities all across the UK and work at CRASH – I jumped at the chance!

What project visits have you been on at CRASH?

Since joining CRASH in August, I have visited five homelessness charities who have applied for CRASH’s help. Including, a trip to Emmaus Bolton to look at a proposed roofing project and a few visits to a day centre in Islington that offers people who are homeless the chance to have a shower, a hot meal, an opportunity to wash their clothes and to talk to a friendly face.

The Islington project is currently on-going and is due for immanent completion – it has been wonderful to see the transformations going on there and the full case study will be coming soon!

What’s next in your role?

The CRASH application process is open all year round, so visiting the charities that apply for help is a key part of my role. During October and November, I will be visiting a homeless shelter in Oxford and a Hospice in Stratford upon Avon. These visits will also be attended by our dedicated team of Project Advisors who donate their professional expertise to help decide the charities next best steps. You can view the CRASH application process, including criteria to apply here. 

What are you most looking forward to in your secondment?

This is a hard one but without saying all of it – I am most looking forward to seeing the impact CRASH, our Corporate Patrons and the wider construction industry can have when we work together to transform the lives of people who are homeless and children and adults who need hospice care.